第9章

Fulkersonappearednottobeverystrenuousabouttheattackonthenovelist。"Say!"hecalledout，gayly，"whatshouldyouthinkofapaperdefendingthelatelamentedsystemofslavery"?"

"Whatdoyoumean，Fulkerson?"askedMarch，withapuzzledsmile。

Fulkersonbracedhiskneesagainsthisdesk，andpushedhimselfback，butkepthisbalancetotheeyebycantinghishatsharplyforward。"There"sanoldcockoverthereatthewidow"sthat"swrittenabooktoprovethatslaverywasandistheonlysolutionofthelaborproblem。He"saSoutherner。"

"Ishouldimagine，"Marchassented。

"He"sgotitonthebrainthatiftheSouthcouldhavebeenletalonebythecommercialspiritandthepseudophilanthropyoftheNorth，itwouldhaveworkedoutslaveryintoaperfectlyidealconditionforthelaborer，inwhichhewouldhavebeeninsuredagainstwant，andprotectedinallhispersonalrightsbythestate。Hereadtheintroductiontomelastnight。Ididn"tcatchontoallthepoints——hisdaughter"sanawfullyprettygirl，andIwascarryingthatfactinmymindallthetime，too，youknow——butthat"saboutthegistofit。"

"Seemstoregarditasalostopportunity?"saidMarch。

"Exactly!Whatamightycatchytitle，Neigh?Lookwellonthetitle-

page。"

"Wellwritten?"

"Ireckonso；Idon"tknow。TheColonelreaditmightyeloquently。"

"Itmightn"tbesuchbadbusiness，"saidMarch，inamuse。"Couldyougetmeasightofitwithoutcommittingyourself?"

"IftheColonelhasn"tsentitofftoanotherpublisherthismorning。Hejustgotitbackwiththanksyesterday。Helikestokeepittravelling。"

"Well，tryit。I"veanotionitmightbeacuriousthing。"

"Lookhere，March，"saidFulkerson，withtheeffectoftakingafreshhold；"IwishyoucouldletmehaveoneofthoseNewYorkthingsofyoursforthefirstnumber。Afterall，that"sgoingtobethegreatcard。"

"Icouldn"t，Fulkerson；Icouldn"t，really。Iwanttophilosophizethematerial，andI"mtoonewtoitallyet。Idon"twanttodomerelysuperficialsketches。"

"Ofcourse!Ofcourse!Iunderstandthat。Well，Idon"twanttohurryyou。Seenthatoldfellowofyoursyet?Ithinkweoughttohavethattranslationinthefirstnumber；don"tyou?Wewanttogive"emanotionofwhatwe"regoingtodointhatline。"

"Yes，"saidMarch；"andIwasgoingouttolookupLindauthismorning。

I"veinquiredatMaroni"s，andhehasn"tbeenthereforseveraldays。

I"vesomeideaperhapshe"ssick。Buttheygavemehisaddress，andI"mgoingtosee。"

"Well，that"sright。Wewantthefirstnumbertobethekeynoteineveryway。"

Marchshookhishead。"Youcan"tmakeitso。Thefirstnumberisboundtobeafailurealways，asfarastherepresentativecharactergoes。

It"sinvariablythecase。Lookatthefirstnumbersofallthethingsyou"veseenstarted。They"reexperimental，almostamateurish，andnecessarilyso，notonlybecausethementhataremakingthemuparecomparativelyinexperiencedlikeourselves，butbecausethematerialsentthemtodealwithismoreorlessconsciouslytentative。Peoplesendtheiradventurousthingstoanewperiodicalbecausethewholethingisanadventure。I"venoticedthatqualityinallthevolunteercontributions；it"sinthearticlesthathavebeendonetoordereven。

No；I"veaboutmadeupmymindthatifwecangetonegoodstrikingpaperintothefirstnumberthatwilltakepeople"smindsofftheothers，weshallbedoingallwecanpossiblehopefor。Ishouldlike，"Marchadded，lessseriously，"tomakeupthreenumbersahead，andpublishthethirdonefirst。"

Fulkersondroppedforwardandstruckhisfistonthedesk。"It"safirst-rateidea。Whynotdoit?"

Marchlaughed。"Fulkerson，Idon"tbelievethere"sanyquackishthingyouwouldn"tdointhiscause。FromtimetotimeI"mthoroughlyashamedofbeingconnectedwithsuchacharlatan。"

Fulkersonstruckhishatsharplybackward。"Ah，dadburnit!TogivethatthingtherightkindofstartI"dwalkupanddownBroadwaybetweentwoboards，withthetitle-pageofEveryOtherWeekfacsimiledononeandmynameandaddressonthe——"

Hejumpedtohisfeetandshouted，"March，I"lldoit!"

"What?"

"I"llhirealotoffellowstomakemud-turtlesofthemselves，andI"llhavealotofbigfacsimilesofthetitle-page，andI"llpaintthetownred!"

Marchlookedaghastathim。"Oh，come，now，Fulkerson!"

"Imeanit。IwasinLondonwhenanewmanhadtakenholdoftheoldCornhill，andtheyweretryingtoboomit，andtheyhadaprocessionofthesemudturtlesthatreachedfromCharingCrosstoTempleBar。CornhillMagazine。Sixpence。Notadullpageinit。"IsaidtomyselfthenthatitwasthelivestthingIeversaw。Irespectedthemanthatdidthatthingfromthebottomofmyheart。IwonderIeverforgotit。Butitshowswhatashakythingthehumanmindisatitsbest。"

"Youinfamousmountebank!"，saidMarch，withgreatamusementatFulkerson"saccess；"youcallthatcongeriesofadvertisinginstinctofyoursthehumanmindatitsbest?Come，don"tbesodiffident，Fulkerson。Well，I"mofftofindLindau，andwhenIcomebackIhopeMr。

Dryfooswillhaveyouundercontrol。Idon"tsupposeyou"llbequitesaneagaintillafterthefirstnumberisout。Perhapspublicopinionwillsoberyouthen。"

