Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
Copyright 1902. BY Doubleday. Page & Coz

foolish. Men trade on the folly. But when
good women stop yearning over worthless
men. God help the world"
They were silent for moment. Then
Nancy put out slim little hand and pat
ted his pillow. There were times when she
was distinctly fond of Bobby. He APP
parently did not notice the friendly hand.
He had learned to know Nancy.
And with the cOffee?" he asked
I'VE had coffee in the drawing room. The
artist was served with it. He wasn't really
as beautiful as the poet, but then he is very
young. He is a symbolist. No: | don I
know what it is. That's just it. If any one
knew what it is, it wouldn't be The in
efably subtle is what my artist is after. He
told me so at once, so that | wouldn [
nurse any vain hope of satisfying his quest.
But then. little later he decided that my
smile had the subtlety of Da Finci smile.
That's because it is sinuouSly serpentine. L
suppose. I'm going to suppress that smile,
Bobby. l don't believe it is fit for publica-
ton
The smile was rioting over the piquant
face-a gay wholesome. infectious smile
Bobby watched it with indications of APP
prevail.
"A smile is in the eyes of the observer"
he remarked. sentertiously Don't rob the
general public because few Bohemians
have astigmatisms
1T was the next night after that dinner
that / really set sail for Bohemia Nancy
went on. Mrs. Wallace went with me-
The man who writes problem novels took
us.
Was he beautiful, too?' Bobby inquired,
with fine Scorn in his tone.
Bobby, he was lovely. He looked like
cross between an oatmeal advertisement
and a spanked cherub You never saw any
thing SO round and rosy and innocuous and
serious Psychological Why. my yogi
wasn't circumstance to him. Anything
one says sets him off. and if one keeps still
the silence sets him Off He says silence is
so full of question that it drives him mad
he c9n II 10 of af n
time. And he looks like mild, benignant
full moon when he says it.
We went to table d hote place way
uptown. 1t is the last refuge of the chosen
few, the last stronghold of Bohemia. The
artist begged me- with tears in his eyes, not
to tell any one about it,
" AS soon as it is known he said the
crowd will rush in and spoil it, as they have
spoiled other haunts.
Isn't it pathetic, Bobby to be so great
that the vulgar horde follows one and
hangs upon ones words and gestures?
There's something positively epic about
that retreat of the Bohemians 1t reminds
me of all sorts of things in history, only L
can't think what they are. Driven back
from one rocky fastness to another
Rocky they are" agreed Bobby.
Don't interrupt me when | am seeing
noble visions. Bobby. Making one stand
after another, only to be pursued and rout-
ed. Why, it's like Homer, or Poland, or the
Boer war, or the Tenderloin.
II suggested to the artist that he ought
to make a picture of the devoted band
planting their standard the Harlem
height-sort of a Clusters Last Rally group,
you know. He didn't think il would be SYM
bolic. He afraid 1t would tell a story,
and no one who paints a picture that tells
story can be saved.
It's very nice little place. this refuge
of the elect. There's a garden and long
grape arbor and delightful French patron
He would make an excellent Bloomingdale
warden. He believes in humoring them
ceS gems la. He told me so. He confided
in me. 1t was my hopeless Philistinism
that moved him to it, l suppose. He said
he had already known cette espece in the
Quarter Latin, so he understood them.
- lis sont des braves garcons mademoi-
selle, mails I'm peu-vous savez, un peu-'
Il saveyed.
" 'C'est toujours CONNIE ca avec les vers
ct les tableaux. lis rendent I'm peu drole
Mais avec de occur, Mais oui, mademoi-
selle. All, ST on pouvait acheter des poulets
avec de coeur.'
1T would be jolly, wouldn't it. Bobby. if
one could buy chickens with good will in
any of the worlds markets.
1T has been done" said Bobby.
oh no, it hasn't. Some men think they
doing it. but they always pay in some
thing else. sooner or later-pay to the last
farthing"
How many were eating the chickens on
this particular night?"
About fifteen. 1 fancy-mostly men
met them all. 1t was quite little family
sort of a mutual relief association. Every
body was allowed to talk about himself for
a certain length of time. provided he d give
the other man chance to talk about him
self for the same length of time. Recipro-
city is great thing Bobby. I've never
seen men and women frankly and alb