The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-23
On the Box
BY THOMAS R. DEAN

In one Of the great cities on the east
ern coast Of the United States who.
though they We're father and son, were
chums. They were rich and ultra fash
ionable, which meant then something
far different from what 1t would mean
today. In those days the fashionable
people of the land were refined and
Intelligent. Now to be ultra fashions
BILE has questionable sound. One may
be ultra fashionable. yet devoid of or
binary breeding.
The two men referred to looked like
gentlemen and acted like gentlemen.
Shakespeare has described them In his
words ito the manner born" They
were always seen together on the
street. and one looking at them would
think them pair of noblemen belong
ing to some lordy English estate In
society they were known as "Dombey
g. Son.
The father, who was widower.
drifted on. thinking that their COM
partnership would last as long as they
lived. What shock, then, was 1t
to hin when his son announced to his
father his engagement! The older man
could not believe his senses. But when
he learned that his son was to marry
a girl with no fortune, that the young
couple could not retain the position
In society that their ancestors, the
Van G.'s, had held for 200 years. his
desolation was complete. He could not
conceive of himself failing to appear
at the functions he had from his youth
been accustomed TO attend, and to go
TO them without the companion who
had always gone with him would be
worse than not going at all.
The first quarrel the two had ever
had followed. You shall not marry"
said the elder Van c., unless you
marry one of our set and one with
sufficient fortune to enable you to keep
up position as a married man"
Il have asked lady to be my wife,
replied the son. "and ! will not turn
upon my invitation"
very well. then. you must shift for
yourself"
Harry Van G.. married a lovely girl;
but. since it would have required an
income equal TO his fathers to take
her in the society he had been used to
going with. he did not attempt 1t. But
this In comparison with the young
couples reaf condition was baga-
tele. They had nothing whatever to
live on and sank rapidly into poverty.
The elder Van G.. though it nearly
broke his heart to go to functions
without his double, chose what he con-
sidered the lesser of two evils and
went. He saw nothing of his son-not
that he blamed him or was angry with
him. but that he considered Harry out
of the chosen set who had composed
society since colonial days and 1t
would be contamination for him to as
sociate with any one except the elect
One day the elder Van G.--this was
several years since he had parted with
his son-stepped out of his club to Il
carriage that had been called for him.
dressed, as usual. his head
covered with Il shining silk hat, his
feet with white spats. his hands with
tan gloves and carrying cane, he
stood for moment looking up and
down the street then went down to
the cab. The coachman annoyed him.
for instead of looking straight ahead
Of him he turned his face in the OPP
posite direction.
Mr. Van G. got into the carriage and
told the cabman to drive him to the
home of lady social leader. On ar
irving at the door some friends of the
aristocrat happened to pass, and he
stopped on the sidewalk TO speak TO
them. When doing so he happened TO
East his eye to the coachman and rec
)gnized his SON He was too well bred
% show surprise or shock at even this
Nor did he in any way
recognize the fact that his own off
spring was his cabman. When his
friends passed on he went into the
rouse before which he stood and after
making "a call came out. directed the
,oachman to drive him to his home.
tipped him and went inside.
The next day the same cab was
allied at the same club for the same
nan. On this occasion Mr.. Van G..
vas dressed in his most ordinary cos
ume. As he entered the cab without
ooking at his cabman he gave his d.
ections as to where he wished 10 be
riven.
The cabman started. He was direct
d to take his fare to his own humble
omicile He whipped up his horse
With as much sang froid as If he had
cen directed to drive to railway sta
ion, considering as he proceeded what
e should do. 1t was evident that his
ather had recognized him and was go
DC To see him and his wife. but what
or he did not know. Harry and his
rife lived in n small suit of rooms in
cheap iatbouse. On reaching IL his
ather without the least unbending
aid:
Can you direct me TO the rooms of
larry Van G.. 2"
Certainly. SIR" said the coachman.
,uching his hat respectfully. and be.
aiding him to his rooms, rang. and the
Dor was opened by Mrs. Van g.
Once across the threshold. a marked
iange came over the visitor Taking
Is sons hand In one Of bis own. his
in the other. with