"Confoundit，March!Howdoyouthinktheywilltakeit?IswearI"mgettingsonervousIdon"tknowhalfthetimewhichendofmeisup。

Ibelieveifwedon"tgetthatthingoutbythefirstofFebruaryit"llbethedeathofme。"

"Couldn"twaittillWashington"sBirthday?Iwasthinkingitwouldgivethedayakindofdistinction，andstrikethepublicimagination，if——"

"No，I"llbedoggedifIcould!"Fulkersonlapsedmoreandmoreintotheparlanceofhisearlylifeinthisseasonofstrongexcitement。

"IbelieveifBeatonlagsanyontheartlegI"llkillhim。"

"Well，Ishouldn"tmindyourkillingBeaton，"saidMarch，tranquilly，ashewentout。

HewentovertoThirdAvenueandtooktheElevateddowntoChathamSquare。Hefoundthevarietyofpeopleinthecarasunfailinglyentertainingasever。HeratherpreferredtheEastSidetotheWestSidelines，becausetheyofferedmorenationalities，conditions，andcharacterstohisinspection。Theydrawnotonlyfromtheup-townAmericanregion，butfromallthevasthiveofpopulationsswarmingbetweenthemandtheEastRiver。Hehadfoundthat，accordingtothehour，Americanhusbandsgoingtoandfrombusiness，andAmericanwivesgoingtoandfromshopping，prevailedontheSixthAvenueroad，andthatthemostpicturesqueadmixturetothesefamiliaraspectsofhumannaturewerethebrillianteyesandcomplexionsoftheAmericanHebrews，whootherwisecontributedtotheeffectofwell-cladcomfortandcitizen-

self-satisfactionofthecrowd。NowandthenhehadfoundhimselfinacarmostlyfilledwithNeapolitansfromtheconstructionsfaruptheline，wherehehadreadhowtheyareworkedandfedandhousedlikebeasts；andlisteningtothejargonoftheirunintelligibledialect，hehadoccasionforpensivequestionwithinhimselfastowhatnotionthesepooranimalsformedofafreerepublicfromtheirexperienceoflifeunderitsconditions；andwhethertheyfoundthempracticallyverydifferentfromthoseoftheimmemorialbrigandageandenforcedcomplicitywithrapineunderwhichtheyhadbeenborn。But，afterall，thiswasaninfrequenteffect，howevermassive，oftravelontheWestSide，whereastheEastofferedhimcontinualentertainmentinlikesort。Thesortwasneverquitesosqualid。Forshortdistancesthelowestpoverty，thehardestpressedlabor，mustwalk；butMarchneverenteredacarwithoutencounteringsomeinterestingshapeofshabbyadversity，whichwasalmostalwaysadversityofforeignbirth。NewYorkisstillpopularlysupposedtobeinthecontroloftheIrish，butMarchnoticedintheseEastSidetravelsofhiswhatmuststrikeeveryobserverreturningtothecityafteraprolongedabsence:thenumericalsubordinationofthedominantrace。Iftheydonotoutvotethem，thepeopleofGermanic，ofSlavonic，ofPelasgic，ofMongolianstockoutnumbertheprepotentCelts；andMarchseldomfoundhisspeculationcentredupononeofthese。Thesmalleyes，thehighcheeks，thebroadnoses，thepufflips，thebare，cue-filletedskulls，ofRussians，Poles，Czechs，Chinese；thefurtiveglitterofItalians；theblondedulnessofGermans；thecoldquietofScandinavians——fireunderice——wereaspectsthatheidentified，andthatgavehimabundantsuggestionforthepersonalhistoriesheconstructed，andforthemorepublic-spiritedreveriesinwhichhedealtwiththefutureeconomyofourheterogeneouscommonwealth。Itmustbeownedthathedidnottakemuchtroubleaboutthis；whatthesepoorpeoplewerethinking，hoping，fearing，enjoying，suffering；justwhereandhowtheylived；whoandwhattheyindividuallywere——thesewerethemattersofhiswakingdreamsashestaredhardatthem，whilethetrainracedfartherintothegayugliness——theshapeless，graceful，recklesspicturesquenessoftheBowery。

Therewerecertainsigns，certainfacades，certainaudacitiesoftheprevailinghideousnessthatalwaysamusedhiminthatuproartotheeyewhichthestridentformsandcolorsmade。HewasinterestedintheinsolencewithwhichtherailwayhaddrawnitserasinglineacrosstheCorinthianfrontofanoldtheatre，almostgrazingitsflutedpillars，andfloutingitsdishonoredpediment。Thecolossaleffigiesofthefatwomenandthetuft-headedCircassiangirlsofcheapmuseums；thevistasofshabbycrossstreets；thesurvivalofanoldhip-roofedhousehereandthereattheirangles；theSwisschalet，histrionicdecorativenessofthestationsinprospectorretrospect；thevagariesofthelinesthatnarrowedtogetherorstretchedapartaccordingtothewidthoftheavenue，butalwaysinwantondisregardofthelifethatdwelt，andboughtandsold，andrejoicedorsorrowed，andclatteredorcrawled，around，below，above——werefeaturesofthefranticpanoramathatperpetuallytouchedhissenseofhumorandmovedhissympathy。Accidentandthenexigencyseemedtheforcesatworktothisextraordinaryeffect；theplayofenergiesasfreeandplanlessasthosethatforcetheforestfromthesoiltothesky；andthenthefiercestruggleforsurvival，withthestrongerlifepersistingoverthedeformity，themutilation，thedestruction，thedecayoftheweaker。Thewholeatmomentsseemedtohimlawless，godless；theabsenceofintelligent，comprehensivepurposeinthehugedisorder，andtheviolentstruggletosubordinatetheresulttothegreatergood，penetratedwithitsdumbappealtheconsciousnessofamanwhohadalwaysbeentooself-enwrappedtoperceivethechaostowhichtheindividualselfishnessmustalwayslead。

