Elephant Ears

"Did you ever taste elephant ears?" asked an amateur botanist of his companion as they passeda florist's where one of the plants was displayed. "No," replied his companion, "I never did." "It's a good thing for you." said the botanist, "althougb it is an experience that will remain in your memory for a long time to come. I remember- oh, It seems like a hundred years back, yet the incident is fresh in my mind and as clear as crystal -whcn three boys wore leaning across a wall looking at the plant in a garden. "I was one of the boys and the other two were telling me what a sweet taste elephant leaves had. At first I refuaed to taste the plant, bot one of the boys put a piece in his mouth- at least he pretended to- and I agreed to chew some also. Well, persimmons are as sugar compared to the drawing and bitterness of the elephant leaf and for half an hour after I had put the bit of leaf into my mouth I drank enough water to float a ship."