The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04

at Sedainis. beside getting
tne words to match at the ends Of your
lines. Technique's a big thing. but then
you've got TO look out for the poetic
principle. Many a good lads had to
quit the business and go unhonored
down tie corridors Of time because he
was shine when it came to handling
the poetic. principle"
Mr.. 8lurasl1y, uncertain but disputa-
tious, continued TO polish loaf of
italian bread across his sleeve. spar
ring mentally for what he termed a
comeback"
TIE poet moved far from Mannie's
sphere He was a fellow always dumb
struck by a pretty face or good things
10 eat and an alliterative line or a
feicitous measure. suggesting to his
vague conceits the great thing he
Should some time do. would play the
depil with q whole days work for him.
Never neglect the poetic principle" :"
the versifor continued to admonlsh.
'and If q man ever wants to land the
big stuff he's got to. look out for tech
rIque. Poe. was strong on technique
if he'd. have cut the booze
Poe: nothin." put in Mamie loftiIy.
III he'd. ever hit th' street alongside of
Ham Arnold he'd been nothin' but a
tran OF smoke in tn distance How's
Ham feelin' this morning2"
John Hamilton Arnold was. indeed.
Maanie's secret exemplar. He would
like to have idled about. the town
IN that fashion. being seen fashion
ably dressed along Market street In
debonair chatting with the politicians.
the sporting writers and racetrack men.
lie now looked on the downfall of his
patron with mixed feelings, proud to
have it said that he and J. Ham were
en a "toot" together, but what indeed
had. happened?
10 one knew--none questioned the
prodisal, though about his bedside re-
rolTed a world Of solicitude. A hero
returned battered from the wars could
mot have evoked such a going on Of
nlastard and hot water. towels and ice.
rea and toast as Miss Cranberry got
under. way from the moment Arnold
WAS foun6 unconscious on the balcony.
Mary Melody. home from the shop.
bathed his brow. sammy ran to the
drug store; Angelo played the fiddle;
Theresa watched him from the window
with limpid Italian eyes. while the
Cookhouse Kid sat on the bed-the
fallen champion was hedged about
with Interest. When Captain Calhoun
pot his head in the door he was lied
30 with easy subterfuge; Mr. Arnold
merely had a headache. and indeed he
did. Even Bernice Murasky, the i'm
perious shop lady. put by her shrewish
cisdain and came up with softened
Judgment Of this foolish business.
But none ubbraided the sufferer.
Dewn in the world Of half lights. where
chastity must smile and honor devise
rreteXts; where life wounds itself.
beating a slow way with crippled
wings. there is an amplitude OF charity
like unto that revealed for the stranger
IN the tent OF Abraham; the fndwellers
can not moralize nor draw scientific
deductions from the grind Of the gods.
Therefore. Ham, though he got drunk.
was most patiently restored, jestingly
rehabilitated, and in nowise scolded.
But there was an astonished note
among them all What Of the romance?
Was Arnold married, and If so. what
Of the bride in blue? Among all the
varying circles IN which he revolved.
Impossible stories had run. Here, at
Miss Granberry's, the thing focused
they had seen her; she was no street
myth. but what had become Of the
coEntry girl in blue? But none ques-
1ioned the recreant, his mood did not
invite; for 80 hours he was uncom-
monty sick
The Blue Star laundry poet had his
theory To Nella Free and Mary and
Bernlce Nurasky. In the dusk of the
halA he whispered a complete. evolved
construction OF the downfall
NO wedding bells for her" asserted
Alr Jarbo. She shook him. and he
took to drink. It's elemental. it's epic,
ins its simple grandeur fair; false
face-a broken heart-and then Quick
-to the booze" The poet was scratching
through his pockets for q pencil and
the back Of a laundry tag whereon to
write.
she wouldn't" cried Miss Melody
indignantly. That little thing with
the big eyes ?-she wouldn't"
20, Woman, in our hours OF ease, 3,
Q sighed Sammy, the pencil in his mouth.
MY landsw Miss Cranberry routed
the gossips from the hall. Don't clut-
ter up the place with any more poetry;
The drawer Of your washtand is most
fun now, Mr.. Jarbo"
But on the balcony outside, the poet
moOned an hour over the deceit of
women. What a man wants to do is
to get EN- out OF his system" mused
he and then went down to Unc' Pops
back room to place his feet on the
table and read The Compendium OF Uni
versal knowledge and Worlds Gazet-
2 teer. IT was new and bound in shiny
red morocco. with gilt letters, and one
could carry il in ones vest pocket. II
is not often one can procure universal
knowledge for 40 cents. Mr.. Jarbo saw
that though the print was fine, yet the
volume was small; and that If he began
at half past. Z o'clock and read dill
gently until 10. he would have assimi-
lated the cumulative wisdom of the
human race for 5000 years.
Arrn7T Law that nj in cfs,