Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-17
Some Recommendations.

Sales-holds that stupidity Is a SIM"
The others had stopped, baff1ed in
their debate over the carnation, and
were listening to Raridan. They never
Of them; they attributed great learning
to him and were never sure when he began
In this way whether he was speaking in an
exalted spiritual mood and from fullness
of knowledge or was merely preparing a
pitfall for them.
Wary continued
But while this dictum is very generally
accepted among learned theologians. 1t has
nevertheless led to many amusing discus
s!ons among men Of deep learning and
piety who have striven to define and ana
lyze stupidity. 1t Is. however, safe to ac-
cept as the consensus of their opinions these
conclusions" He made his own salad dress
ing. and paused now with the Oil cruet in
his hand while he continued to address
himself solely to Wheaton: Primarily,
stupidity Is inevitable: in the second place
it is an offense not only to Deity but to
man; and thirdly, being incurable, as'-nod-
ding first toward Wheelock and then to-
ward Caldwell-"we have daily, even hour
ly testimony. man Is helpless and cannot
prevail against it,
Now will you be good?" demanded Whea-
ton gleefully. He had an air of having con-
nived at Raridan's fling at them.
oh. 1 don't Think sneered Coldwell.
Don't you get gay! You're not in this
I'm the name Of the saints, Caldwell, do
give us little peace begged Raridan
Wheelock turned his attention to the
Chinaman who was serving them and
abused him. and Wheaton sought to make
talk with Raridan, to emphasize their iso-
lation and superiority to the others.
That's good music they have at the
cathedral" he said
Brown now took the scent.
Ibid you hear that Wheelock? Well. I'll
be id See here. Wheaton, where are
you at anyhow. We've been looking you
as one of the sinners of this house, but if
you've Joined Raridan's church. 1 see our
finish"
It'll be scorcher all right" said Raridan,
'and While you wait your turn you might
pass the SALT
There was no common room at The
cept at the table. They loafed in their
rooms, and rarely visited one another.
Raridan was the most social among them
and lounged in on one or the other In his
easy fashion. They in turn sought him out
to deride him, or to poke among his effects
and to ask him why he never had any inter-
esting books. The books that he was al
ways buying-minor poems and minor es-
says-did not tempt them. The presence Of
L'Illustrazione ItaHana on his table from
week to week amused them: they liked to
look at the pictures and they had once gone
forth in body to the peanut vender at the
next corner. to witness test of Raridan's
italian. about which they were skepticaL
The stormy interview that followed between
Raridan and the Sicilian had been immense
ly entertaining and had proved that Raridan
could really buy peanuts in a foreign
tongue. though the fine points which he
tried to explain to the bachelors touching
the differences In italian dialects did not
interest them. Wary himself was interest
ed in Italian dialects for that winter only.
Wheaton went to his room and made
himself comfortable. He re-read the Sun
day papers through all their supplements
dwelling again on the events Of the carni-
VAL He had saved all the other papers