The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-04-11

fellow expand. There's a lot in this
good will to men, after all That's
what | like about Christmas"
ITS nonsense" said Bob. 81 don't
believe in giving Christmas presents
Hundreds OF thousands OF dollars are
spent this. week in this city by people
who have trouble scraplng enough to
gether to make ends meet"
"Tll admit II is the dramatic view OF
It that appeals to me- always 20
broke myself Christmas time. and /
positively gloat in my bankruptcy.
not because others see It as fine
thing-few people have the supertine
theatrical sense | have-but because
see 1t so myself and like to look on
at myself In a gorgeous role You
don't understand that, do your"
81 do not"
mo, of course not. You have been
TOO busy driving ahead. trampling 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, I'm not afraid of you. you
know" was the cheerful answer. And
he continued: Yours is what I call
grand opera egoism. Now. mine Is
vaudeville. | don't ask the world to
PROSTATE itself before me. All want
is that II shall place me in the fore.
ground, so that | may enjoy myself
playing a striking role. OF course the
same principle underies both our ma.
tures-concentrated selishness. self
love. Were you ever in lovep
well. hardlyp
Neither was l. It's a shame, too:
I'd make such n splendid lover I'm
not a sentimentalist. though-rather a
sensationalist | love a 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 a
hang whether he ever sees me again"
Bob laughed loudly-he could not
help It. "Wel, you've got nerve
there's no doubt Of that l stop at this
bookstore"
IN go along. want TO deliver
homily with that laugh Of yours as
text"
But this time Bob needed no aid
from the talkative stranger; the pres
ent was for Kathleen. As with the
discriminating eye OF the book lover
Bob chose a superbly bound set of
Shakespeare the young man ex.
claimed:
by Jove. envy the one who gets
this present. You love books?"
They are my chief travagance"
The young man surveyed him
thoughtfully. At length he said:
You 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 dlnt 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
ucular field. So have l."
"Then ! guessed right" Bob said to
himself, and the amused gIsam died
out of his eyes.
Downright brute strength and the
fear inspired by it have carried you
through so far, but II 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
lust because they love him"
"rhat's not true" Bob interjected
sharply. "Do you know more about
any other subject than you do about
pOlitics2"
"Oh, l know politics." the young
man said calmly. 81 know the power
OF money and OF the big corporations
and financiers whom you and l know
20 be the kings in politics. | am speak
ing Of the politicians. who stand to
capital in the relation OF attorney to
client. / have studied the big polit-
ical 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 1t 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?"
ut is not beyond the possibilities"
the stranger youth responded imper-
turbably. "Tll 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. las / have
been told b. those who know you ami
as j feel 1t now when | meet you at
close quarters, ! almost believe you
can do anything in your own way.
Still. even II you can accomplish what
you want by main force 1t would be
mighty poor strategy when. by the use
OF popularity and diplomacy, you can
get the saI thing more quickly and
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