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。