Buttherewasstillnothingdefinite，nothingbetterthanavaguediscomfort，howeverpoignant，inhishalfrecognitionofsuchfacts；andhedescendedthestationstairsatChathamSquarewithasenseoftheneglectedopportunitiesofpaintersinthatlocality。HesaidtohimselfthatifoneofthosefellowsweretoseeinNaplesthatturmoilofcars，trucks，andteamsofeverysort，intershotwithfoot-passengersgoingandcomingtoandfromthecrowdedpavements，undertheweboftherailroadtracksoverhead，andamidthespectacularapproachofthestreetsthatopenintothesquare，hewouldhaveitdowninhissketch-bookatonce。

Hedecidedsimultaneouslythathisownlocalstudiesmustbeillustrated，andthatbemustcomewiththeartistandshowhimjustwhichbitstodo，notknowingthatthetwoartscanneverapproachthesamematerialfromthesamepoint。HethoughthewouldparticularlylikehisillustratortorendertheDickensy，cockneyishqualityofthe，shabby-genteelballad-

sellerofwhomhestoppedtoaskhiswaytothestreetwhereLindaulived，andwhomheinstantlyperceivedtobe，withhisstockintrade，thesufficientobjectofanentirestudybyhimself。Hehadhisballadsstrungsinglyuponacordagainstthehousewall，andhelddowninpilesonthepavementwithstonesandblocksofwood。Theircontrolinthiswayintimatedavolatilitywhichwasnotperceptibleintheirsentiment。

Theyweremostlytragicalordoleful:someofthemdealtwiththewrongsoftheworking-man；othersappealedtoagayexperienceofthehighseas；

butvastlythegreaterparttomemoriesandassociationsofanIrishorigin；somestillutteredthepoetryofplantationlifeintheartlessaccentsoftheend——man。Wheretheytrustedthemselves，withsyntaxthatyieldedpromptlytoanyexigencyofrhythmicart，totheordinaryAmericanspeech，itwastostrikedirectlyfortheaffections，tocelebratethedomesticties，and，aboveall，toembalmthememoriesofangelandmartyrmotherswhosedissipatedsonsdeploredtheirsufferingstoolate。Marchthoughtthisnotatallabadthinginthem；hesmiledinpatronageoftheirsimplepathos；hepaidthetributeofalaughwhenthepoetturned，ashesometimesdid，fromhisconceptionofangelandmartyrmotherhood，andportrayedthemotherinhermorefamiliarphasesofvirtueandduty，withtheretributiveshingleorslipperinherhand。

Heboughtapocketfulofthisliterature，popularinasensewhichthemostsuccessfulbookcanneverbe，andenlistedtheballadvendorsodeeplyintheefforttodirecthimtoLindau"sdwellingbythebestwaythatheneglectedanothercustomer，tillasarcasmonhisabsent-

mindednessstunghinttoretort，"I"ma-tryingtoansweragentlemanacivilquestion；that"swheretheabsent-mindedcomesin。"

ItseemedforsomereasontobeadayofleisurewiththeChinesedwellersinMottStreet，whichMarchhadbeenadvisedtotakefirst。

Theystoodaboutthetopsofbasementstairs，andwalkedtwoandtwoalongthedirtypavement，withtheirlittlehandstuckedintotheirsleevesacrosstheirbreasts，aloofinimmaculatecleanlinessfromthefiltharoundthem，andscrutinizingthescenewiththatcynicalsneeroffaintsurprisetowhichallaspectsofourcivilizationseemtomovetheirsuperiority。Theirnumbersgavecharactertothestreet，andrenderednotthem，butwhatwasforeigntothem，strangethere；sothatMarchhadasenseofmissionaryqualityintheoldCatholicchurch，builtlongbeforetheirincursionwasdreamedof。Itseemedtohavecometothemthere，andhefanciedinthestatuedsaintthatlookeddownfromitsfacadesomethingnotsomuchtolerantastolerated，somethingpropitiatory，almostdeprecatory。Itwasafancy，ofcourse；thestreetwassufficientlypeopledwithChristianchildren，atanyrate，swarmingandshriekingattheirgames；andpresentlyaChristianmotherappeared，pushedalongbytwopolicemenonahandcart，withagelatinoustremoroverthepavingandagelatinousjouncingatthecurbstones。Shelaywithherfacetothesky，sendingupaninarticulatelamentation；buttheindifferenceoftheofficersforbadethenotionoftragedyinhercase。

Shewasperhapsalocalcelebrity；thechildrenleftofftheirgames，andrangaylytroopingafterher；eventheyoungfellowandyounggirlexchangingplayfulblowsinarobustflirtationatthecornerofaliquorstoresuspendedtheirscufflewithapleasedinterestasshepassed。

Marchunderstoodtheunwillingnessofthepoortoleavetheworstconditionsinthecityforcomfortandplentyinthecountrywhenhereflecteduponthisdramaticincident，oneofmanynodoubtwhichdailyoccurtoentertaintheminsuchstreets。Asmalltowncouldrarelyofferanythingcomparabletoit，andthecountrynever。Hesaidthatiflifeappearedsohopelesstohimasitmusttothedwellersinthatneighborhoodheshouldnothimselfbewillingtoquititsdistractions，itsalleviations，forthevaguepromiseofunknowngoodinthedistancesomewhere。

ButwhatcharmcouldsuchamanasLindaufindinsuchaplace?Itcouldnotbethathelivedtherebecausehewastoopoortoliveelsewhere:

withashuttingoftheheart，Marchrefusedtobelievethisashelookedroundontheaboundingevidencesofmisery，andguiltilyrememberedhisneglectofhisoldfriend。Lindaucouldprobablyfindascheapalodginginsomedecenterpartofthetown；and，infact，therewassomeameliorationoftheprevailingsqualorinthequieterstreetwhichheturnedintofromMott。

Awomanwithatied-upfaceoftoothacheopenedthedoorforhimwhenhepulled，withashiverofforeboding，thebell-knob，fromwhichayardofrustycrapedangled。ButitwasnotLindauwhowasdead，forthewomansaidhewasathome，andsentMarchstumblingupthefourorfivedarkflightsofstairsthatledtohistenement。Itwasquiteatthetopofthehouse，andwhenMarchobeyedtheGerman-English"Komm!"thatfollowedhisknock，hefoundhimselfinakitchenwhereameagrebreakfastwasscatteredinstalefragmentsonthetablebeforethestove。Theplacewasbareandcold；ahalf-emptybeerbottlescarcelygaveitaconvivialair。Ontheleftfromthiskitchenwasaroomwithabedinit，whichseemedalsotobeacobbler"sshop:ontheright，throughadoorthatstoodajar，cametheGerman-Englishvoiceagain，sayingthistime，"Hier!"

