Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-06-18
HIGHER PRAGMAT|SM
story of How a Diffident Lover
Got Out of the Amateur
Class.
BY O. HENRY.

magazine lying on bench IN a niue
city park. Anyhow, that was the
amount he asked me for when sat
OH the bench next to him. lie was
musty, dingy, tattered magazine, with
some queer stories bound in him, was
sure He turned out to be scrap
book.
Il am a newspaper reporter l said
to him, to try him. Il have been de-
tailed to write up some OF the expert
ences Of the unfortunate ones VINO
spend their evenings in this park May
1 ask you to what you attribute your
downfall in
was interrupted by laugh from
my purchase-a laugh so rusty and un'
practised that was sure it had been
his first for many day.
"Oh. no, no." said he. you amt
reporter. Reporters don't talk that
way. They pretend to be one Of US, and
say they've just got in on the blind
baggage from St. Louis. ] can tell
reporter on sight. Us park buns get
TO be fine judges of human nature we
sit here all day and watch the people
30 by. | can size up anybody VINO
walks past my bench in a way that
would surprise you
We'll" ! said, go on and tell me.
How do you size me up
Il should say said the student OF
human nature with objectionable hesl'
taxion, that you was, say, in the con-
tractng busness-or maybe worked IN
a store-or was a sign-painter.
frowned gloomily.
but, Judging again" went on the
reader of men, I'D say you amt got
q wife
No" said l, rising restlessly. No.
no. no amt. But l will have, by the
arrows Of Cupid. That Is, if"
My voice must have trailed away
and mutiled itself in uncertainty and
despair.
Il see you have story yourself,
said the dusty agrant--impadeptly, 1t
seemed to me. Suppose you take yDpT
dime back and spin your yarn for Inc,
I'm interested myself in the ups and
downs of unfortunate ones who spend
aher evenings in the park.
Somehow that amused me. | looked
at the frowsy derelict with more in
terest { did have story. Why not
aell 1t to him? had told none OF my
friends.
Jack" said |.
Mack" said he.
Mack" said |, "l'll tell You"
DO you want the dime back ~ ad-
vance," said he.
! handed him dollar.
The dime" said |, was the price
of listening to your story.
Right on the point of the jaw, said
ne. Go on"
And then. incredible as it may seem
TO the lovers in the world who confide
their sorrows only to the night wind
and the gibbous moon, | laid bare my
secret to that wreck of all things that
you would have supposed to be in sym
patty with love.
told him of the days and weeks and
months that | had spent in adoring
Mildred Telfair spoke OF my despair,
my grievous days and wakeful nights.
my dwindling hopes and distress OF
mind | even pictured to this night
prowler her beauty and dignity.
Why don't you cop the lady out?'
asked Mack, bringing me down to
earth and dialect again.
explained to him that my worth
was SO small my income SO minute
and my fears so large that hadn't the
courage to speak to her OF my worship,
j told him that in her presence l could
only blush and stammer, and that she
loo ked upon me with wonderful, mad.
dening smile Of amusement.
Now that reminds me OF my own
case III tell you about it, said
Mack
Was indignant, but concealed 1t
Feel my muscle, said my compan.
Ion. suddenly teXing his biceps. did
80 mechanically. The fellows in gyms
are always asking you to do that. His
arm was as hard as cast iron.
-Four years ago. said Mack, Il
could lick any man in New York out
side of the professional ring. Your
case and mine is just the same. come
from the West side-between Thirtieth
and Fourteenth won't give the mum.
Der Oh the door. was scrapper when
j was ten, and when | was twenty no
amateur in the city could stand up -four
rounds with me. S fact. You know
~. 10
smokers for some OF them swell clubs.
Well, | knocked out everything Bill
Brought up before me. ! was middle
weight, but could train down to wei
ter when necessary. | boxed all over
the West side at bouts and benefits
and private entertainments, and was
never put out once.
But, say. the first time put my foot
In the ring with professional l was
no more than canned lobster dun
no how it was-I seemed to lose heart
! guess | got too much imagination
There was Formally and publicness
about it that kind of weakened my
nerve l never win fight in the ring
Lightweights and all kinds of scrubs
used to sign up with my manager and
then walk up and tap me on the wrist
and see me fall. The minute | seen the
crowd and lot Of gents IN evening
clothes down in front. and seen q pro
fessional come inside the ropes. 1 got
as weak as ginger ale.
"Of course it wasn't long till J
couldn't get no hackers, and | didn't
have any more chances to fight a pro
fessional--or many amateurs. either
But lamme tell you-l was as good as
most men inside the ring or out. 1t was