The Washington herald., 1916-12-01
The House
BY JOHN d. BARRY.

mouse, on great en1tnence, people used 70
say: How fortunate he is and how happy
ne must be-" With admiration and envy
they looked at the noble proportions. at
the wide windows by day flashing In the
sun and by night shining in the dark
ness. To them the house represented the
presiding genius of their community en-
blem OF fine living, seeming to fadiate a
benediction.
There were those who said the house
influenced those other houses below. At
any rate, many of the other houses Inn
proved In appearance. The fame of the
community spread. 1t began to be con-
sidered superior to most communities,
exceptionally. good for the upbringfng Of,
children.
! Great credit was given to the owner of
the house on the hill
One day distinguished architect came
to live in the town. At once he was at
tracted by the house on the hill and he
sought the owners acquaintance. The
two men quickly became friends. They
would spend hours together in those
rooms. always lighted by the sun or by
electricity. On many themes they would
talk, all important to the welfare OF
their neighbors and of the race And
yet they had their jokes, too and their
personal exchanges. The architect used
to say that the owner of this house was
one OF the finest men he had ever known.
And yet he wondered
| one day when the two friends were hav-
ing talk about matters the owner of
! the house said that he was not we'll The
architect twitched. Without noticing the
man went on to say he had not been well
for years. In fact, he had been growing
steadily worse. He could not understand
why. He had everything to live for.
| You surely couldn't live in a finer
house" said the architect. After a brief
interval he asked: Are you sure it's
perfectly healthy?'
"Oh. yes," the man replied. How could
1t be otherwise on the top Of this hill
and with everything in perfect order. -
| "Of course. I haven't seen all the
rooms" said the architect. as IL speak
ing to himself. but keeping a sharp eye
on the face before him. so healthy in
color and in expression SO vigorous.
He noticed that the face grew slightly
paler. For a long time the man did not
speak again Of his health to his friend.
Then he broke out abruptly. I'm very
sick. don't know what to do
The architect sat motionless. Present
ly he said: will you let me see your
house,"
The man looked surprised. Haven't
you seen it?'' he nervously asked.
| Haven't you seen it often?"
Il have seen only a few OF the rooms.
But you've seen all the rooms where I
receive my friends. The other rooms
are private It is in the private rooms
that We live," said the architect"
For long time neither spoke.
At last the architect rose and said: "I
must take myself off" They were both
embarrassed.
The next time the architect called at
the house on the hill the owner said 10
him: Il did wrong the other day was
a coward"
That's all right" said the architect,
apparently not surprised.
Il have decided to show you the whole
house"
| VERY we'll"
The man rose with an effort. He led
the way through the rooms that fairly
blazed with sunshine into corridors fhat
were dim and that grew DINNER. Soon
the two found themselves in darkness
Cant you turn on the electric nghtr
said the architect, with some impatience
THE light has never been turned or
here" the man replied. In fact, there
is no light here"
Soon the architect had to grope his
way. Don't go SO fast. please" he said
You are more familiar with this place
than I am"
From room to room they passed, %
dark that they could see nothing. so cold
and clammy that the architect shivered
Aren't there any windows here?''
There have never been windows ir
these rooms"
And yet you built the house,"
Eyes, built II.
Why don't you have windows put int
these rooms, them"
In a low voice the answer came: BE
cause I didn't want the world to set
what lived here
We'll, now that you have brought ms
q in, I'm determined to see everything!'
the architect exclaimed, and he quickl,
drew a matchbox from his pocket In 6
flash the room revealed itself, the wall.
reeking with damp and crawling with
insects
There was darkness again.
I've seen enough" said the architect
making for the door. "If I stay here
minute longer 1 shall become sick my
self"
The two men went out on the porch
where they could bask in the fresh all
and sunshine. They looked at each other
You should have told me before" sale
the architect
'I didn't care"
There are many houses like yours
The man nodded
They are responsible for all the sick
ness in the world"
The architect looked up at the sun
slowly descending toward the horizon ant
, seeming to laugh at the world. He wavec
his hand at the beauty about him. ''Yol
nave all this and yet you prefer that"
} 1t has a terrible fascination for me
II doesn't seem so bad when / am alon,
there. And yet know it is killing me-
The man covered his face with his hands
And know that I'm a hypocrite"
The architect smiled. mo, you're no
hypocrite. There are not many hypo
critics in the world You merely have bat
taste. You must learn to love what 70,
have, the beauty that lies all about you
1t Is something that you are ashamed o
what. Is bad In your house and keep 4
hidden. But, you see, it can't be hidden
1t has broken through your consciousness
II you don't look out 1t will be your de
| struction."
What shall I dor the man asked, Will
i humility In his tone
The architect smiled family. you knoy
as well as do"
Yes" the man said, 'I know. I hav
, always known"
| The architect looked down to the com
/ munity at the base Of the hill. ''I won
J der II all those houses are like thi
/ house" he sadly remarked. 'T wonder 1
} they all have dark corridors and rooms