The broad ax., 1907-01-05

the gentleman, waving his hat and
bowling with great politeness.
why of course, yes indeed-Ben
Banneker. yes. here. and 1 am his
wife"
lis he at home now?"
mo, sirl he is not in at present"
And his son? Where is he?"
His SOM" repeated the good wO-
man like one astonished by an I'M
locked for question.
Yes, Madame" impatiently replied
the stranger, his son, Ben Banneker,
the younger"
That's his name to be sure" she
answered, still, as they say wool
gathering. He has gone out with
bis father. But if you would tell me
what :"
Willingly, madam, most willingly"
replied the man as he followed her
into a room on the street, a room
ordinarily well lighted, but as the
twilight was close coming just then a
little observe.
Madam" said he seating himself,
Il have seen some Of the work Of your
SON :"
His work! My son's!" muttered
the be-fogged woman.
His work." REPEATED the stranger
the stranger looking solemnly at her.
His work at Simmons Book House."
AT Simmons Book House," she
muttered, still wondering, for the
only work she could think Of was that
which he did to aid his father. 81
did not know that he did work there"
yes, medam, his work there"
Il did not know that his work
amounts to anything much" she said.
"But do assure you that everyone
declares that he surpasses his mas
ters."
Masters HE never had any but
his father. Excuse me. but there
Il have been told madame" said
this very polite stranger, that his
father is a plasterer by trade, a most
respectable calling and he a master
Of his craft"
They told you the truth, SIR"
eff then he is but a. working plas-
terer by trade, he is not likely to be
mathematician, astronomer, almanac
maker" said the man.
Who ever told you that my man,
Ben was all that?" asked she. I
Excuse me, my good woman" ex-
he, I'VE do not seem to under.
stand each other at all. II you will
pay attention for a moment to what |
am about to say, please-my name is
VIM. Mason. I am the agent for the
largest publishing house in America,
at Philadelphia-it matters not about
the name" soil
Then you are a Philadelphian!"
exclaimed she with enthusiasm being
q great admirer of that old town.
'No-no-but no matter as to me
let me explain"
Yes to be sure!" said the woman
on whose fat puzzled face shone an
effort to comprehend what she heard.
Now, madame! 1 do not profess to
have the time even II had the ability
to get up such a work as the House
Of Mason proposes to issue on next
New Years day, but have an &C
luaintance who know did some such
work in past years. came across him
n his gallery where he taught Dor
raft painting, and worked at II for a
living. Looking over his pictures and
he charts and drawings made in his
astronomical work 1 came across a
most beautiful chart Of the heavens
On We lum and enclosed In ornamental
,overs-a piece Of finer work than I
had ever seen as done by any one In
'ur colonies. said to my friend this
beats any work of yours I have ever
'een. "You must help our house to
get out its New Year Almanac" He
made all kinds Of excuses. He could
lot leave his place, was confined there
~ contracts, etc., etc. Finally as I
lung on so. he said fiaty, he could
lot do the WORK, had not the ability,
new nothing Of the finer arts of book
binding. I pointed to that show piece
spoke Of He laughed and said, eff
'ou think I did that you are much
mistaken. The work was done by
,oung Negro man named Banneker Of
Baltimore. He Is a real genius as a
mathematician and is q fine decor
tive binder. II you want your New
FEAR Almanac and Year Book or An