Evening star., 1919-10-05

"
into straight line, Friends. did you
say?"
mods.
"If you will permit me-" says he.
'They don't exist"
"Eh?" says I. and l expect it left me
with my mouth open.
"Oh. it's persistent and popular fall
lacy, friendship" says he; "but really,
there is no such thing"
Since when?" says I.
II suppose that condition has been
going on since Alam," says he. smilin'
sort Of satisfied with himself. "Merklns,
take this. You see. my dear professor,
you merely confuse your IDEAS One
may have congenial acquaintances. as
we'll as those who are uncongenial One
nay have associates. amusing or other
wise. Ona may even have constant COM
panions who are agreeable. likable,
trustworthy in degree. and more or
3 less loyal Those we value and culti-
yate. Or they may be irritating. deceit
full. perhaps downright dishonest. That
kind we endure because we don't know
just how to get rid of them. But friend
ship, in the sense it is usually used; that
implies personal altruism which simply
does not exist
Having unloaded that. Mr.. Bristow
leans back in the desk chair and
twiddles his lean fingers. He had me
goin', all right I'd followed for a
while. then l got lost. Toward the last
I was just scratchin my head and
watchin' Merkins scribble that fishhook
stuff on his pad. l could read one as
well as l could understand the other
Course. l got the main idea. Bristow
6idn't believe in friends.
'Then you're out Of luck. I'll say"
says I.
Most persons seem to think I've been
rather Fortunate says Bristow. And
Merkins smothers a chuckle.
While debatin' things like that amt
much in my line. and as rule I'd be
too busy. here l had half an hour be-
fore my next appointment and I didn't
feel like lettn' him get away with any
such chesty argument.
Mean to say. Mr.. Bristow," l goes
anybody who stuck by you through
rough and smooth. who helped you
when you was down. and slapped you
on the back when you made winning
nobody you could call frlend?"
II think my experience has been the
usual one," says he. There have been
men who have been helpful to me at
times; and women, too. More have
been merely useful. But I am quite
certain that none Of them. whether con
sciously or not but expected me at some
time to become useful or helpful ia
'hem. That is human nature. We live
first for ourselves. 1t is the underlying
law Of every living thing. from pro-
toplasm to philanthropist. And when
we talk of friends-well, we are simply
fooling ourselves"
'You must have bumped up against
lot Of hard-boiled eggs in your time, "
says I, ITO feel that way about it
What's your substitute for friends. any.
way-secretaries?" and I jerks my
thumb toward the slick haired pair.
Hardly" says Bristow. II use my
secretaries as brain extensions. Most
successful men do. They must. unless
they arc content 20 be partial successes
For every man of large affairs should
have wide interests. I find all sorts Of
knowledge useful to me, even In the
making Of paper boxes. 1 must keer
up with events and ideas But there
are only so many hours in the day and
| have but one brain. So l hire other
brains. as l need them. At present
have six personal secretaries, aside from
those In my business offices. Two are
always with me. I may have valua bic
thought which should not be lost.
n!ay want something looked UP. Their
I must be informed as to the news o
the day. and what the magazines are
printing. have poetry read to me a,
odd moments; book reviews. art notes
dramatic criticisms.
MY fais 1 take care Of in a similar