The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-15

because of his peculiar Hablt OF
half closing them. In .he lauplight
easily be any other Color Moreover,
the protruding forehead threw them
tanned, as though he had lived his
life beneath a tropical sun; his
most as brown as an Indians.
There was nothing Oriental in his
attire, excepting his fez, and ye,
he suggesed the East Even the
voice was different from the Eng
lish voice. 1t was, if one may use
the terms, more subtle, more fluid.
Moreover he seldom raised his
voice, even when he was deeply
Interested, he never showed his in
terest by eageness or loudness of
speech. His hearers felt it, rather
than heard or saw it.
No one would have spoken of
him as a talkatiye man, and yet
he spoke freely-at least, he seem
ed to; nevertheless, even while he
was speaking. Herbert lBriarfield
was wondering what he was really
thinking.
The life here must be somewhat
strange to you, Signor Ricordo," "
said Briarfield, after their coffee
was brought
In what way"
The question seemed natural, and
vet while he spoke in low tones.
i, suggested a kind of anger.
Herr Trubner tells me YOU have
spent your life in the East | do
not know much about the East,
but have called at Tunis, and
have spent few days in Cairo. 1t
therefore struck me that to one who
has lived his life there, "A Devon
shire village must seem strange
did it ever occur to you, Mr..
Rriarfield, he uttered the name
hesitatingly, as though he were
not certain about the exact pro
nunciation-"that the difference
which one sees in various parts
o: the world all lie on the surface?'
mo. | can not say that. From
what | have seen, they are deep."
How deep
"Of course, it is impossible TO
calculate that
II do not think so. What is the
covering of the world here? Mud.
Yes, call it another name If you like,
but it is still mud. OF course,
it is very useful. it grows food.
Away in Africa the world is COW
cred in many places by sand; but
it is only another form of mud.
Grind it sufficiently fine, and it
becomes slime-mud. But we must
not grumble; it grows food 1t is
not exactly the same as you have
here; but its qualities are similar.
1t goes to making blood, and bone,
ami sinew. Essentially, it is the
same; superficially only, it is diff
ferent."
But | was thinking of men and
women. The characteristics of the
people who live near the Nils are
different from those of us living
in England"
Again, how deep is the differ
ence?"
81 am afraid | do not quite follow
you"
And yet the thought is very sim
Pile The sand of Sahara, of Libya.
is different from your Devonshre
soil Just so. but, as said it
grows food, 1t contains the same
vital elements. me Arab Is dlffer
ent from the Englishman; yes. but
how deep is the difference? His
skin is darker, true; he conveys
his thoughts by different sounds. !
true Even his thoughts may on
the surface be different; but dig
down deep and you find the same
elemental characteristics. The East
erner eats and sleeps, as does an
Englishman. The Fastener loves |
and hates, so does the Englshman.
The fastener ponders over life's .
mysteries and wonders about the |
great unknown, so does the Eng |
lishman. In a less degree, | will |
admit. but he does. Pull aside the /
tawiry eXcrescences, Mr. Briarfield. |
and all places are alike, all men are
alike All men, all classes, all ages
tell the same story"
And the story? What is h?" |
asked Brarfield