XII。

Marchpushedthedooropenintoaroomlikethatontheleft，butwithawriting-deskinsteadofacobbler"sbench，andabed，whereLindausatproppedup；withacoatoverhisshouldersandaskull-caponhishead，readingabook，fromwhichheliftedhiseyestostareblanklyoverhisspectaclesatMarch。Hishairyoldbreastshowedthroughthenight-

shirt，whichgapedapart；thestumpofhisleftarmlayuponthebooktokeepitopen。

"Ah，mytearyo"ngfriendt!Passil!Marge!Issityou?"hecalledout，joyously，thenextmoment。

"Why，areyousick，Lindau?"Marchanxiouslyscannedhisfaceintakinghishand。

Lindaulaughed。"No；I"mallrighdt。Onlyalidtlelazy，andalidtleeggonomigal。Idt"sjeapertostayinpedtsometimesastogeepafirea-

goin"allthetime。Don"twandttogometoohardtonthe"braferMann"，youknow:

"BraverMann，erschafftmirzuessen。"

Youremember?Heine?YoureadtHeinestill?Whoisyourfavoriteboetnow，Passil?Youwritesomeboetryyourselfyet?No?Well，Iamgladttozeeyou。Brushthosebaperssoffofthatjair。Well，idtisgoodtforzoreeyess。HowdidtyoufindtwhereIlif?

"TheytoldmeatMaroni"s，"saidMarch。HetriedtokeephiseyesonLindau"sface，andnotseethediscomfortoftheroom，buthewasawareoftheshabbyandfrowsybedding，theodorofstalesmoke，andthepipesandtobaccoshredsmixedwiththebooksandmanuscriptsstrewnovertheleafofthewriting-desk。Helaiddownonthemassthepileofforeignmagazineshehadbroughtunderhisarm。"Theygavemeanotheraddressfirst。"

"Yes。Ihavechustgomehere，"saidLindau。"Idtisnotverycoy，Neigh?"

"Itmightbegayer，"Marchadmitted，withasmile。"Still，"headded，soberly，"agoodmanypeopleseemtoliveinthispartofthetown。

Apparentlytheydiehere，too，Lindau。Thereiscrapeonyouroutsidedoor。Ididn"tknowbutitwasforyou。"

"Nodtthistime，"saidLindau，inthesamehumor。"Berhapssomeothertime。Wegeeptheondertakersbrattypuzydownhere。"

"Well，"saidMarch，"undertakersmustlive，eveniftherestofushavetodietoletthem。"Lindaulaughed，andMarchwenton:"ButI"mgladitisn"tyourfuneral，Lindau。Andyousayyou"renotsick，andsoIdon"tseewhyweshouldn"tcometobusiness。"

"Pusiness?"Lindauliftedhiseyebrows。"Yougomeonpusiness?"

"Andpleasurecombined，"saidMarch，andhewentontoexplaintheservicehedesiredatLindau"shands。

Theoldmanlistenedwithseriousattention，andwithassentingnodsthatculminatedinaspokenexpressionofhiswillingnesstoundertakethetranslations。Marchwaitedwithasortofmechanicalexpectationofhisgratitudefortheworkputinhisway，butnothingofthekindcamefromLindau，andMarchwaslefttosay，"Well，everythingisunderstood，then；

andIdon"tknowthatIneedaddthatifyoueverwantanylittleadvanceonthework——"

"Iwillaskyou，"saidLindau，quietly，"andIthankyouforthat。ButI

canwait；Iton"tneedtanymoneyjustatbresent。"Asifhesawsomeappealforgreaterfranknessin，March"seye，hewenton:"Itidn"tgomeherebegauseIwastooboortolifanywhereelse，andIton"tstayinpedtbegauseIcouldn"thafafiretogeepwarmifIwantedit。I"mnodtzopadtoffasMarmontelwhenhewenttoParis。I"malidtleloaxurious，thatisall。IfIstayinpedtit"szoIcanflingmoneyawayonsomethingselse。Heigh?"

"Butwhatareyoulivingherefor，Lindau?"MarchsmiledattheironylurkinginLindau"swords。

"Well，youzee，IfoundtIwasbegomingalidtletoomochofanaristograt。IhadtaroomoapinCreenvidgeWillage，amongdosepigpugsoverontheWestSide，andIfoundt"——Liudau"svoicelostitsjestingquality，andhisfacedarkened——"thatIwasbeginningtoforgettheboor!"

"Ishouldhavethought，"saidMarch，withimpartialinterest，"thatyoumighthaveseenpovertyenough，nowandthen，inGreenwichVillagetoremindyouofitsexistence。"

"Nodtlikehere，"saidLindau。"Andtyoumustzeeitallthedtime——zeeit，hearit，smellit，dtasteit——oryouforgetit。ThatiswhatIgomeherefor。Iwasbegomingaploatedaristograt。IthoughtIwasnodtlikethesebeopledownhere，whenIgomedownoncetolookaroundt；

IthoughtImustbesomethingselse，andzoIzaidIbettertakemyselfintime，andIgomehereamongmybrothers——thebecearsandthethiefs!"

