The Washington herald., 1916-05-06
A Character.
BY JOHN ID. BARRY.

OnS udyB more tnan a. year ago, q WoWah
IA friend, interested in the social reform move
ments, told me of a curious character she had
met at radical meeting II never saw any
thing like him." she said, laughing. He is
unique. In the first place he must weigh at
least 800 pounds. Then he has the most original
point of view and the strangest manners He
calls all the people he knows by their first names
and he is q so good-natured and so unconscious
and human that no one minds. Everybody seems
to like him. l like him immensely and I'm look
ing forward to knowing him better He's new
type"
What else does he dor" asked
We'll, just at present, he says, he's living on
what he saved last winter. 1t seems that he
works for about six months in the year and he
saves enough to go on for the other six months.
During those six months of leisure he considers
that he lives. The rest of the time he merely
exists"
But what does he do during those six
to spend half his life in leisure" 1t occurred to
me that good many people might like to ioi-
low his example.
Ny friend shook her head HE was very
mysterious on that subject and didn't want to
seem curious. But you mustn't think he spends
those SIX months Of leisure in idleness. Far
he doesn't regard the work hard and he
doesn't regard it as work. He loves to do 1t.
He goes about spreading radical propaganda, ar
ranging meetings and attending to the business
affairs AT that meeting the other night he was
the busiest person in the hall"
| became interested in this character. | ex-
pressed desire to make his acquaintance.
My words were received with a smile. "Oh,
you'll meet him. He has been intending to get
after you for, a long time to correct some of
your heresies."
You might tell me his name" suggested.
There was more smiling Il would if | knew
it. But III tell you what he asked me to call
A few weeks later, when | was speaking at a
hall wearing black suit, wooden shirt and a
loose collar. With elephantine tread it marched
down the aisle and took seat in the front row,
turning on a pair of black eyes sharp that
they seemed to penetrate my soul. There was no
doubt in my mind to who it was. Fat had
come to expose my heresies before this audi
ence. AS soon as | finished speaking he would
probably rise and, under the pretense OF asking
a question, he would proceed to make speech
of his own, incidentally deholishing me. My
nervousness at the prospect caused me to put on
more steam and to talk too long. By the time
had finished | that l had lost Fat He
was not sufficiently interested to say word
After the Lecture however, he came up, sml.,,
ing and familiar, like old friend I'm Fat"
he remarked by way of introduction and l know
you all right. I've been reading your articles for
the last two months, Jimmy.
In spite OF being prepared for the encounter,
was sstonished at being addressed in this
way; but l made no correction. l decided to
wait
Presently we walked out of the hall together
"You're all right, Jimmy" he remarked, without
any preliminary. you know how to put it over.
The only trouble is you amt got anything to
say"
The frankncss Of this remark reduced me to
humility, not wholly free from concern. What
do you suppose the reason isl" | asked
"Well, you amt been up against it enough;
Y Ou amt been hungry an cold You amt looked
ahead an wondered where you going to
get the next meal. You're just outsider, look
ing on at the misery Of others. That's the
trouble with you Jimmy
Fat cxpatated on this thought at great length,
making feel that my so-called education had
been wofully lacking. He told things about
social and economic conditions that could have
come only from one who had lived in the depths
When, finally he left me | felt chastened.
l almost regretted that at college l had not
been obliged to take a practical course in ex-
By the time | saw the friend who had intro
duced us I had rallied somewhat. She laughed
when I told her how Fat had patronized me.
familiar with my articles and he didn't even know
my first name, He called me Jimmy"
She shook her head. He knew" she quietly
pleased him to give you that name He's always
giving people nicknames. They say he changes
his own name whenever he feels like taking a
new one
Verifcaton for this remark I found soon aft
erward when l attended meeting addressed by
a great politician. Fat happened to be there
and he took seat beside mine. Many people
in the hall knew him and stopped for greeting.
noticed that several of them called him Tuck.
What do they call you Tuck for" asked:
"Oh" he carelessy answered, that's one Of
the names l go by. Friar Tuck. What's the
difference? One names as good as another. Be
sides when you knock around much as I do
different names come in handy"
I might have felt suspicious on hearing this
remark if already I had not been impressed by
Fats sturdy qualities. HI was simple and as
guileess as a child and he had standards of his
own, unconventional, but nevertheless, in their
way fine and steadfastly adhered to.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow)
Shooting In Colors.