Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04
My Friend The Communist.


had sounded life and experience to the bot
tom and could relate his experiences in clear,
the war OF the rebellion, belonged 20 secret So
cieticS in Europe, studied art under c. and
lived in Paris during the commune; he had
been foreign newspaper correspondent and
written a book and three plays, all dead
failures. lie called himself a champion fall
are, but he TOOK the world with an air of sue
cess, and his accumulated experiences, In
stead OF depressing hun, afforded him fund OF
material upon which his imagination acted
with powerful yivacity. found him and hts
conversation very fascinating. A holy friend,
ship sprang up between u.s. He pronounced
himself Il communist and, after long argu-
mentS, quite converted me to his ideas. When,
finally, he made the suggestion Ia his frank,
dictatorial fashion that we Snould live together
and have everything in common, | was touched
and exalted By the idea, besides being secretly
pleased with the notion of identifying my IN
significant career with that of an Intellectual
giant. Paul deSpiSed the meager convention
ali5ms and corroding SeltiShneSs which per-
yaded society, and heartily agreed with him
that. in order to readjuSt the scale Of human
estimates and recommence civilization. it was
necessary for brave spirits like ourselves 10
make beginning and afford spectacle Of the
true brotherhood OF man.
AS had an excellent room on 18th street, it
was not necessary that we should tiud new
quarters. Paul brought his effects and settled
down at once While we were discussing ways
and means he had talked good deal about
his furniture" and had gained the idea that
his belongings would tnaugurate an era OF
sumptuous luxury in my modest apartment. |
confess it did seem to me that these hints were
not practically carried out. He had, 1t is true,
an embroidered armchair, but it was faded
and badly moth-eaten. But some woman had
worked 1t for Paul, and could not blame him
for seeing more in it than was apparent to my
eyes There was sofa, too, which he had
affirmed TO be superb piece OF furniture, but
1t came TO pieces when moved, and when the
remains were carried to the nearest cabinet
maker, the idea that 1t could be re5urrecJe1
entire was cynically repudiated He mad, be-
hour FL,
somely bound, and plaster cast OF The We
nus as he called it, spotted and blackenei by
age. and skeleton. | ventured to object to
the skeleton, but Paul Scorned all ideas which
rested upon individual within or caprice and de-
manded a foundation OF universal law. Any
thing, he declared, which WAS "uniVer5af' was
good. Now. certainly nothing can be more
universal than skeletons. Accordingly, the
Venus stood on draped pedestal (made of
chair that had lost It's back and an old dress
ing gown on one side or the bookShelveS. and
the skeleton hung by hook on the other
over and above these possessions he had two
unframed pictures, presented by artist friends
In Paris. ] frankly concede That his things
gave an air OF taste TO the room they showed
culture. had always felt my lack of culture
and now encouraged large and vivid belieftn
my opportunity for Intellectual ana aesthetic
Improvement
i began at once to enjoy his library, and was
not slow TO notice singular circumstance; all
the books had different names on thelr n.y.
leaves, as II they had been drawn from various
private libraries. l questioned Paul about
this, and he told me that a few had been picked
up at sales. others were presents, but the
greater number had been lent to him and never
returned.
"Why. Brix." said he (ny name Is Henry
Brisbane, but he always called me ''Brix'D, Il
needed them more than the people borrowed
them FROM Why, BriX, books should be a
commodity free as the universal air. or what
use is book when shut away In library? AS
We'll shut away sunshine. When society is
revolutiOniZed when SeltiShneSS and narrow
ness no longer characterize men and rulers,
books will be like the dew which falls from
heaven Your or my right to book lies in the
i could readily see that there was a good
deal in this; stin public libraries offer facilities
TOO much circumlocution, too much red
tape said Paul. "By the very asking for a
particular book you become the Inundated
bondsman or certain rules which cramp and
fetter every genuine Impulse want DO )ks TO
suit my convenience. Ican't read intelligently
pent up IN room with a pack OF ninntes.
had long since mlde up my mind that So
ciety was ali wrong, and it was real pie asure
TO hear Paul challenge the established order OF
things so fearIessly. If some of his views we're
rather personal than general, rather CHM
ertcal than practical, that seemed mere human
nature.
We got on capltally. Paul had made an esti-
mate Of our expenses: / was TO furnish So a
month besides the room, aud he would co.,
tribute the equivalent. But as all his schemes
turned out unluckily, and he had no money
the entire expense devolved upon me. We
breakfaSted together in our room. Paul was
capital cook, and used TO get up at daylight in
the cold winter mornings and broil our bacon,
cook our hominy and make our coffee. Then
In the evening, when we met again, he would
often offer suggestion OF supper. l occaS-
tonally had dim suspicion, which sometimes
amounted TO a certainty, that the poor fellow
needed his supper, having had neither lun-
cheon nor dinner, so never begrudged 1t. IL
fact. begrudged him nothing. He was most
delightful companion, and over our oysters and
lager beer would pour out confessions SuygeS-
tive, romantic heart-sttrring. l could not ad-
mire him enough. felt mys self tame, shabby
fellow beside him, mere foil to his brightness.
His wardrobe was Scanty, poor devil! and he
had a knack OF wearing clothes so much better
than that liked to see him in my things
He shared my coats and trousers as he shared
my room, and that he should make unstlnJed
use OF my neck-teS aud handhercnief5 Was a
matter of course.
But one day, when came in after my UNI
brella and oyershoeS, and found that he had
gone out and carried them off, began to sulk
little over Pauls free and-easy ways. l re-
membered with some acerblty that his part OF
our contract had not been carried out. i had
paid the rent, furnished breakfast and supper,
and had that very morning paid his bill to tue
laundresS, who had become 1mportunate and
threatened to keep back his small stock OF
linen. ON no occasion had / eyer seen any
money Of Pauls except at Christmas. when he
invited me with lofdly go0d-nature 10 dine
with him at Martignys, remarking that Christ
mas comes but once year, ana that we would
dine well. Even then his hospitality lost its
force and was little marred by the clrcum-
SIduCe tusit Aau W pay lOT tue SecOuQ DOCUle
OF wine.
But on this particular afternoon was led to
a softened feeling for Pauls faults by the fact
that had received an invitation to dinner for
the next day. Tom Thatcher had Just come
back from Europe with his father and sister
Lulu. They were the Oldest and best friends
had IN the world, and Lulu had adored almost
from my infancy. Tom had hunted me up al
most as soon as he landed, and urged me to
dine with them the very next evening at the
old house Oh Twenty-1ifJh street. Accordingly,
as said before, was well inclined to forgive
Paul for carrying away my overShoes aud UNI
brella, for otherwise should have missed Tom
and thus lost my invitation. When Paul came
In and began TO explain how he came 10 wear
my oyerShCes, ETC., l interrupted him with an
"!all right, I'm glad you did So"
"BriX,' he returned with fervor, you're
capital fellow; You have treated me like
brother and
"That was the compact" said l; 1--WE were
to share and share alike"
If ever get rich" exclaimed PAU with
some aTdor.
looked at him and laughed. II was evident
that PAU had some personal schemes in view
ana diverted myself little all the next day,
imagining what wonderful financial successes
ne was hoping Tor was in capital spirits, al
though the day was a fatiguing one and ala
not leave the Office until long after ), aud |
was engaged TO dine with the Thatnher,s at
half-past o. sped up town By the elevated
read. whisked along Fourteenth street down
University place TO Twelfth, ana found when I
n,n1 NNN,NI lNl