New-York tribune., 1903-07-05
THE CHAM ELE0N.
Continued from first page.

yourself getting smaller and smaller. and hon
ester and honester. till finally there was no
more of you. seemed like. than pinhead. but 1t
was clean stuff all through, anyway? have
And I've thought-wer 1 guess there's moth
ing like this anywhere else but I'm America, and
1t won't be long till the man comes along with
his brush or his piano or his pen. who can set II
all down in paint and paper and music, so that
there won't be anything in art like that. either.
And when he comes America will lead the world
in all ways. as she ought to. and John Muir
doch is going to do all he 10 bring it about.
well-that's why I'm friendly to art" His big
brown eyes kindled. and he spoke with the
eagerness and confidence of child.
Il you are" consented Bradford. He
perceived without too open smile the pickle
makers eagerness and his colossal ignorance Of
the artistic problem which confronted America.
He wondered what Murdoch would say If some
one should tap him on the shoulder and tell him.
MY dear fellow. you and your cursed Iitho-
graphs you are so proud of-you. and the kind
of men you represent-are doing more to lower
the standards OF America in art and literature
than even the daily newspapers are. You might
publish fifty thousand dietetic epigrams from
Shakespeare. and If the great bard learns OF Il
he will only turn IN his grave. You prostf-
tuting art, Mr.. Murdoch; you have turned the
poor lady to harlotry. and she is dying by
inches, like other harlots" Bradford himself
was conscious Of a strong desire to make these
or similar observations. not because he resented
this utilization of Shakespeare. but because 1t
would be amusing. to say the least. But he
restrained himself.
Going far?" asked Murdoch.
mo. I'm going to live in Carfax."
"So7 Do you know the placer
'oh, yes; went to college there"
II was eighty-blank man."
AT Carfax7 I know sir" Bradford nodded
'T was only ten years after you. sir
"Gong into busness?"
I'm way. The lamb and the law are TO try
lying together believe" The whim seized him.
and he pulled out his cardcase. extracting OF
his new cards. The pickle maker glanced at It.
well I'm glad to meet you. Mr. Bradford
especially as we're both Carfax men. won't say
I've heard Of you before. though I've no doubt If
ia had more time to get down TO the old college
when you were there should have done So But
I'm sure I'll hear OF you again"
"I hope So"
"Of course. since you to be lawyer you
naturally went to college," went on Murdoch
But what wish Is that could fix it so every
young man worth his salt would go. whether he
wants to be a minister or manufacturer. Now
you take College needed four years. right
out of the best part of my life. I never intended
to be professor, or a learned man Of any sort
just business man. moved lawns and tended
furnaces to get through. Suppose I had spent
those four years in business. Maybe I should
have succeeded sooner. 1 can't tell; but any
way, I'd have lost something that l wouldn't
sell now, any more than I'd sell my word. and
that is the consciousness of being educatedI'
1T is a great privilege" assented Bradford
You'll never know how great until you reach
my age. Fourteen years I've been working since
then, and I've made Carfax what she should
have been long before-the centre of the pickle
business in the United States But want to
tell you one thing: the opportunities amt all
gone. Any other young man. II he's got energy.
and believes that when you chance then
is the time to take it. and when you don't see
it then is the time to make it. can succeed just
as we'll as have They'll tell you the law is
overcrowded. for instance. shucks! You ask a
man digging a sewer what he thinks about the
many sewer diggers. All professions are over
crowded. the worlds overcrowded. unless you
get in and shove What do you suppose God
gave you elbows for? You remember thing
his profession don't make or break the man;
it's the men who make or break profession"
The reeling car swung him forcbly against the
window, and he swore a little. Next time I'll
put my elbow through it," he said He looked at
his watch. well. I'll say good night. Mr. Brad
field l must go forward and look after my
women folks. You say you live in Carfax? Like
to have you call round at the factory some time;
it's really worth going over"
Bradford" murmured the owner of that name
gently. Then, at last he was left alone with his
letter.
CTo be continuedO
D1NGEROTS FOOTGE E1R