arty went in search of tents and accommodations. It was no easy matter
to suit them, as the patient and courteous President found.

"I don't like the location of any one of them," Ruth Erskine said. Of
course she was the hardest to suit. "Why can't we have one of those in
that row on the hill?"

"Those are the guest tents, ma'am."

"The guest tents?" Eurie exclaimed, in surprise. "I wonder if they
entertain guests here! Who are they?"

"Why, those who have been invited to take part in the exercises, of
course. You did not suppose that they paid their own expenses and did
the work besides, did you?"

This explanation was given by Marion, who, by virtue of her experience
as reporter was better versed in the ways of these great gatherings
than the others.

"What an idea!" Eurie said. "Fancy being a guest and speaking at this
great meeting. Being a person of distinction, you know; so that people
would be pointing you out, and telling their neighbors who you were.

"There goes Miss Mitchell. She is the leading speaker on Sunday-school
books. How does that sound? Only, on the whole, I should choose some
other department than Sunday-school books; they are all so horridly
good--the people in them, I mean--that one can't get through with more
than two in a season. I tried to read one last week for Sunday, but I
abandoned it in despair."

This was an aside, while Ruth was questioning the President. She was
looking dismayed.

"Can't we have one of the tents on that side near the stand?"

"Those were taken months ago. This is a large gathering, you know."

"I should think it was! Then, it seems, we must go back to the hotel. I
thought you would be glad to let us have accommodations at any price."

The gentlemanly President here carefully repressed an amused smile.
Here were people who had evidently misunderstood Chautauqua.

"Oh, yes," he said, "we can give you accommodations, only not the very
best, I am sorry to say. Our best tents were secured many months ago.
Still, we will do the best we can for you, and I think we can make you
entirely comfortable."

"People have different ideas as to the meaning of that word," Miss Eurie
said, loftily.

Then she moved to another tent, over which she exclaimed in dismay:

"Why, the bed isn't made up! Pray, are we to sleep on the slats?"

"Oh, no. But you have to hire all those things, you know. Have you seen
our bulletin? There are parties on the ground prepared to fit up