Anoisemadeitselfheardinthenextroom，asifthedoorwerefurtivelyopened，andafaintsoundoftiptoeingandofhandsclawingonatable。

"Thiefs!"Lindaurepeated，withashout。"Lidtlethiefs，thatgabtureyourbreakfast。Ah!ha!ha!"Awildscurryingoffeet，joyouscriesandtittering，andaslammingdoorfolloweduponhisexplosion，andheresumedinthesilence:"Idtisthechildrencotpackfromschool。TheygomeandstealwhatIleafthereonmydaple。Idt"soneofourlidtlechokes；weonderstandoneanother；that"sallrighdt。Oncethegobblerintheotherroomthereheusedtochase"em；hecouldn"tonderstandtheirlidtletricks。Nowdotgoppler"steadt，andheton"tchase"emanymore。HewasaBohemian。Gindtofgrazy，Icuess。"

"Well，it"sasociableexistence，"Marchsuggested。"Butperhapsifyouletthemhavethethingswithoutstealing——"

"Ohno，no!Mostnodtmagethemtoogonceitedt。Theymostn"tgoandfeelthemselfspetterthanthoseboormillionairssthathadttostealtheirmoney。"

Marchsmiledindulgentlyathisoldfriend"sviolence。"Oh，therearefagotsandfagots，youknow，Lindau；perhapsnotallthemillionairesaresoguilty。"

"LetusspeakGerman!"criedLindau，inhisowntongue，pushinghisbookaside，andthrustinghisskullcapbackfromhisforehead。"Howmuchmoneycanamanhonestlyearnwithoutwrongingoroppressingsomeotherman?"

"Well，ifyou"llletmeanswerinEnglish，"saidMarch，"Ishouldsayaboutfivethousanddollarsayear。Inamethatfigurebecauseit"smyexperiencethatInevercouldearnmore；buttheexperienceofothermenmaybedifferent，andiftheytellmetheycanearnten，ortwenty，orfiftythousandayear，I"mnotpreparedtosaytheycan"tdoit。"

Lindauhardlywaitedforhisanswer。"Notthemostgiftedmanthateverlived，inthepracticeofanyartorscience，andpaidatthehighestratethatexceptionalgeniuscouldjustlydemandfromthosewhohaveworkedfortheirmoney，couldeverearnamilliondollars。Itisthelandlordsandthemerchantprinces，therailroadkingsandthecoalbarons(theoppressorstowhomyouinstinctivelygivethetitlesoftyrants)——itisthesethatmakethemillions，butnomanearnsthem。

Whatartist，whatphysician，whatscientist，whatpoetwaseveramillionaire?"

"IcanonlythinkofthepoetRogers，"saidMarch，amusedbyLindau"stirade。"ButhewasasexceptionalastheotherRogers，themartyr，whodiedwithwarmfeet。"Lindauhadapparentlynotunderstoodhisjoke，andhewenton，withtheAmericaneaseofmindabouteverything:"Butyoumustallow，Lindau，thatsomeofthosefellowsdon"tdosobadlywiththeirguiltygains。Someofthemgiveworktoarmiesofpoorpeople——"

Lindaufuriouslyinterrupted:"Yes，whentheyhavegatheredtheirmillionstogetherfromthehungerandcoldandnakednessandruinanddespairofhundredsofthousandsofothermen，they"givework"tothepoor!Theygivework!Theyallowtheirhelplessbrotherstoearnenoughtokeeplifeinthem!Theygivework!Whoisitgivestoil，andwherewillyourrichmenbewhenoncethepoorshallrefusetogivetoil"?

Why，youhavecometogivemework!"

Marchlaughedoutright。"Well，I"mnotamillionaire，anyway，Lindau，andIhopeyouwon"tmakeanexampleofmebyrefusingtogivetoil。I

daresaythemillionairesdeserveit，butI"drathertheywouldn"tsufferinmyperson。"

"No，"returnedtheoldman，mildlyrelaxingthefierceglarehehadbentuponMarch。"Nomandeservestosuferatthehandsofanother。IlosemyselfwhenIthinkoftheinjusticeintheworld。ButImustnotforgetthatIamliketheworstofthem。"

"YoumightgoupFifthAvenueandliveamongtherichawhile，whenyou"reindangerofthat，"suggestedMarch。"Atanyrate，"headded，byanimpulsewhichheknewhecouldnotjustifytohiswife，"Iwishyou"dcomesomedayandlunchwiththeiremissary。I"vebeentellingMrs。

Marchaboutyou，andIwantherandthechildrentoseeyou。Comeoverwiththesethingsandreport。"Heputhishandonthemagazinesasherose。

"Iwillcome，"saidLindau，gently。

"ShallIgiveyouyourbook?"askedMarch。

"No；Igidtoapbrettysoon。"

"And——and——canyoudressyourself?"

"Ivhistle，"andoneofthoselidtlefellowsscomess。Wehaftodakegareofoneanotherinablacelikethis。Idtissnodtliketheworldt，"

saidLindau，gloomily。

Marchthoughtheoughttocheerhimup。"Oh，itisn"tsuchabadworld，Lindau!Afterall，theaverageofmillionairesissmallinit。"Headded，"AndIdon"tbelievethere"sanAmericanlivingthatcouldlookatthatarmofyoursandnotwishtolendyouahandfortheoneyougaveusall。"Marchfeltthistobeafineturn，andhisvoicetrembledslightlyinsayingit。

Lindausmiledgrimly。"Youthinkzo?Iwouldn"tmochliketodrost"em。

I"vedriedtidttoooften。"HebegantospeakGermanagainfiercely:

"Besides，theyowemenothing。DoyouthinkIknowinglygavemyhandtosavethisoligarchyoftradersandtricksters，thisaristocracyofrailroadwreckersandstockgamblersandmine-slavedriversandmill-serfowners?No；Igaveittotheslave；theslave——ha!ha!ha!——whomI

helpedtounshackletothecommonlibertyofhungerandcold。AndyouthinkIwouldbethebeneficiaryofsuchastateofthings?"

