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the Thomsons without that letter。
There are few pleasanter places in the Northern States for a summer
residence than that known from the first period of its settlement by
the name of Arrowhead Village。 The Indians had found it out； as the
relics they left behind them abundantly testified。 The commonest of
these were those chipped stones which are the medals of barbarism；
and from Which the place took its name；the heads of arrows； of
various sizes； material； and patterns： some small enough for killing
fish and little birds； some large enough for such game as the moose
and the bear； to say nothing of the hostile Indian and the white
settler； some of flint； now and then one of white quartz； and others
of variously colored jasper。 The Indians must have lived here for
many generations； and it must have been a kind of factory village of
the stone age；which lasted up to near the present time； if we may
judge from the fact that many of these relics are met with close to
the surface of the ground。
No wonder they found this a pleasant residence； for it is to…day one
of the most attractive of all summer resorts； so inviting； indeed；
that those who know it do not like to say too much about it； lest the
swarms of tourists should make it unendurable to those who love it
for itself； and not as a centre of fashionable display and extramural
cockneyism。
There is the lake； in the first place；Cedar Lake；about five miles
long； and from half a mile to a mile and a half wide； stretching from
north to south。 Near the northern extremity are the buildings of
Stoughton University； a flourishing young college with an ambitious
name； but well equipped and promising； the grounds of which reach the
water。 At the southern end of the lake are the edifices of the
Corinna Institute； a favorite school for young ladies； where large
numbers of the daughters of America are fitted； so far as education
can do it； for all stations in life； from camping out with a husband
at the mines in Nevada to acting the part of chief lady of the land
in the White House at Washington。
Midway between the two extremities； on the eastern shore of the lake；
is a valley between two hills； which come down to the very edge of
the lake； leaving only room enough for a road between their base and
the water。 This valley； half a mile in width； has been long settled；
and here for a century or more has stood the old Anchor Tavern。 A
famous place it was so long as its sign swung at the side of the
road： famous for its landlord； portly； paternal； whose welcome to a
guest that looked worthy of the attention was like that of a parent
to a returning prodigal； and whose parting words were almost as good
as a marriage benediction； famous for its landlady； ample in person；
motherly； seeing to the whole household with her own eyes； mistress
of all culinary secrets that Northern kitchens are most proud of；
famous also for its ancient servant； as city people would call her；
help； as she was called in the tavern and would have called
herself；the unchanging； seemingly immortal Miranda； who cared for
the guests as if she were their nursing mother； and pressed the
specially favorite delicacies on their attention as a connoisseur
calls the wandering eyes of an amateur to the beauties of a picture。
Who that has ever been at the old Anchor Tavern forgets Miranda's
〃A little of this fricassee？…it is ver…y nice；〃
or
〃Some of these cakes？ You will find them ver…y good。〃
Nor would it be just to memory to forget that other notable and noted
member of the household；the unsleeping； unresting； omnipresent
Pushee； ready for everybody and everything； everywhere within the
limits of the establishment at all hours of the day and night。 He
fed； nobody could say accurately when or where。 There were rumors of
a 〃bunk；〃 in which he lay down with his clothes on； but he seemed to
be always wide awake； and at the service of as many guest； at once as
if there had been half a dozen of him。
So much for old reminiscences。
The landlord of the Anchor Tavern had taken down his sign。 He had
had the house thoroughly renovated and furnished it anew； and kept it
open in summer for a few boarders。 It happened more than once that
the summer boarders were so much pleased with the place that they
stayed on through the autumn； and some of them through the winter。
The attractions of the village were really remarkable。 Boating in
summer； and skating in winter； ice…boats； too； which the wild ducks
could hardly keep up with； fishing； for which the lake was renowned；
varied and beautiful walks through the valley and up the hillsides；
houses sheltered from the north and northeasterly winds； and
refreshed in the hot summer days by the breeze which came over the
water；all this made the frame for a pleasing picture of rest and
happiness。 But there was a great deal more than this。 There was a
fine library in the little village； presented and richly endowed by a
wealthy native of the place。 There was a small permanent population
of a superior character to that of an everyday country town； there
was a pretty little Episcopal church； with a good…hearted rector；
broad enough for the Bishop of the diocese to be a little afraid of；
and hospitable to all outsiders； of whom； in the summer season； there
were always some who wanted a place of worship to keep their religion
from dying out during the heathen months； while the shepherds of the
flocks to which they belonged were away from their empty folds。
What most helped to keep the place alive all through the year was the
frequent coming together of the members of a certain literary
association。 Some time before the tavern took down its sign the
landlord had built a hall； where many a ball had been held； to which
the young folks of all the country round had resorted。 It was still
sometimes used for similar occasions； but it was especially notable
as being the place of meeting of the famous PANSOPHIAN SOCIETY。
This association； the name of which might be invidiously interpreted
as signifying that its members knew everything； had no such
pretensions； but； as its Constitution said very plainly and modestly；
held itself open to accept knowledge on any and all subjects from
such as had knowledge to impart。 Its President was the rector of the
little chapel； a man who； in spite of the Thirty…Nine Articles； could
stand fire from the widest…mouthed heretical blunderbuss without
flinching or losing his temper。 The hall of the old Anchor Tavern
was a convenient place of meeting for the students and instructors of
the University and the Institute。 Sometimes in boat…loads； sometimes
in carriage…loads； sometimes in processions of skaters； they came to
the meetings in Pansophian Hall； as it was now commonly called。
These meetings had grown to be occasions of great interest。 It was
customary to have papers written by members of the Society； for the
most part； but now and then by friends of the members； sometimes by
the students of the College or the Institute； and in rarer instances
by anonymous personages； whose papers； having been looked over and
discussed by the Committee appointed for that purpose； were thought
worth listening to。 The variety of topics considered was very great。
The young ladies of the village and the Institute had their favorite
subjects； the young gentlemen a different set of topics； and the
occasional outside contributors their own； so that one who happened
to be admitted to a meeting never knew whether he was going to hear
an account of recent arctic discoveries； or an essay on the freedom
of the will； or a psychological experience； or a story； or even a
poem。
Of late there had been a tendency to discuss the questions relating
to the true status and the legitimate social functions of woman。 The
most conflicting views were held on the subject。 Many of the young
ladies and some of the University students were strong in defence of
all the 〃woman's rights〃 doctrines。 Some of these young people were
extreme in their views。 They had read about Semiramis and Boadicea
and Queen Elizabeth； until they were ready； if they could get the
chance； to vote for a woman as President of the United States or as
General of the United States Army。 They were even disposed to assert
the physical equality of woman to man； on the strength of the rather
questionable history of the Amazons； and especially of the story；
believed to be authentic； of the female body…guard of the King of
Dahomey；females frightful enough to need no other weapon than their
looks to scare off an army of Cossacks。
Miss Lurida Vincent； gold medallist of her year at the Corinna
Institute； was the leader of these advocates of virile womanhood。 It
was rather singular that she should have elected to be the apostle of
this extreme doctrine； for she was herself far better equipp