Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/141

 that the girls, who occupied one side of the auditorium, were as intelligently appreciative of the lecture as were the youths, their fellow-students. All were expected to take notes of each lecture. This was effected by their repeating to their private phonograph, as soon as convenient, what they recollected of the lecture.

At my request Reva favored me with a sight, or, rather, hearing, of her phonographic notes on the lecture above referred to. I was amazed at the accuracy with which she had reproduced the substance of what had been said, though, of course, with somewhat altered diction. parents, by this means, became the examiners of the students,—examiners the more efficient since they could bring unwearied attention to a task in which enlightened affection prompted vigilant care. As will afterwards be seen, parental authority and parental responsibility were supreme social forces, not antiquated abstractions to be flouted at by silly, would-be reformers, and weakened by unwise legislation.

That Hulmar Edial was no mere passive or reluctant listener to his daughter's summary of the lecture was evident enough from the questions and remarks interpolated by him. The questions were brief but searching. Reva, too, occasionally interrupted her summary by remarks that showed both a thorough knowledge of and interest in the subject.

I cannot truthfully say, that I had been wonderfully interested in the lecture at the time of its delivery. A discourse of which one comprehends only enough to appreciate the depths of one's ignorance is not apt, as a usual thing, to rouse enthusiastic attention on the part