our goodness and beauty as the moving force, you cannot fail. Whatever
I am capable of doing to assist you, I shall do gladly, with all my
heart and strength."

"Thank you, my dear Fillmore," said Fern, "your words of assurance and
approval, so beautifully expressed, have appealed potently to all that
is good and spiritual in my nature. They have inspired me to better and
nobler deeds. They are very grateful to me and I prize them highly.

"Now that you are so much interested, I feel sure you will be able to
help me in thinking out some problems which puzzle me. For instance:
From among the people I have interested, I wish to select and
concentrate the dominant thinkers and workers of both sexes and from all
classes, into some kind of a club organization, for the purpose of still
further perfecting the efficiency of organized co-operative effort.
Question: Shall this society take the form of a club? If so, what name
shall I choose for it? In its formation what method shall I use? Can you
evolve anything from your inner consciousness in answer to these
questions?"

Absorbed in the intensity and earnestness of her questioning spirit,
Fern Fenwick left her chair and as her interrogatories came to an end,
she stood by the side of Fillmore Flagg, looking straight into his eyes
with such a penetrating, magnetic glance, that for some moments he was
unable to reply. With his beautiful curl-crowned head thrown back to
meet and return her entrancing gaze, he breathed but slowly and for the
moment seemed rigid as a man of marble; a far-off, dreamy look shone
from his half closed eyes. Presently, with a long sigh, speaking very
slowly and softly, he said: "Ah! Miss Fenwick, I think I see what you
are reaching out for. Your idea is coming to me now quite clearly." Then
with returning animation he continued: "Yes, I grasp the idea; it is
capital! I believe I can help you. I would suggest the use of the club
formation without using the word 'club' in its title. I would call it
'The Twentieth Century Cosmos.' I would choose for its badge of
membership a small silver fern leaf, crossed by a large gold key. I
would advise that you alone, as the founder and sole director of the
club, should have the power to select the members, and to decorate them
with the badge of membership. To be in harmony with the century idea,
the number of members should be limited to one hundred. All meetings of
the club should be held in suitable rooms at Fenw