The San Francisco call., 1909-11-14
Their Only Saving

Their Only Saving
II was the only way. then, that they
did save money. I never saw such i'm
provident people. When John got ten
dollars for a sketch he did for an sd-
vertising firm. he took US all-Mary,
the children, Lily. Margaret and my
self-to dinner at French restaurant
There was nothing left for car fare
when we had finished the cafe noir, and
John had tipped the waiter. but they
were all absurdly joyous as we walked
home.
The next time it was $40. and as
they had paid the rent the day before
and given the butcher something on
account Mary said we must spend the
twenty on a motor trip.
Anne has never been to the beach
resorts. John" she said. and though 1
disclaimed my desire TO see those eele-
brated places we were all bundled into
an automobile about IL O'Clock that
might and did the round of the resorts.
] am free to confess ] enjoyed il. II
was a novel experience. speeding in
tire dark and rushing from one place TO
another hearing the darkies sing in
their raucous voices, dancing TO the
music OF the piano players, and riding
home at daylight, the air so fresh and
sweet smelling.
But we had hamburg steak for din
ner that day, with onions, and no salad
or dessert. However, after awhile I
began to enjoy the lotus eaters man
ner Of living. There was a variety to
fl that 1 had never seen in any other
land
It was Lily's admirer, an idle youth
who occasionally wrote articles for the
Sunday supplements of the dailies, who
christened John and Mary and the
girls. with the friends of like temper
aments, the lotus eaters They had
objected to the term "bohemians" as
applied to themselves.
I'VE pay our bills-when we get the
money" said Mary, and the Murger
people didn't"
"Bohemians are not what they used
to was. in the days Of Ross Jackson
and Dan O'Connen." said Johns
friend. Louis.
Louis. By the way. was a lawyer. who
got a case once in while usually a
contingent fee, which he hooked in
advance "Bohemians are different
nowadays They think themselves be-
henlian because they can eat pumper-
nickel and sardines without gulping
ct the oil. and can manage two stems
Of beer without getting dreamy. Bo-
hemians are the idle rich. who go to
sanguinetti's and the cafes and pre-
tend they are hilarious"
And therefore we are the lotus eat
ers." said the idle youth. who answered
TO the name OF Jim" not by any
means his right name. which had sew
eral christian fronts and a long sur
name of aristocratic sounding.
Then he lay back in his chair, watch
ing the smoke roll from his cigarette
curl about his handsome head, as he
quoted:
In the afternoon they came unto land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
And deep asleep he seemed. yet all awake
And music In his ears his beating heart did
make
All things have rest Why should we toll
alo1eE
We only toll who are the first of things, and
make perpetual moan.
let US alone. what IS Il that viii last7
All things taken from Us and become
Portions and parcels Of that dreadful past
La4 US alone. What pleasure can we have
To war with evils is there any peace
In ever climbing up the climbing waveg
All things have rest. and ripen toward the grave
In silence: ripen, fan and cease:
Give long rest death. dark death, or
dreamful ease.
How sweet # were. hearing the downward
stream,
With half shut eyes ever to seem
Falling asleep in a half dream.
We have had enough Of action. and of motion we
Rolrd TO starboard, rolld to larboard. when
the surge was seethiDg free.
Where the wsllowing monster spouted his foam
fountain In the sea.
let US swear an oath. and keep il with an
equal mind.
ln the hollow Lotus land to live and lie reclined
On the bills like gods together. careless Of man
kind.
Surely. surely. siumber is sweet than
toll. fFc si'orc