The "Genius"

This story has its beginnings in the town of Alexandria, Illinois, between 1884 and 1889, at the time
when the place had a population of somewhere near ten thousand. There was about it just enough of the
air of a city to relieve it of the sense of rural life. It had one street-car line, a theater,--or rather, an opera
house, so-called (why no one might say, for no opera was ever performed there)--two railroads, with
their stations, and a business district, composed of four brisk sides to a public square. In the square
were the county court-house and four newspapers. These two morning and two evening papers made
the population fairly aware of the fact that life was full of issues, local and national, and that there were
many interesting and varied things to do. On the edge of town, several lakes and a pretty stream--
perhaps Alexandria's most pleasant feature--gave it an atmosphere not unakin to that of a moderatepriced
summer resort. Architecturally the town was not new. It was mostly built of wood, as all
American towns were at this time, but laid out prettily in some sections, with houses that sat back in
great yards, far from the streets, with flower beds, brick walks, and green trees as concomitants of a
comfortable home life. Alexandria was a city of young Americans. Its spirit was young. Life was all
before almost everybody. It was really good to be alive.