"I"msorrytohearyoutalkso，Lindau，"saidMarch；"verysorry。"

Hestoppedwithalookofpain，androsetogo。LindausuddenlybrokeintoalaughandintoEnglish。

"Oh，well，itisonlydalk，Passil，andittoesmegoodt。Mypargisworsethanmypidte，Icuess。Ipringthesethingsroundtbrettysoon。

Good-bye，Passil，mytearpoy。Aufwiedersehen!"

XIII。

MarchwentawaythinkingofwhatLindauhadsaid，butnotfortheimpersonalsignificanceofhiswordssomuchasforthelighttheycastuponLindauhimself。Hethoughtthewordsviolentenough，butinconnectionwithwhatherememberedofthecheery，poetic，hopefulidealist，theywereevenmorecuriousthanlamentable。Inhisownlifeofcomfortablereveriehehadneverheardanyonetalksobefore，buthehadreadsomethingofthekindnowandtheninblatantlabornewspaperswhichhehadaccidentallyfalleninwith，andonceatastrikers"meetinghehadheardrichpeopledenouncedwiththesamefrenzy。Hehadmadehisownreflectionsuponthetastelessnessoftherhetoric，andtheobviousbuncombeofthemotive，andhehadnottakenthematterseriously。

HecouldnotdoubtLindau"ssincerity，andhewonderedhowhecametothatwayofthinking。Fromhisexperienceofhimselfheaccountedforaprevailingliteraryqualityinit；hedecidedittobefromLindau"sreadingandfeelingratherthanhisreflection。ThatwasthenotionheformedofsomethingshehadmetwithinRuskintomuchthesameeffect；

heregardedthemwithamusementasthechimerasofarhetoricianrunawaywithbyhisphrases。

ButastoLindau，thechiefthinginhismindwasaconceptionofthedrollironyofasituationinwhichsofervidahaterofmillionairesshouldbeworking，indirectlyatleast，fortheprosperityofamanlikeDryfoos，who，asMarchunderstood，hadgothismoneytogetheroutofeverygambler"schanceinspeculation，andallaschemer"sthriftfromtheerrorandneedofothers。Thesituationwasnotmoreincongruous，however，thanalltherestofthe"EveryOtherWeek"affair。Itseemedtohimthattherewerenocrazyfortuitiesthathadnottendedtoitsexistence，andastimewenton，andthedaydrewnearfortheissueofthefirstnumber，thesenseofthisintensifiedtillthewholelostatmomentsthequalityofawakingfact，andcametoberatherafantasticfictionofsleep。

Yettheheterogeneousforcesdidco-operatetoarealitywhichMarchcouldnotdeny，atleastintheirpresence，andthefirstnumberwasrepresentativeofalltheirnebulousintentionsinatangibleform。

Asaresult，itwassorespectablethatMarchbegantorespecttheseintentions，begantorespecthimselfforcombiningandembodyingtheminthevolumewhichappealedtohimwithanovelfascination，whenthefirstadvancecopywaslaiduponhisdesk。Everydetailofitwastiresomelyfamiliaralready，butthewholehadafreshinterestnow。HenowsawhowextremelyfitandeffectiveMissLeighton"sdecorativedesignforthecoverwas，printedinblackandbrick-redonthedelicategraytoneofthepaper。Itwasatonceattractiveandrefined，andhecreditedBeatonwithquiteallhemeritedinworkingitovertotheactualshape。Thetouchandthetasteofthearteditorwerepresentthroughoutthenumber。

AsFulkersonsaid，Beatonhadcaughtonwiththedelicacyofahumming-

birdandthetenacityofabulldogtothevirtuesoftheirillustrativeprocess，andhadworkeditforallitwasworth。Thereweresevenpapersinthenumber，andapoemonthelastpageofthecover，andhehadfoundsomegraphiccommentforeach。Itwasalargerproportionthanwouldafterwardbeallowed，butforonceinawayitwasallowed。Fulkersonsaidtheycouldnotexpecttogettheirmoneybackonthatfirstnumber，anyway。SevenoftheillustrationswereBeaton"s；twoorthreehegotfrompractisedhands；therestweretheworkofunknownpeoplewhichhehadsuggested，andthenrelatedandadaptedwithunfailingingenuitytothedifferentpapers。Hehandledtheillustrationswithsuchsympathyasnottodestroytheirindividualquality，andthatindefinablecharmwhichcomesfromgoodamateurworkinwhateverart。Herescuedthemfromtheirweaknessesanderrors，whileheleftinthemtheevidenceofthepleasurewithwhichacleveryoungman，orasensitivegirl，orarefinedwomanhaddonethem。Inevitablyfromhismanipulation，however，theartofthenumberacquiredhomogeneity，andtherewasnothingcasualinitsappearance。Theresult，Marcheagerlyowned，wasbetterthantheliteraryresult，andheforesawthatthenumberwouldbesoldandpraisedchieflyforitspictures。Yethewasnotashamedoftheliterature，andheindulgedhisadmirationofitthemorefreelybecausehehadnotonlynotwrittenit，butinawayhadnoteditedit。Tobesure，hehadchosenallthematerial，buthehadnotvoluntarilyputitalltogetherforthatnumber；ithadlargelyputitselftogether，aseverynumberofeverymagazinedoes，andasitseemsmoreandmoretodo，intheexperienceofeveryeditor。Therehadtobe，ofcourse，astory，andthenasketchoftravel。Therewasaliteraryessayandasocialessay；

therewasadramatictrifle，verygay，verylight；therewasadashingcriticismonthenewpictures，thenewplays，thenewbooks，thenewfashions；andthentherewasthetranslationofabitofvividRussianrealism，whichtheeditorowedtoLindau"sexplorationoftheforeignperiodicalsleftwithhim；LindauwashimselfaromanticistoftheVictorHugosort，buthesaidthisfragmentofDostoyevskiwasgoodofitskind。

