The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-10
CHAPTER Nv.
MIR. sAPsEA.

Accepting the Jackass as the type OF self
sufficient stupidity and conceit-a CUSTOM per-
haps, like some few other customs. con-
ventional than fair-then the purest Jackass in
Cloisterham is Mr. Thomas Sapsea, Auctioneer.
Mr.. Sapsea dresses at" the Dean, has been
bowed to for the Dean. in mistake; has even
been spoken to in the street as My Lord under
the impression that he was the Bishop come
down Unexpectedly, without his chaplain Mr.
Sapsea is very proud of this. and of his voice.
and of his style. He has even Qn selling landed
property tried the experiment of slightly inton-
ing in his pulpit. to make himself more like
what he takes to be the genuine ecclesiastical
article. So in ending Sale by Public Auction
Mr. Sapsea finishes off with air of bestowing
a benediction on the assembled brokers' which
leaves the real Dean-a modest and worthy
gentleman-far behind
Mr.. Sapsea has many admirers; indeed the
proposition is carried by a large local majority
even including the nonbelievers in his wisdom.
that he is credit to Cloisterham. He possesses
the great qualities of being portentous and dull
and of having a roll in his speech, and another
roll in his gait not to mention certain gravely
flowing action with his hands. as If he were
presently going TO Confirm the individual with
whom he holds discourse. Much nearer sixty
years of age than fifty with flowing outline
Of stomach, and horizontal creases in his waist
coat; reputed to be rich; voting at elections in
the strictly respectable interest; morally salts
fed that nothing but he himself has grown
since he a baby; how can dunder-headed
Mr.. Sapsea be otherwise than credit to Clois-
terham. and society,"?
Mr.. Sapsea's premises are in the High Street
against the Nuns House They are of
about the period of the Nuns House. irregularv
modernized here and there. as steadily de-
teriorating generations found, more and more
that they preferred air and light to Fever and
the Plague over the doorway is a wooden
effigy about half size, representing Mr. Sap-
seas father in a curly wig and toga in the
of selling. The chastity Of the idea and
the natural appearance of the little finger ham,
mer and pulpit have been much admired
Mr. Sapsea sits in his dull ground-foor sitting
room. giving first on his paved back yard and
then on his ra1led-of garden. Mr.. Sapsea has
a bottle of port wine a table before the fire
the fire is early luxury. bdt pleasant on the
cool. chilly autumn evening-snd is Character
istically attended by his portrait, his eght-day
clock and his weather glass CharacteristicaIly
because he would uphold himself against man
kind. his weather glass against weather. and
his clock against time.
By Mr.. Sapseas side on the table are a
writing desk and writing materials. CHANGING
at a scrap OF manuscript, Mr.. Sapsea reads II
TO himself with a lofty air. and then. slowly
pacing the with his thumbs in the arm
holes Of his waistcoat. repeats it from memory:
so internally. though with much dignity that
the word ''Ethelinda" is alone audible
There three clean wineglasses in a trav
on the table. His serving maid entering and
announcing Mr. Jasper is come. sir" Mr. Sap
sea waves Admit him." and draws two wine
glasses from the rank as being claimed.
"Glad TO you sir. congratulate myself
having the honor OF receiving you here for
the first time" Mr.. Sapsea does the honors of
his house in this wise.
You are very good. The honor is minc and
the self-congrstulation is NINE
You are pleased to say So sir But I do
you that il is a satisfaction TO me to
receive you in my humble home. And THAT is
what 1 would not say to everybody" Ineffable
ioftiness on Mr.. Sapssa's part accompanies
these words. leaving the sentence to be
understood: You viii not easily believe that
your society can be a satisfaction to like
myself; nevertheless, IL is
Il have FOR some time desired TO know you.
and /. sir. have long known you by reputa-
ton as a man of taste Let me I'LL your glass
l will give you. SIR" says Mr.. Sapsea, filing his
when the French come over.
May meet them at Dover!''
This was a patriotic toast in Mr. Sapsea's
its being appropriate TO any subsequent era
You can scarcely be ignorant. Mr. Sapsea
observes Jasper watching the auctfoneer viii,
a smile the latter stretches out his legs be-
fore the fire. that you know the world -
s.VNen sir" is the chucking reply. II think
I know something OF IL. something OF it
Your reputation for that knowledge has, AL
ways interested and surprised me. and made
me wish know you For Cloisterham IL a
little place. Cooped up in II myself. / know
tie place"