The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-09-02
BASCOM'S
AE2ESTOCRACY
BY JASPER C0LiEGW0GI


;.,...-.....
When Herbert lsaScnm'S effects were
moved into the Iiulhciu studios the
other occupants gathered in the front
windows and jerrrd openly. BaScom,
whose hearing WAS S!n%ularly acute,
caught the comments aS far up as the
third floor. What those Oh the fourth
floor thought was scarcely of impor-
lance The singular unaniinity of
opinion among the ;iwcllerS OF the three
lower floors ARGUED that those up above
would scarcely be moved to comment
aDpruvingly in defiance of their fell
lows
The only trouble with Bascoms eff
f"cts WAS that they were new-dls-
trc;sn"iy new. From the oilcloth for
the tiny kitchen to the Persian rugs
and Turkish han@ingS they all came
from first hand stores. The llOlbein-
ties We're unaccuStOmcd TO such eX-
travaGances. They had bought second
hand things Wien they had first set
UP and thereby had acquired merit in
the eyes of those already established.
Il WAS unhuhcmian, as T0lliver eX-
pressed it, 10 have Elaring new furni-
tire and things i'll ones studio. 1t
argued the puSScS%iOn of unseemly
quantities of money aud small artistic
merit. From the moment that the first
delivery wagon backed up TO the door
Elsc0m lost his surname, SO far as
his fellows were concerned, and gained
the title of the Ariatocrat. 1t was
T0ilivcr's nickname. but it spread rap
idly. and no French communist ever
hated the name more than the Hol-
bcinitpS.
AS soon as tie place had been set
tied BaScom went around ohe morn
ing delivering Invitations for Il studio
tea that afternoon. There We're many
lA0vcd to accept the invitation, in the
delivery WAGON of Il leading grocery
had unloadcd much that looked at
tractivc that morning..
But TGllivcr made Il personal can
rnSS, and when BaScom hurried home
that afternoon. laden with additional
packages. he was met by neat pile
door AS Il result of Tollivcr'S activity
it had been decided 10 snuo this arts
t0crat who sought by means OF the tea
tn Haunt his ricn possessions before
their eyes. 1t was unbohemiln, and,
While his presence had to be tolerated,
friendship and fellowship should be
withheld.
BaScum was no fool. He readily per-
ceived why he was being snubbed and
quietly accepted the situation. He
nodded friendlily to the men when he
met them in the halls and gravely re-
moved his hat when he passed the wo-
men. For the rest he went to work
and found i'll this an absorption which
did not permit him to worry about the
attitude Of his neighbors. He missed
their companionship, but he had letters
in plenty. Since the artistic colony re-
fused to recognize him he devoted him
self to his society engagements when
time permitted, thereby bringing forth
additional comment as to the gor-
gcousncss of lis garments.
Then came Miss Alice CaswelI. She
WAS but decorator OF china, but her
effects Were pitifully meager, and she
WAS ut once accepted by the rest of the
Inhabitants as Il bohemian.
She WAS bright. brisk. even tenn
prred girl. and before the week was
out ST." hal made friends even with
tAc janitor Il feat hitherto supposed
10 be impossible. she had the studio
across the hail from Bascom, and be-
fore she lad learned of his isolation
had already formed friendship with
him. She had needed some material
which she did not have time to 20 out
for. and he mad generously supplied her
wants. She had noted with approving
cY" his skill as Il craftsman. and fine
s"nsr uf color. After that She soon ac-
Qui!rd the habit of dropping in to ask
his advice about her designs, finding
Ills wide experience of great value.
By the time the other jewellers in
thr studio building had thought to
warn hCT' Of the Intruder in their col
0ny The intruder hah become her men
tor. and slli. @riry,H greatly ~ one
after another Tie rest Of the artists let
siin some cHlIStir tiin"
"itt'J J." j., Il r,HilT clever man." She
h>s'.r. Il Io.!iyrr one day as he sat
,,rrc!,'! III III" win, 'oW seat irrlaiming
against Ihp .tristociat. Il assure you
tiIat his paintings are very much above
the average
T"Ii;t,' s:aortcd contrnptuously.