Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-26
THE DESERTlON OF
BRADY AND HARRIS
BY HUGH s. FULLERTON.

A residuary legatee, having
n charge of the goods and chat
tells of Brady and Harris, now con.
tanned in suite %. the Rengaard
apartment building, ! purpose re
lating the circumstances which led
to the conditions now prevailing in
suite % and the story of the deser-
tion Of Brady and Harris
We three lived-that is, slept and
kept our belongings-in suite % for
more than two years. We dwelt to.
gether in comparatively peace and
almost absolute freedom. Twice
each year we had an accounting, and
Strengthened out our bewilderingly
involved finances by the simple
process Of caneeling all claims on
each other. We criticised each other
after the manner of brothers-frank-
! ly. and as frankly disregarded the
criticisms.
Brady was a poet, and what was
more important from a utglarian
standpoint. he could cook. Harris
was an artist, and I was land in
deed still ami a newspaper man.
We three eked out an existence more
or less pleasurable by toiling on
daily papers, and gratified our high
err ambition (as far as our finances
permitted) outside of business hours.
This qualification of higher ambi
tions led 90 a voluminous If not lu-
crative correspondence with maya.
zine publishers.
There was a fourth partner
a copy reader-but Jones was not
of kindred spirit. and departed,
leaving unpaid bills. We three, Bra
dy. the tall, angular poet Harris, the
diminutive artist; and !. were the
charter members Of the commune
which existed in suite %.
In the beginning we three met at
small French hotel presided over
by Verion Brady, whom I knew by
name because he had published an
ode 70 her hair or her eyes or some
thing when was reading copy down
IN New York was then editing a
children's page, and Harris was
drawing news pictures" on fran
tic afternoon publication. Harris
work consisted principally OF draw
ing blood spots on floors, scenes Of
I atrocious murders and the knives
with which the murders were COM
mitted His spare time was spent in
outlining lingerie for the fashion
column of the supplement. He had
wonderful ideas Of lingerie, but he
Z had aspirations 10 paint-to get
| into legitimate art" as he said.
We three were drawn together
/ from the first, attracted because we
were opposite in almost everything,
/ and. before long, we began to aspire
4 TO an establishment Of our own.
We planned each to save portion
of his weekly wage, to deposit the
sums in my tobacco jar. and when
| the sums aggregated $500 20 pur-
chase furniture and move into an
apartment Then commenced the
search for an apartment. Brady
wanted TO live in the suburbs where
the birds and trees and sunlight
would give him inspiration" He
Y remained firm in his desire, although
we pointed out the woes Of walking
I many miles after midnight, and ar
I rued that he always wrote his po'
ems in the middle of the night Har'
ris wanted early light" and limited
at the desirability of having sky
light in the apartment, not knowing
skvlights always leak. ] was dele
gated to find the apartment, and
shirked assignments many after
Moons in search of an ideal place.
desired TO please both Brady and
Harris. but searched on in localities
where a restaurant and green gro
Ger were within easy walking dis
lance. Eventually discovered
suite 80.
The advertisement read:
.-ro rent-Flegant steam heated apart
ment. Electric light. gas range, tile bath
refrigerator. fine view Of park Janitor q
premises"
Then a new difficulty arose. Tn
tobacco lar was not half full, am
: Brady confessed he had appropriat
ed money to buy books. Brady wa
BibIiomaniac After we read tn
books and stole some of them W
pardoned him.
Then Harris needed new dres
coat to attend his sisters wedding
, and the treasury was again depleted
and finally ! went on a vacation AM
evened up the score by appropria'
ing enough money TO keep me ~
, summer resort for an entire week.
We were by turns fearful les
I some one SHOULD discover the wor
derful attractions of suite % and s.
: cure il. Every Sunday we read th
advertisements, and whooped wit
iov when we found suite q VI
rented.
Late that fan, after many fnanci'
!. disappointments, we purchased En-
niture on the installment plan an
J. took up our abode in suite %
IT There were FIVE rooms, a bath an