Park. It cost Congress so much that Lauter’s political enemies sing, to the tune of "Auf Lauterbach"
In Lauter Park
Have we our pants verloren.
No more hepaticas, but I suppose that's progress. There are three hot dog stands at the entrance and it is rumored that one is a speakeasy late at night. But Congress is getting to be quite an art center too. The woman who has that novelty shop near Clem's studio, Mrs. Doremus, is letting artists exhibit there. She exhibits too, as do Henkel and Larson—remember, you met them at your going-away party—and some others from Clem's new art class. Clem is working hard and I wouldn't be surprised if he is planning an exhibition in Chicago, or even New York. I can't think of any more news except that old Mrs. Winters was taken off to the State Asylum because she took to hanging around the Star Burlesk all the time and asking the girls what it was the men wanted and so on, and then she tried to show Twelfth Street what the girls did on the stage. Doesn't that remind you of Sherwood Anderson?
I'm a second-term sophomore now because I went to summer school and Ma wants me to be a teacher. I don't argue with her but between you and me—no. I'm in my 2nd year French and 1st year Latin and I keep being surprised how many English words come from those languages. For fun I make up sentences containing words from all three. I wrote a short poem in that manner for English class but Miss Bishop did not approve. She said I wasn't being serious. I should think someone could work out an International language that way, don't you?
I read in the New York Times at Cheever's that everyone is being psychoanalyzed. Are skirts in New York really halfway to the knees? Well, this is all my news for now.
"You know," Lucy told Mae, "I can never think of anything interesting to write Vida. I can just see Semy making up to Mr. Lauter as though he was God. And that pimply stork, Herold. Poor old Mrs. Winters. I'll bet she isn't crazy at all."
"Oh but Lucy, she was always queer. I was a little girl when she was married and she locked herself in the attic just because her hus-
