It was one of those rarestrokes of poetic something-or-otherthat the whole businessoccurred the morning after thestormy meeting of the Traskmorecensorship board.
Like the good general he was,Richard J. Montcalm had foreseentrouble at this meeting, forit was the boldest invasion yetinto the territory of evil andlaxity. His forces were marshaled.Several of the town'sministers who had been with himon other issues had balked onthis one, but he had three ofthem present, as well as headsof several women's clubs.
As he had anticipated, theirresponsible liberals were presentto do battle, headed by red-hairedPatrick Levitt.
"This board," said Levitt inhis strong, sarcastic voice, "hasgone too far. It was all right toget rid of the actual filth ...and everyone will agree therewas some. But when you bannedthe sale of some magazines andbooks because they had racy coversor because the contents werea little too sophisticated to suitthe taste of members of thisboard ... well, you can carryprotection of our youth to thepoint of insulting the intelligenceof adults who have a rightto read what they want to."
"You're talking about somethingthat's already in the past,Mr. Levitt," said Montcalmmildly. "Let's keep to the issueat hand. You won't deny thatchildren see this indecent statueevery day?"
"No, I won't deny it!" snappedLevitt. "Why shouldn't theysee it? They can see the plate ofthe original in the encyclopaedia.It's a fine copy of a work of art."
Montcalm waited for some rebuttalfrom his supporters, butnone was forthcoming. On thismatter, they apparently wereunwilling to go farther than themoral backing of their presence.
"I do not consider the statueof a naked woman art, even if itis called 'Dawn,'" he said bitingly.He looked at his two colleaguesand received their nodsof acquiescence. He ruled: "Thestatue must be removed fromthe park and from public view."
Levitt had one parting shot.
"Would it solve the board'sproblem if we put a brassiereand panties on the statue?" hedemanded.
"Mr. Levitt's levity is notamusing. The board has ruled,"said Montcalm coldly, arising tosignify the end of the meeting.
That night Montcalm slept thesatisfied sleep of the just.
He awoke shortly after dawnto find a strange, utterly beautifulnaked woman in his bedroom.For a bemused instant Montcalmthought the statue of Dawn inthe park had come to haunt him.His mouth fell open but he wasunable to speak.
"Take me to your President,"said the naked woman musically,with an accent that could havebeen Martian.
Mrs. Montcalm awoke.
"What's that? What is it,Richard?" she asked sleepily.
"Don't look, Millie!" exclaimedMontcalm, clapping a handover her eyes.
"Nonsense!" she snapped,pushing his hand aside and sittingup. She gasped and her eyeswent wide, and in an instinctive,unreasonable reaction she clutchedthe covers up around her ownnightgowned bosom.
"Who are you, young woman?"demanded Montcalm indignantly."How did you get inhere?"
"I am a visitor from what youwould call an alien planet," shesaid. "Of course," she addedthoughtfully, "it isn't alien tome."
"The woman's mad," saidMontcalm to his wife. A warningnoise sounded in the adjoiningbedroom. Alarmed, he instructed:"Go and keep the childrenout of here until I can get her