Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-29
THE PHRASE WAKER.


CLEAN across the Phrase-Makcr's face az
he rubbed his parched lpe with spiced
gum. Through the grimy. sooty lattice,
so closely wrought that no light pen
etrated it, drrted the roar of the street
outside.
II am white" said my host. sereuely:"
"and on the avenue my people are traf
Ticking. For ten years have not left
this room
Don't you want to 90 back | stu,
pidly asked.
There was cling of a ring against
glass and a fine scorH tinged the Phrase
Makers voice as he spoke over his cup.
Possibly you think ii little vulgar to
live in the Chinese fashion and smoke
hop. | used 10 think myself unfor-
tunate, but ! begin 70 fancy that. after
all, do not fare 50 I'll. 1t is much TO sit
calm and watch the world 20 by"
The pallid hand set down thc cup, ana
the dark eyes were fixed ia Il drowsy
stare. The Phrase Maker was not yet
awake.
But / waited; presently, knew. he
would rouse and speak to me the accum-
ulated wisdom of many opiatc years
The iitfu ray from the oil cup illum-
iucd ii room of many receSSes: the angles
of the walls displayed dark bronzes, huge
and shapeleSs pipes. weapons of antique
weight above, from the saggiug ceiling
hung tattered banner. darkly gorgeous,
heavily motionless. about the floor were
scattered bowls wrought of bronze and
silver. pigny lacquered tables, curiously
shaped TASKS filled with liquors all the
luxurious paraphernaia OF devotee of
the god of Oblivion.
From a shclf-lke shrine lcered
strange, contorted demon in full relief
before whose knotted feet burned some
knees Squatted his servant, Lee Quoy.
AL this was s!espily familiar TO ne
Since had by accident found this fan
tastic recluSe | had almost regularly
sought him out. From the first he had
spoken to me us 10 one who might un-
derstaud il sufficient pains were taken
Once he had sent for me tina he might
repeat into my ears n new saying.
For it was thus he lived, going over
the scenes in his life; and then. after
much meditation, uttering some phrase
that held the meat of his experience.
Many stories he had already told me-
and some were as if out of my own life.
1T was in the Caribbean" he would
commence, and | found rum slightly
fevering as a steady drink. y long
story would follow, with details circum-
Stauial Then he would atliX the label,
the gist of his tale: An onion has many
skins, yet heart at the center
Sometimes he would have two phrases
for story, aud he would favor either,
alternately. We would gravely discuss
the problem till final inebriation over his
opium pipe illumiued his fancy into inn
patience of details. and he would joy
ou~ly adopt one phrase irrevocably.
Today the Phrase-Maker was ponder
inc deeply. Al times his lean face was
turned curiously upon the writing god
in the Shef-like shrine, as if he sought
10 win therefrom words for his meaning
OR else he had GINNING Snares to entrap
me into speech that would satisfy his
car. SO finally | put hand on his
ribbed breast under the green jacket and
reused him. lie passed the spiced gum
over his shriveled lips and motioned 10
Lee Quoy to clean his pipe.
Il have spent ten years trying to know
about it, and | cannot find the key ne
said, enigmuticalIy.
The key to what:" | asked.
He pulled mt a taSSel of the banner
above him, and reached again for the
spiced gum. Then he turned cavcrnous
eyes upon me. There was a woman
once be said, harshly.
Nav in all The time had known the
phrnSe-NIakpr he ,bad never shaken of a
Nnn,on NOR ar wnmrn N,anGnrad ~
sras,,'s w,h,,bnr bn tn,,r ~ ~. ot;ste
| cncr, SO now | gaSped in amazement.
81 II" va ~ pi'S'uL i"luiIV"'
ga H, "SS 'nv ~ *,
A"N ,''v' - "v'''N 'S''' "'Ne'i"''u 'ii"' "'
VI 33' >, Nv" Mus ~, :, a..
hH'AotlnS 'iine rs n" did' II was thfee
SMOKES ,attf 'hat rose To leave the
lhras',M9N'r presence IN these many
| n2u'S nc M" uttered I'VE Phrases
k'SS is music heard 10y the lips
| laughter and tears are the gates 3
the hollow OF an arm in the
SOFT darkness words whispered
! IN the dusk.
The end Of il all was a long. Quivcring