Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-11-30


broke myself Christmas time. and |
positively gloat in my bankruptcy,
not because others see 1t as a fine
thing-few people have the superfne
theatrical sense | have-but because
i see it so myself and like to look on
at myself in a gorgeous role. You
don't understand that. do your"
Il do not"
mo. of course not You have been
too busy driving ahead. trampIing the
world under your feet. to cultivate
these finer pleasures.
There are some people who would
be afraid to say these things to me-"
Bob interrupted. half angrily.
"Oh. Pm not afraid of you. you
know" was the cheerful answer And
he continued: Yours is what call
grand opera egoism. Now. mine is
vaudeville l don't ask the world to
PROSTATE itself before me- All want
is that it shall place me in the fore
ground. SO that may enjoy myself
playing striking role. OF course the
same principle underlies both our ma
lures selfshness. self
love. Were you ever in lover
ssWell, hardlyy'
Neither was l. It's a shame. too:
I'd make such a splendid lover I'm
not sentirtientalist, though-rather a
sensationalist love strong sensa-
ton. like the feel of doing the big
the unusual the beautiful things.
like the sensation of talking about
myself frankly to a man who never
saw me before and doesn't give
hang whether he ever sees me again"
Bob laughed loudly-he could not
help it well. you've got nerve
there's no doubt Of that stop at this
bookstore
'T'll go along. want to deliver a
homily with that laugh of yours as
text"
But this time Bob needed no aid
from the laxative stranger; the pres
ent was for Kathleen AS with the
discriminating eve of the book lover
Bob chose a superbly bound set of
Shakespeare the young man ex
claimed:
by love. envy the one who gets
this present. You love books?r
AsThey are my chief extravaganza"
The young man surveyed him
thoughtfully At length he said:
.sYou have accomplished more than
any young man know of. You are
the third strongest man politically in
the city. You are apparently rich. You
have accomplished this by dint of
sheer strength. leaving out entirely the
question of personal popularity. That's
the weak spot in your armor Now
you have chosen politics as your par
ticular field So have L."
"Then guessed right" Bob said to
himself. and the amused CLEAN died
out of his eyes.
Downright brute strength and the
fear inspired by it have carried you
through SO far. but If you are going
further you must consider the ques-
ton of personal popularity. Get the
public into the habit of loving a man
and they will keep on loving him
just because they love him."
That's not true Bob interjected
sharply. DO you know more about
any other subject thsV you do about
politics?''
"Oh. know politics." the young
man sud calmly. 81 know the power
of money and of the big corporations
and financiers whom you and / know
to be the kings in politics. l am speak
ing. of the politicians, who stand to
capital in the relation of attorney to
client. have studied the big polit-
zeal men of our country closely. and
every man jack of them has been per-
sonally popular or at least able to
make himself an attractive public fig
ure. 1t is the lack of it that will keep
you out. If anything can. Of control Of
the city, at which shrewdly guess
you are aiming"
Perhaps you intend to capture the
city yourself?"
"It is not beyond the possibilities,
the stranger youth responded imper-
furbably. 'sI'Il admit. though that you
might be able TO prove the exception to
my rule. You are so Internally strong
body and SOUL" he swept Bob with a
frankly admiring glance. ''as have
been told by those who know you and
as feel it now when meet you at
close quarters. almost believe you
can do anything In your own way.
Still, even If you can accomplish what
t. L.