Evening star., 1919-04-27


would have found a certain young irish
man by the name OF william Grogan
eyeing mechanically. yet professionally
the glowing end OF his soldering iron
There was a fxity In his gaze, a lack
luster in his eye, familiar to all phychol-
oEists Of dreams. The iron fell upon the
drain pipe scientifically, because William
had reduced the building OF dreams to
fne art. Having set his hands to
their appointed task they proceeded
TO go on automatically. leaving his
spirit free to roam as it listed He
was like that Hindu Yogi who could
set his body grinding corn. take his
soul out and go visiting with 1t.
William belonged to the supreme
order OF rainbow chasers. All hori-
IONS were merely circles OF linked
pots OF gold. IL follows naturally
that he possessed a fleet of service
able magic carpets. and he sailed
with superb confidence toward his
rainbow ends. II this or that one
vanished. presto. he promptly arched
another 1t cost nothing. He was
twenty-four, and that is the high
noon OF the rainbow chaser. Beyond
this age one begins to look back at
the wrecks
In parenthesis, before I go any fur
ther, do you believe in magic carpets
in our times better known as day
dreams? ] mean, do you believe In
letting yourself drift on the wings Of
pleasant fancy at odd moments
during duh workadayc II you
oh ha
ness Of these little intervals between
actions. when you stand or sit
motlOnless and gaze beyond the ho,i-
zon into that future which presently
or by and by Is to roll over the rim OF
tho world with fulfllment-why
then. come along. For this is
story OF a rainbow. part OF which was
found.
There are two kinds OF poets, pro-
fsssional and instructive. and william
was a poet by instinct. He could not
express himself in words; his Aymes
were visions He was by trade
journeyman plumber: inclination as
well as necessity had driven him into
1t. He found romance in lead pipes,
sheet tin, gas and water mains. To
his mind there was nothing quite so
marvellous as the amazing cobweb OF
pipes and mains that stretched across
tho great city few feet under the
surface. Who but "a poet would have
stripped in fancy the masonry from
the cloud touching monoiiths. and
viewed the naked pipings. twisting
and elbOwing, bending and rearing,
more wonderful than any magic
beanstalk-water and power and
light!
Born in New York. thrown upon the
streets at nine. at an age which poets
the professional kind) love to call
tender. but which in reality is tough.
William was, at twenty four, a thor
oughly metropolitan product. He
was keen mentally, shrewd in his
outlook. philosophical as all men are
who in youth knew rude buffets. hun
ger and cold. He was kindly, gener-
GUS quick tempered and quick for
giving; and he was not above defend
ing his "honor and territory" when
occasion required, by the aid of his
fists. An idea. entering his head.
generally remained there: and when
he offered his friendship his hearts
blood went with it, He was Irish.
He talked in the argot Of the
streets; not because he knew no bet
ter. but because habit is not only
insidious, but tentacled. 1t was only
when he began to attend night school
that he was made to realize that he
was not purist; and. being ambi-
tious, he strove to curb this passion
for unOrthodox English. On guard,
he spoke sensibly and correctly; but
II he became excited, embarrassed or
angry. he spoke in argot because
simple English seemed to lack what
he called punch. Strange lingo. All
nations possess 1T. all nations that
have vagabonds and thieves and hap
-go-luckies; and william was a
happy go lucky.
The carpet he was sailing on at this
precise moment was the choicest
Jspahan in his possession, his
Ardebil; home all his o%n aome
day, a garden 10 play in. d wife ard Il
couple of kids.
Presently the smell of sizzling resin
brought him back to port. That was
the one fault with his ship. OF wool;
they were always bringing him back
TO port before he really tot any
where. He thrust the iron into the
cup of the gasoline furnace. and