New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-21
II Ghost in the City.
HI LEONARD NrERRICK.

The jovial solicitor who smacked his clients on
'he back had abscOnded. and the minor poet had
io longer fifty pounds per annum. Although he
was minor poet. whlch-strangeIy enough-is a
term of contempt in this country, he was as hu-
man as minor nOvelists and minor critics, and he
suffered Also he woke; he realized how small had
oeeh the worlds demand for the he dealt in
ne acknowledged that for twenty years ne had
Oeeh living on his little income, not his little
books
HIS name Smith 1t was. perhaps. one OF
the reasons why he was hopeIessly minor. Only
reviewer possessed of unusual courage could have
discovered the great poetry of Mr.. Smith" Cniy
a poet devoid of commercial instincts could have
FAILED 10 adopt de guerre.
In the face of disaster Mr. Smith did not make
precisely this reflection. but he reflected painfully
that lack Of commercial ability was no longer
matter 10 be recognized with smile He stood
among the danodils in the village garden. and
asked Heaven what would become of him. He
seven and thirty; the only craft that he had
learned was useless and he had to sarn his bread
and cheese
As Heaven returned no answer he sought the ad-
vice OF friends. He IovaoIe creature. though
a writing man. and his friends We're sympathetic
They al invited him to dinner. and assured him
warmly they would bear his necessities in mind
II anything turned up he might rely upon their
telegraphing to him. Being OF a trustful DISPOSE
ton. Mr.. Smith returned to the daffodiIs en-
cOuraged.
And they wltLcred while lac waited for tele-
gram.
When they hung their heads he sought advice
again. This time his friends did not invite him to
dinner. but they pointed out him, lest he over
looked it. that was a poe--iu other words. that
he diftcult person 20 serve. You have no
inteiiirent i1t Won have mo- experi1nce Robert
When a IS unfamiliar with the groove We
tread ourselves, We say That ne has no expert
ence.
one afternoon the poet went abroad The journey
['ross nun IA ~ my yb az j{n III Iv's bound for an
office in LOmbard-st and. as he called by appoint
ment, a clerk showed him promptly 70 Nh Hutton's
The business VINO received him had once
Robert had played together IN nursery, IS-Gay
of them required obedient hgurehead 10 watch
II. Affection suggested Robert for the post Inc
duties were simule and the salary slight hut
if the iron came out in good condition. there was
to be Il slice of the IRON, too.
mitted 10 some condolences about the other irons
the patents. and the shares. and the concessions
All the time he listened ne was seeing the business
man little boy in sailor suit again. and was
of such mysteries. BIanky he felt that he himself
had omitted TO grow W: he decided that people
appeared 10 him suddenly that had learned moth
things. though never the most important One-how
Often they We're interrupted by the telephone
bell. and during one Of the colleagues through the
feared he was being browbeaten until he hung up
the receiver and announced; smiling, mat ne nag
It was miraculous. Robert had made five hun
dred pounds by twenty years of work
Hutton and plotted the poet through a maze OF
alleys to retiring doorway. What viii you
. o'clock "a cup Of coffee in the city is generally
81 synOnyme for a whiskey and soda
The little bar was crowded, and he was surprised
at seeing such a number OF business men doing
nothing leiSurely. One gentleman to whom he
introduced asked him if he knew how the
House closed but he did not even know what
1t meant They discussed I'm groups, and strange
language. Robert flooded by compassion for
the barmaid. All eXpouHded different views. and all
only point of unannity he perceived was the
wisdom of having "a flyer each way As often
hands, and the newcomer accepted a whSkey and
soda with piece of lemon in il, among the group
he fancied best on leaving MI Hutton remarked.
that he had sometimes made as much as a thou-
sand pounds by dropping in there" Robert reeled
soon he went every day 70 the strange land
where men talked language that he did not
know. 1t had been decided that ne should watch
the iron in the neighbOrhOod. 50 that Mr. Hutton
might extend guiding hand without discomfort.
and an office was rented in Eastchcap. Eastcheap
is smelling thOTOughtare into which dirty
loafers emerge from the courts of Billingsgate in
tressing as Robert found IL sit in the office he
found it more distressing to go out
saw II once but that when they came there
their youth Few are to be discovered In the
clerk in his first berth may be found who the
city. he is not promised TO the casual seaTCher
for city clerks body are observant In the
streets of one thing only: Ihey observe neckties
This passion, which the hCsiers OF the district
pander Unfortunately. was displayed 10 the poet be-
From desk to food. from food desk. streamed
the black multitude, expressOnleSs. torpid and I'M
seeing till neCkties Haunted in window; then the
vacant faces frightened, and there was a block
The rule of the pavement is known everywhere
a1cantInr, in the ctv where il is most needed but
at the hosiers' windows pedestrtanlsm became
more than efort-it became feat
Roberts eyes had no custom In them Robert did
ncetry TO tell for that matter. he did not Try
tell it, He nothing now but figures and