The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-02
PART I.

any tnlnS Out VI tnc Sohiioh bNN""NO
he was passing through this phase of
experience.
He had been articled to a solicitor;
but, firing of the law, he determined to
leave the quiet little country town
where he had been born and reared, and
was to foisake law for literature, and
while ST. Minyer would lose by his de-
parture. the metropolis would have one
more daring life struggling in its
midst. He accordingly left st. Minver,
forsook the law. and went to London.
This was. of course, original.
In the early days of his law career he
had learnt shorthand, and it was this
expression of his originality which
kept him from starving when he came
to the metropolis. After some weeks
of weary endeavor TO find publisher.
it was his knowledge of shorthand
which enabled him to buy bread and
cheese. He was employed as a reporter
for two or three papers, small local
journals which are unknown to LON
don as whole. and yet which are
bought by the people in the vicinity in
which they are published. BY this
means he managed TO earn from fifteen
TO twenty shillings a week. and as n
consequence paid his landlady with
fair regularity. Indeed, that lady con,
fessed that on the whole he was the
best paying "littery gent she'd hever
ed"
Which shows that Bob had not got
very far on after all.
When he had been in London year,
he did another original thing, he joined
a bachelors club. OF course this act
was right off the beaten track. and Bob
had sort of feeling that he had done
something worthy of note. The one
rule of the club was that no member
should have anything TO do with wom-
e,5, and directly anyone should break
this rule he should be expelled.
For year Bob conformed Loyalty TO
this. Indeed. he scarcely spoke to his
landlady, and as for other members of
the fair sex he never even noticed them.
The members of the Bachelors club
met as often as they could in each
others rooms, and each in turn paid
Tor a supper. They smoked a good deal,
g1ssipad good deal. and abused pub
lishcrs readers numerically. For near
ly all the members of the club were
-Eentiemen connected with the press.
And each of these had desire Ito bring
out IA great book, something that would
startle the age,
Bob wrote good deal, wrote on every
imaginable subject, and sent his work
to various editors of all sorts, but with
out success. His work wasn't quite
suitable" He got sick of publishers
forms and editorial communications.
bnt still he toiled steadily on, and wrote
with all the regularity of a leader writer,
sometimes with as much briliancy. In
vain. however.
He criticised editors and publishers
readers good deal, and yet in his heart
he felt that he got all he deservedi
Original his work might be, but he
never loved the things he had written,
Member of the Bachelors club as hd
was, he wrote love stories, and often
married the hero to She heroine; but
somehow his own heart never responded
to the words they said to each other.
Indeed, he was obliged to confess To
himself that he didn't'know how to tell
the story of mans love for maid.
About this time he was Invited to a
country house to spend Christmas, and
although he felt he was doing nothing
original by accepting the invitation, he
promised to comply with the evident
wish of the sender. He was indebted
for the invitation to the following order
of events: First, a young man, who
was q. bankers clerk, occupied two
rooms in the house where Bob occupied
one. This bankers clerk was called Herr
kert Walker, who. jim writing to his
father, told him about Bob. Herbert
Walkers father was fond OF his son,
and being desirous of pleasing him, de-
cided to invite the young man to spend
christmas with them, provided Bob
were a decent fellow. Accordingly,
one day when Mr.. Walker senior was in
London, he took steps to see Bob, and on
talking together, it came out that Bob's
father had, years ago, been friend of
Mr.. Walker.
IL suppose no women will be at your
house ?" said Bob TO Herbert when
they were talking together shortly after
the former had accepted the invitation.
"Why?"
swell, I shall be obliged TO write
again and tell your father that cannot
manage it."
surely you'll not carry your tom
foolery so far?" suggested Herbert.
"Principle is principle" replied Bob,
proudly.
We'll. as IL happens, no women will
be at the house for the three days you've
agreed TO come 20 Ns, except an old
housekeepcr and the servants. You'll
not object TO these. suppose?"
'No: the fact is I'm not bigotcd. and
women Of that sort are necessary
evil"
II would seem from this that Bob
WIS n profound philosopher.