THE GERMANS AND MUSIC 119 THE OLD STORY 126 IN MEMORIAM 131 LAKE MICHIGAN 135 RIP VAN WINKLE 141 AN AUTUMN REVERIE 149 THE BEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD 151 THE SCHOOL HOUSE 153 A NEW LIFE 157 OLD BLOBBS--HIS SPEECH 160 DEATH OF THE MAIDEN AUNT 163 THE NEW YEAR 167 PUBLIC PARTIES 171 AURELIA'S BABY 176 THE QUARREL 182 A WOMAN NOT OF THE PERIOD 185 A TRIP TO HEAVEN 187 DAY DREAMS 193 LENT AND CHILDREN 196 BELLS 203 TENORS AND BASSOS 207 A CHILD'S STORY--THE THREE ROSES 213 THE OLD 222 OLD BLOBBS' OPINIONS 232 TYPES 237 WOMAN IN CHURCH 245 THE MOUNTAINS 249 THE JUBILEE 254 THE DOUBLE LIFE 291 LOVE AND THE BLUE FLOWER 298 MARRIAGE 307 OLD BLOBBS REDIVIVUS 322 A TRIP TO HELL 329 L'ENVOI 339 _THE SEASON._ The backbone of the winter is broken. The Carnival is about over. The lights are going out and the curtain is about to be rung down. The Spring will soon come slowly up this way, and then Lent. We shall take off our masques, be good children, and moralize on the routs, the follies and frivolities of December, January and February; and moralizing, we shall pronounce the winter the gayest, wildest, most dashing and smashing Chicago has ever known. The winter has been one perpetual ball and party. Private amusement has usurped the place of public, and as a consequence, concerts and operas have suffered. The poor Philharmonic has withered like a leaf under this neglect, and Strakosch has lost money at a frightful rate. Soiree, ball and party have succeeded each other with wonderful rapidity, and the belles have been literally kept whirling until they are worn out and pine for the grateful Lent, when they can rest and get ready for the watering places.