The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-24

blows, but hard ones. HARDWOOD was
aware. at a moment when he began
to be bored by the bald facts Of local
history, that Bassett had abruptly
switched the subject.
Parties are necessary to demo
cratic government. I don't believe
merely in my own party; / want the
opposition to be strong enough to
make a fight. The people are better
satisfied If there's a contest for the
offices. I'm not sorry when we lost
occasionally; defeat disciplines and
strengthen a party. I have made
point in our little local affairs Of not
fighting independents when they
break with us for any reason. Be
lieving as 1 do that parties are esen-
tial, and that schismatic movements
are futile, I make a point of not at
lacking them. Their failures strengthen
the party-and incidentally kill the
men who have kicked out Of the
traces. You never have to bother with
them a second time"
But they help clear the air-they
serve purpose?" suggested HARDWOOD.
He had acquired a taste for the Ma
ton and the New York Evening Post
at college. and Bassett's frank state
ment of his political opinions struck
Dan as medieval.
You are quite right, Mr.. HARDWOOD.
They serve an excellent purpose. They
provide an outlet; they serve as
safety valve. Now and then they will
win a fight, and that's a good thing
too. for they will prove. on expert
ment, that they are Just as human
and weak in practical application OF
their ideas as the rest OF us. I'd even
go as far as to say that in certain
circumstances I'd let them win. They
help drive home my idea that the old
parties, like old. established business
houses, have got to maintain a stand
ari or they will lose the business to
which they are rightfully entitled.
When you see your customers passing
YOUR front door to try a new shop
farther up the street, you want TO sit
down and consider what's the matter,
and devise means of regaining your
lost ground. 1t doesn't pay merely
to ridicule the new man or cry that
his goods are inferior. Yours have
got TO be superior-or''-and the gray
eyes twinkled for the first time
they must be dressed up to look bet
ter in your show window"
Bassett rose and walked the length
Of the room, with his hands thrust
into his trousers pockets, and he
poured himself a glass Of water from
the pitcher and drank it slowly, with
an air Of preoccupation.
Il
cana" Bassett remarked. throwing
open several cases. I've gone In for
colonial history, particularly, and
some Of these things are pretty rare"
The shelves rose to the ceiling and
Passett produced a ladder that he
might hand down a few OF the more
interesting volumes for Dams closer
inspection.
Here's Wainwright's Brief De
scription Of the Ohio River, With
Some Account of the Savages Living
Thereon'-published in London IN
1892. and there are only three copies
in existence. This is Atterbury's
Chronicle of the Chesapeake Settle
ments-the best thing I have. The
author was an English sailor who
Joined the colonists in the Revolution
and published little memoir OF his
adventures in America. The only other
copy Of that known to exist Is in the
British Museum. I fished mine out
Of a pile Of junk in Baltimore about
ten years ago. When I get old and
have time on my hands I'm going to
reprint some Of these-wide margins,
and footnotes, and that sort Of thing.
But there's fun enough now in just
having them and knowing the other
fellow HASN'T
He flung open a panel OF the wains-
coting at a point still free Of shelves
and disclosed a door Of a small iron
safe which he opened with a key.
This isn't the family silver, but a
few little things that are more val
TABLE. These are first editions or
American authors. Here's LoweI's
Fable for Critics. first edition; and |
this is Emerson's Nature 1864 |
first. These are bound by Orpcutt; had |
them done myself. They feel good to
the hand, don't they
Harwood's pleasure in the beautiful |
specimens of the binders art was I'M
feigned and to his questioning Bas-
sett dilated upon the craftsmanship.
The red morocco of the Emerson |
takes the gold tooling beautifully, and |
the oak-leaf border design couldn't be |
finer believe this olive-green shade |
is the best Of all. This Whittier first |
edition of In War Time'-is by Du- |
rand a French artist, and one of the |
best specimens Of his work"
Are you a reader Of poetry?" asked |
Dan, as Bassett carefully collected the |
books and returned them to the safe. |
mo. That is something We leave
behind us with our youth" he said;
and looking down at the bent head
and sturdy shoulders, and watching
the strong fingers turning the key, !
Dan wondered what the mans youth |
had been and what elements were
mixed in him that soft textures of
leather and delicate tracings of gold
on brown and scarlet and olive could
so delight him.
Bassett rested his hand on Dams |
shoulder for a moment as the
younger man bent over one Of the
priced volumes, and Dan was not in |
sensible to the friendliness of the act. |
Bassett imposed no restrictions
upon Harwood's pencil, and this, too, |
was a novel experience. His predeces-
sors on the list Of leaders in Hoosier
politics had not been backward about
making suggestions, but Basset did
not y.fa,- RI Ga ruoO6ES or,-o,d - I'll