“Well--sounds as if it covered the ground. It certainly is a fine thing to be able to orate. I’ve sometimes thought I had a little talent that way myself, and I know darn well that one reason why a fourflushing old back-number like Chan Mott can get away with it in real estate is just because he can make a good talk, even when he hasn’t got a doggone thing to say! And it certainly is pretty cute the way they get out all these courses on various topics and subjects nowadays. I’ll tell you, though: No need to blow in a lot of good money on this stuff when you can get a first-rate course in eloquence and English and all that right in your own school--and one of the biggest school buildings in the entire country!” “That’s so,” said Mrs. Babbitt comfortably, while Ted complained: “Yuh, but Dad, they just teach a lot of old junk that isn’t any practical use--except the manual training and typewriting and basketball and dancing--and in these correspondence-courses, gee, you can get all kinds of stuff that would come in handy. Say, listen to this one:” CAN YOU PLAY A MAN’S PART? If you are walking with your mother, sister or best girl and some one passes a slighting remark or uses improper language, won’t you be ashamed if you can’t take her part? Well, can you? We teach boxing and self-defense by mail. Many pupils have written saying that after a few lessons they’ve outboxed bigger and heavier opponents. The lessons start with simple movements practised before your mirror--holding out your hand for a coin, the breast-stroke in swimming, etc. Before you realize it you are striking scientifically, ducking, guarding and feinting, just as if you had a real opponent before you. “Oh, baby, maybe I wouldn’t like that!” Ted chanted. “I’ll tell the world! Gosh, I’d like to take one fellow I know in school that’s always shooting off his mouth, and catch him alone--” “Nonsense! The idea! Most useless thing I ever heard of!” Babbitt fulminated. “Well, just suppose I was walking with Mama or Rone, and somebody passed a slighting remark or used improper language. What would I do?” “Why, you’d probably bust the record for the hundred-yard dash!” “I _would_ not! I’d stand right up to any mucker that passed a slighting remark on _my_ sister and I’d show him--” “Look here, young Dempsey! If I ever catch you fighting I’ll whale the everlasting daylights out of you--and I’ll do it without practising holding out my hand for a coin before the mirror, too!” “Why, Ted dear,” Mrs. Babbitt said placidly, “it’s not at all nice, your talking of fighting this way!” “Well, gosh almighty, that’s a fine way to appreciate-- And then suppose I was walking with _you_, Ma, and somebody passed a slighting remark--”