Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-06

| t"
 Good night, and thank you" said
 l. So l went my way. not elated,
 but utterly depressed--more than de.
 pressed when won the first case in
 which knew my clients opponent
 was in the right and had lost only be-
 cause l outgeneraled his stupid law
 yer. l was. like most of the sons and
 daughters of the vigorous families of
 the earnest, deeply religious early
 west. an idealist by inheritance and
 by training; but suppose any young
 man. however practical, must feel a
 shock when he begins those compro-
 misses between theoretical and prac-
 tfcal right which are part of the daily
 routine of active life, and without
 which active life is impossible
 had said nothing to my mother,
 because did not wish to raise her
 hopes-or her objections. I now de-
 cided to be silent until the matter
 should be settled. The next day but
 one Fessenden came. bad news in his
 face. The old man like you" he
 began, but"
 had not then learned to control my expression. could not help show | ing what ruins of lofty castles that ominous but" dropped upon my head. You'll soon be used to getting 1t in the neck If you stay in politics" said Fessenden. There's not much else. But you ain't so bad of as you think. The old man decided that he can afford to run one of his reli- able hacks for the place He's sud- denly found way of sinking his hooks into the head devil of the re- formers and Ben Cass chief packer. Singer-you know him-the lawyer"
 Singer was one of the leaders of the state bar and superintendent of our sunday school
 "Dominick has made De Forest give Singer the law business of the Gas and Street Railway company. so Singer Is coming over to us." Buck grinned. He has found that local interests must be subordinated to the broader interests of the party in state and nation.'" t#
 had been reading in our party's morning paper what a wise and pat riotic move Singer had made in ad. wising the putting off of a reform campaign--and had believed in the sincerity of his motive!
 Fessenden echoed my sheer, and went on: Hes a rotten hypocrite. but then, we can always pull the bung out of those reform movements that way"
 You said it isn't as bad for me as 1t seems." interrupted.
 "oh, yes. You're to be on the tick. ct. The old mans going to send you to the legislature-lower house, of course"
 l did not cheer up. An assembly. man got only thousand a year.
 The pay ain't much" confessed Buck, but there ain't nothing to do except vote according to order. Then there's great deal to be picked up on the side-the old man understands that others have got to live besides him. Salaries in politics don't cut no figure nowadays. anyhow. It's the chance the place gives for pick ups"
 At first I fiatly refused, but Buck pointed out that I was foolish to throw away the benefits sure to come through the 'old mans" liking for me- Hell take care of you" he as. sured me. Hes got you booked for quick rise" My poverty was so pressing that I had not the courage to refuse-the year and a half of fe. rocious struggle and the longing to marry Betty Crosby had combined to break my spirit. believe 1t is John- son who says the worst feature of genteel poverty is its power to make one ridiculous. I don't think so, No; its worst feature is its power to make one afraid.
 That night l told my mother of my "honors." We were in the dark on our little front porch. She was silent and presently I thought heard her suppress sigh "You don't like it. motherT said I.
 NO. Harvey. but-I see no ligLt ahead in our direction, and l guess one should always steer toward what light there is.' She stood be- hind my chair. put her hands on my shoulders, and rested her chin light ly on the top of my head. Besides. I can trust you. Whatever direction you take. you're sure to win in the end"
 . I was glad it was dark. An hour after I went to bed heard some one stirring in the house-it seemed to mo there was a voice. too. rose and l went into the hall, and So, softly to 1 my mothers room. Her door was 1 ajar. She was near the window, .kneeling there. praying-for me. I had not been long in the legisla- ture before I saw that my position | was even more contemptible than I anticipated. So contemptible. indeed. was it that, had not been away from home and among those as basely sit uated as myself. it would have been intolerable-a convict infinitely pre- fers the penitentiary to the chain gang. Then. too. there was consola- tion in the fact that the people. my 1 fellow citizens. in their stupidity and Ignorance about political conditions. did not realize what public office had come to mean. At home they be- lieved what the machine-contrulled said of me-that I was a