Thepoemwasabitofsocietyverse，withabackwardlookintosimplerandwholesomerexperiences。

Fulkersonwasextremelyproudofthenumber；buthesaiditwastoogood——toogoodfromeverypointofview。Thecoverwastoogood，andthepaperwastoogood，andthatdeviceofroughedges，whichgotovertheobjectiontouncutleaveswhileitsecuredtheiraestheticeffect，wasathingthathetrembledfor，thoughherejoicedinitasastrokeofthehighestgenius。IthadcomefromBeatonatthelastmoment，asacompromise，whentheproblemofthevulgarcroppinessofcutleavesandtheunpopularityofuncutleavesseemedtohavenosolutionbutsuicide。

Fulkersonwasstillmorallycrawlingroundonhishandsandknees，ashesaid，inabjectgratitudeatBeaton"sfeet，thoughhehadhisqualms，hisquestions；andhedeclaredthatBeatonwasthemostinspiredasssinceBalaam"s。"We"reallasses，ofcourse，"headmitted，insemi-apologytoMarch；"butwe"renosuchassesasBeaton。"Hesaidthatifthetastefuldecorativenessofthethingdidnotkillitwiththepublicoutright，itsliteraryexcellencewouldgiveitthefinishingstroke。Perhapsthatmightbeoverlookedintheimpressionofnoveltywhichafirstnumberwouldgive，butitmustneverhappenagain。HeimploredMarchtopromisethatitshouldneverhappenagain；besaidtheironlyhopewasintheimmediatecheapeningofthewholeaffair。Itwasbadenoughtogivethepublictoomuchquantityfortheirmoney，buttothrowinsuchqualityasthatwassimplyruinous；itmustbestopped。Theseweretheexpressionsofhisintimatemoods；everyfrontthathepresentedtothepublicworeaglowoflofty，ofdevoutexultation。Hisprideinthenumbergushedoutinfreshburstsofrhetorictoeveryonewhomhecouldgettotalkwithhimaboutit。Heworkedthepersonalkindlinessofthepresstotheutmost。Hedidnotmindmakinghimselfridiculousorbecomingajokeinthegoodcause，ashecalledit。HejoinedintheapplausewhenahumoristattheclubfeignedtodropdeadfromhischairatFulkerson"sintroductionofthetopic，andhewentontalkingthatfirstnumberintothesurvivingspectators。Hestoodtreatuponalloccasions，andhelunchedattachesofthepressatallhours。Heespeciallybefriendedthecorrespondentsofthenewspapersofothercities，for，asheexplainedtoMarch，thosefellowscouldgivehimanyamountofadvertisingsimplyasliterarygossip。Manyofthefellowswereladieswhocouldnotbesosummarilyaskedouttolunch，butFulkerson"singenuitywasequaltoeveryexigency，andhecontrivedsomehowtomakeeachofthesefeelthatshehadbeenpossessedofexclusiveinformation。TherewasamomentwhenMarchconjecturedawillingnessinFulkersontoworkMrs。Marchintotheadvertisingdepartment，bymeansofateatotheseladiesandtheirfriendswhichsheshouldadministerinhisapartment，buthedidnotencourageFulkersontobeexplicit，andthemomentpassed。Afterward，whenhetoldhiswifeaboutit，hewasastonishedtofindthatshewouldnothavemindeddoingitforFulkerson，andheexperiencedanotherproofofthebluntnessofthefeminineinstinctsinsomedirections，andofthepersonalfavorwhichFulkersonseemedtoenjoywiththewholesex。Thisalonewasenoughtoaccountforthewillingnessofthesecorrespondentstowriteaboutthefirstnumber，butMarchaccusedhimofsendingittotheiraddresseswithboxesofJacqueminotrosesandHuylercandy。

Fulkersonlethimenjoyhisjoke。Hesaidthathewoulddothatoranythingelseforthegoodcause，shortofmarryingthewholecircleoffemalecorrespondents。

Marchwasinclinedtohopethatifthefirstnumberhadbeenmadetoogoodforthecountryatlarge，themoreenlightenedtasteofmetropolitanjournalismwouldinviteacompensatingfavorforitinNewYork。ButfirstFulkersonandthentheeventprovedhimwrong。Inspiteofthequalityofthemagazine，andinspiteofthekindnesswhichsomanynewspapermenfeltforFulkerson，thenoticesintheNewYorkpapersseemedgrudgingandprovisionaltotheardoroftheeditor。Ameritintheworkwasacknowledged，andcertaindefectsinitforwhichMarchhadtrembledwereignored；butthecriticsastonishedhimbyselectingforcensurepointswhichhewaseitherproudoforhadnevernoticed；whichbeingnowbroughttohisnoticehestillcouldnotfeelwerefaults。HeownedtoFulkersonthatiftheyhadsaidsoandsoagainstit，hecouldhaveagreedwiththem，butthattosaythusandsowaspreposterous；andthatiftheadvertisinghadnotbeenadjustedwithsuchgenerousrecognitionoftheclaimsofthedifferentpapers，heshouldhaveknownthecounting-roomwasatthebottomofit。Asitwas，hecouldonlyattributeittoperversityorstupidity。Itwascertainlystupidtocondemnamagazinenoveltylike"EveryOtherWeek"forbeingnovel；andtoaugurthatifitfailed，itwouldfailthroughitsdeparturefromthelinesonwhichalltheotherprosperousmagazineshadbeenbuilt，wasinthelastdegreeperverse，anditlookedmalicious。Thefactthatitwasneitherexactlyabooknoramagazineoughttobeforitandnotagainstit，sinceitwouldinvadenootherfield；itwouldprosperonnogroundbutitsown。

XIV。

ThemoreMarchthoughtoftheinjusticeoftheNewYorkpress(whichhadnot，however，attackedtheliteraryqualityofthenumber)themorebitterlyheresentedit；andhiswife"sindignationsuperheatedhisown。

"EveryOtherWeek"hadbecomeaverypersonalaffairwiththewholefamily；thechildrensharedtheirparents"disgust；Bellewasoutspokenin，herdenunciationsofavenalpress。Mrs。Marchsawnothingbutruinahead，andbegantacitlytoplanaretreattoBoston，andanestablishmentretrenchedtothebasisoftwothousandayear。Sheshedsomesecrettearsinanticipationoftheprivationswhichthismustinvolve；butwhenFulkersoncametoseeMarchratherlatethenightofthepublicationday，shenoblytoldhimthatiftheworstcametotheworstshecouldonlyhavethekindliestfeelingtowardhim，andshouldnotregardhimasintheslightestdegreeresponsible。

"Oh，holdon，holdon!"heprotested。"Youdon"tthinkwe"vemadeafailure，doyou?"

