The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-14

~ hwy Traey's feelings. He
@.AIZT wouldn't have broken
J~ it for anything; for he
~ was ashamed of him
self all tho way through to his spine. He
kept saying to himself:
How unanswerable il all is-how abso-
lutely unanswerable. II il basely, degrad-
inuply selfish to keep those unearned hopors,
and-and-oh, hang it, nobody buta cur"
.What ar idiotio damned speech that
Tompkins made"
This outburst was from Barrow. II
Tracy's dsmoralized soul with waters of re-
freshmsnt. These were the darlingest
words the poor, validating young apostate
had ever heard-for they whitewashed his
shame for him, and that il = good service
to have when You can't get the best Ct gil
verdists-sslf- acquittal.
"Come up to my room and smoke : pipe.
Tracy" ~
Tracy had been expecting this invitation
and had his d%sclination all ready; but no
WAS glad enough to accept now. Was 1t
possible that a reasonable argument could
be made against that mans dssolatinR
sueech? He was burning to hear Barrow
TRY IT. Ilo ANoW INV w AAAA UA0 A0St
hin going. Il was to seem to combat DIS
positions-a process effective With most
people. "What il il you object to in Tomp-
kins' speech, Barrow"
"Oh, the leaving out of the factor OF
human nature. requiring another man to
do what you wouldn't do yourself"
do you mean
"Why, here's what I mean; it's very SIM
pls. Tompkins is 4 blaoksmith; has q fam
ily, works for wages, and hard, too-fool-
ing around won't furnish the bread. Sup
pose ii should turn out by the death Of
somsbody in England he is suddenly an
earl-inoome half a million dollars a year.
What would he do?"
.Well, II suppose he would have to de-
cline to-"
MAN, he would grab it in a seoond."
% ven really think..he would?"
'Think? I don't think anything about
it; . ] hnGE it."
why? Because he's not a fool"
$50 you think hat If he were a fool,
mo, i don't. Fool or no fool, be would
rrab it. ANYBODY would. Anybody that's
alive. And I've seen dead people that
would get up and go for it. would my
self" 49,.
was resi- and peace mi comfort.
But ] thought you were opposed to
nobilities."
.'Transmissible ones, yes. But that's
nothing. I'm opposed to mi%llionaires, but
it would DO dangerous to offer me the posi-
ton" --m5..
You'd take it?" ".
II would leave the funeral Of my dearest
enemy to 20 and assume its burdens and
responsibilities"
Tracy thought awhile, and then said:
II don't know that l quite get tho bear
ings Of your position. You say you are op-
posed to hereditary nobilities, and Yeti you
had the chance you would"
''Take one? In a minute I would. And
there isn't II mechanic i'll that enti.e club
that wouldn't, There isn't a lawyer, doc
tor, editor, author, thinker, loafer, railroad
president, saint-lund-there isn't a human
being in the United States that wouldn't
jump at the chance"
Except me-" said Tracy, softly.
Except YOU" Barrow could hardly get
tie words out, his scorn SO choked him.
And ho couldn't get any further than that
form of words; it seemed to dam his flow
utterly. He got mp and came and glared
upon Tracy in a kind of outraged and IN
appessable way. and said again, Except
YOU, Hi walked around him. inspecting
him from one point of view. and then an
other, and relieving his soul now and then
bv exploding that formula at him.. Eek
cent you.,' Finally he slum ped down into
his chair with the air of one who gives it
up, and eaid: ...r,
.,He's straining his v~iscera. and he's
breaking his heart trying to get some low
down job that e good dog wouldn't have,
and yet wants to let on that if he had a
it, Tracy. don't put this kind of a strain
on me. Lately, Pm not rs strong III L
WIS.,"
9'sWell, I wasn't meaning to put a strain
en- you, Barrow; l was only meaning to in
innate that if OIL earldom ever does fall i'll
my way" ..
worry about that, if Twas you. And be-
sides, l can settle what You would do. Are
you any different from mop
"Well-no."
Arc you any better than me2"
"O-er-why, certainly not"
Are you as good2 Come"
'Indeed. tine fact is, .you take me SO
Ruddenly.H
suddenly? What is there sudden about
it? 1t isn't a difficult question, is it? Or
doubtful? just measure US ON tho only fair
lines-tho lines of merit-Snd, of course,
you'll admit that a iourneyman c%hairmaker
that earns his $40 a week, and has had the
good and genuine culture of contact with
men, and care, and hardship. and failure,
and success. and downs md ups. and ups
and downs, is just a tritle the superior of a
young fellow like YOU, who doesn't know
how to do anything that's valuable. can't
enrn his living in my secure and steady
way, hasn't had any experience of life and
its seriousness. hasn't any culture but the
artificial culture of books, which adorns
but really doesn't educate-come. If
wouidn't scorn an earldom, what tho devil
right have you to do it?" A.
Tracy d%issembled his joy, though he
wanted to thank the chairmaker for that
last remark. Presently u thought struck
him, and he spoke up briskly and said:
''But, look here. ] really can't quite get
tho hang of your notions-your principles
if they are principles. You are %inoonalst-
ont. You are opposed to aristocracies, yet
you'd take MI earldom il you could. Am !
to understand that you don't blame an earl
for being and remaining an earl?"
II certainly DON'T"
"And you wouldn't blame Tompkins. OK
yourself, or ING. or anybody. for accepting
nm sarldom il IL was otfered?'
Indeed | wouldn't" @r=
well. then who would you blamsp"
s'Ths whole n~ation-any bulk and mass
of population anywhere, III amy country,
that will put up with tho imfamy, the out
Iage, the insult Of IL hereditary nristocraoy
which they can't enter and OH absolutely
free and equal terms."
Come. aren't you beolouding yourself
with distinctions that are not ditferencos?'