Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23

Statuary which had been placed at a
disadvantage Anthony had moved an6
brought where effects of light and shade
revealed their true beauty. All furniture
and hangings which were merely in ba6
taste. and which he described as mean
ingless accumulation. he condemned to
destruction. He had grand bonfire In
field. the foundati of which was the
bamboo and macrame period. and the
main fuel early Victorian atrocities. sur
mounted by wicker chairs. cheap anc
tasteless photograph frames. and piano
by an English maker
But the associations.' ventured Cam
mareigh, recovering some faint trace OF
spirit.
Anthony. seated on fence in white
ducks pink shirt and a panama, smoking
a cigarette. answered. coolly:
Who ever heard of bamboo brackets
and associations! If one wishes really to
preserve ones taste one should keep clear
of associating sentiment with furniture
Cammarleigh muttered an inward wish
that Anthony were in the middle OF the
flames
Anthony shifted the air critically.
1T doesn't even smell nice IKE an ordi-
nary bonfire. l think that must be the
macrame work. he said. as particu-
larly offensive odor f1oated to them on the
wind "Or is it the piano? perhaps II is
the smoky symbol OF all the oad music
that has been played on 1t. Let's get
round to the other side. It's curious now
dull those early Victorian things are
they can't be brilliant even in bonnre;
I suppose they don't think it respect bile
You might at least have had tumble
sale among the villagers for some char-
ity" said Cammarleigh
70 n
witheringly. chow people like you.
brought up among ermine. coronets and
castles. can be SO middle class-and near
ly all of you are. Do you mean 10 say
that you would really debauch your vii
layers with that rubbish after you've
seen the effect 1t has had on your own
family? You would exchange their beau
tiful tiled floors. wholesome deal tables
and shining pots and pans for your
pseudo-artistic nonsense? l can only re-
turn thanks that l am here to prevent
It,"
The bonfire was seen for miles. An
thonv said that he began to realize the
spirit which animated the c'1 inquisitors.
They must. in watching the'r oonnres'
have felt the exaltation OF a Gaty done.
sensation of being cruel only to be KIND.
Cammarleigh suffered acutely as he saw
all the worth rubbish DESTROYED. He
was the sort of man who would have
kept a dilapidated writing case all his life
because he had had 1t as boy. not from
any feeling Of sentiment. but from dis
like to parting with anything. On An
thongs pointing out that certain of the
family portraits were very badly painted
he asked HIM if he would like to add
them to the bonfire.
THAT is a foolish question. Cammar-
leigh" he said "A portrait always has
a certain individuality. and II you take 1t
away it leaves a gap. whereas the rub
bish we have just destroyed will never
be missed The artistic value Of fur
niture may generally be measured by the
amount of busting 1t requires Things
which are worthless require an immense
amount OF busting. Most people ought 10
keep a housemaid especially to dust their
photograph frames
Everything having been arranged to An
thongs satisfaction. down to the accom-
mediation for the chefs second assistant.
they returned to town.
by Jove.'' he said. what lot l am
doing for you! You will appear in peo-
Plies memoirs as a great gentleman with
a genius for hospitality
"And how will you appear" asked
Cammarleigh. satirically.
LAS statesman" replied Anthony.
coolly.
He really believed that Anthony's brain
had given way under the stress OF sue
cess.
you are going to help me to a political
position
How"
81 am too tired to discuss the question
tonight" Anthony yawned and. wishing
Cammarleigh polite good night, went to
bed