"Why，ofcourse，"shefaltered，whileMarchremainedgloomilysilent。

"Well，Iguesswe"llwaitfortheofficialcount，first。EvenNewYorkhasn"tgoneagainstus，andIguessthere"samajoritycomingdowntoHarlemRiverthatcouldsweepeverythingbeforeit，anyway。"

"Whatdoyoumean，Fulkerson?"Marchdemanded，sternly。

"Oh，nothing!Only，the"NewsCompany"hasorderedtenthousandnow；andyouknowwehadtogivethemthefirsttwentyoncommission。"

"Whatdoyoumean?"Marchrepeated；hiswifeheldherbreath。

"Imeanthatthefirstnumberisaboomingsuccessalready，andthatit"sgoingtoahundredthousandbeforeitstops。Thatunanimityandvarietyofcensureinthemorningpapers，combinedwiththeattractivenessofthethingitself，hasclearedeverystandinthecity，andnowifthefavorofthecountrypressdoesn"tturnthetideagainstus，ourfortune"smade。"TheMarchesremaineddumb。"Why，lookhere!Didn"tItellyouthosecriticismswouldbethemakingofus，whentheyfirstbegantoturnyoubluethismorning，March?"

"Hecamehometolunchperfectlysick，"saidMrs。Marcli；"andIwouldn"tlethimgobackagain。"

"Didn"tItellyouso?"Fulkersonpersisted。

Marchcouldnotrememberthathehad，orthathehadbeenanythingbutincoherentlyandhystericallyjocoseoverthepapers，buthesaid，"Yes，yes——Ithinkso。"

"Iknewitfromthestart，"saidFulkerson。"TheonlyotherpersonwhotookthosecriticismsintherightspiritwasMotherDryfoos——I"vejustbeenbolsteringuptheDryfoosfamily。ShehadthemreadtoherbyMrs。

Mandel，andsheunderstoodthemtobeallthemostflatteringpropheciesofsuccess。Well，Ididn"treadbetweenthelinestothatextent，quite；

butIsawthattheyweregoingtohelpus，iftherewasanythinginus，morethananythingthatcouldhavebeendone。Andtherewassomethinginus!Itellyou，March，thatseven-shootingself-cockingdonkeyofaBeatonhasgivenusthegreateststart!He"scaughtonlikeamouse。

He"smadethethingawfullychic；it"sjimmy；there"slotsofdogaboutit。He"smanagedthatprocesssothattheillustrationslookasexpensiveasfirst-classwood-cuts，andthey"recheaperthanchromos。

He"sputstyleintothewholething。"

"Ohyes，"saidMarch，witheagermeekness，"it"sBeatonthat"sdoneit。"

FulkersonreadjealousyofBeatoninMrs。March"sface。"Beatonhasgivenusthestartbecausehisworkappealstotheeye。There"snodenyingthatthepictureshavesoldthisfirstnumber；butIexpecttheliteratureofthisfirstnumbertosellthepicturesofthesecond。I"vebeenreadingitallover，nearly，sinceIfoundhowthecatwasjumping；

Iwasanxiousaboutit，andItellyou，oldman，it"sgood。Yes，sir!

Iwasafraidmaybeyouhadgotittoogood，withthatBostonrefinementofyours；butIreckonyouhaven"t。I"llriskit。Idon"tseehowyougotsomuchvarietyintosofewthings，andallofthempalpitant，allof"emonthekeenjumpwithactuality。"

ThemixtureofAmericanslangwiththejargonofEuropeancriticisminFulkerson"stalkmadeMarchsmile，buthiswifedidnotseemtonoticeitinherexultation。"ThatisjustwhatIsay，"shebrokein。"It"sperfectlywonderful。Ineverwasanxiousaboutitamoment，except，asyousay，Mr。Fulkerson，Iwasafraiditmightbetoogood。"

TheywentoninanantiphonyofpraisetillMarchsaid:"Really，Idon"tseewhat"sleftmebuttostrikeforhigherwages。IperceivethatI"mindispensable。"

"Why，oldman，you"recominginonthedivvy，youknow，"saidFulkerson。

Theybothlaughed，andwhenFulkersonwasgone，Mrs。Marchaskedherhusbandwhatadivvywas。

"It"sachickenbeforeit"shatched。"

"No!Truly?"

Heexplained，andshebegantospendthedivvy。

AtMrs。Leighton"sFulkersongaveAlmaallthehonorofthesuccess；hetoldhermotherthatthegirl"sdesignforthecoverhadsoldeverynumber，andMrs。Leightonbelievedhim。

"Well，AhthinkAhmaghthavesomeoftheglory，"MissWoodburnpouted。

"WhereamAhcomin"in?"

"You"recominginonthecoverofthenextnumber，"saidFulkerson。"

We"regoingtohaveyourfacethere；MissLeighton"sgoingtosketchitin。"Hesaidthisrecklessofthefactthathehadalreadyshownthemthedesignofthesecondnumber，whichwasBeaton"sweirdbitofgas-

countrylandscape。

"Ahdon"tseewhyyoudon"twrahtethefictionforyourmagazine，Mr。