Evening star., 1924-12-16
1'heMan
BY II. Il. SALSlNGER.

complex. His is dual per-
sonality. In him we find a
man who at times has the polish,
the gloss. the culture, the bearing
and supreme suavity of a George
Bryan Beau Brummel. and, at other
times, when he loses his temper and
laShes into wild fury, he resembles
he Bill Sykes of Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist" His composition is
of Iekyl and Hyde construction.
There is no middle ground with
Cobb, no in-between, no tempe rance
and no modifying. He is one extreme
or the other; at times he is a supreme
optimist; at other times an extreme
pessimist. Always Is he creature
of varying moods.
A recruit who has just met Cobb
told a veteran player that he re-
garded Cobb as the finest gentleman
he had ever met.
"Youll say different after you've
felt the lash OF Simon's whip" -,
What Simon?' asked the recruit.
simon Legree Cobb" the veteran
informed him.
Observation-Disclosures.
The passing years have in a meas-
ure tempered Cobb. mellowed him.
He has become more and more of a
philosopher, but the tenperamental
fires still fare. although not as fire.
.uuently as of yore.
In his long career his disposition
always has been OF a trucuIent ma
ture. He never was able 20 stand
reverses with good grace. He often
expressed a selfish nature and too
frequently lacked sympathy.
Cobb always has been a student.
Els mind is one of the keeneEt In
his native land. He was quick to
grasp, to understand any subject. He
has an inquiriug mind, thirst for
knowledge of all kinds.
He can discourse on any favorite
subject of the drawing room. He can
talk intelligently on the various arts
and on sciences. He knows a great
deal about finance and business. He
knows much about manufacture. He
knows a good deal about literature,
about music.
Knowledge of Art.
A friend was showing Cobb = por-
trait of one Of his forebears.
That's Stuart" said the friend
and, after a pause, he added in ex
plauation; Il mean the canvas was
painted by Stuart"
Yes, l know what you meant, but
personaily--well. while Stuart is a
good portrait painter, I personally
prefer Sir Thomas Lawrence.
think Lawrence was a great painter,
replied Cobb.
Yes. Lawrence was a good painter
an excellent one. But so were Joshua
Reynolds. Romney, Gainsborough
Rubens, Van Dyke. And there was
Spaniard--"
"A Spaniard by the name OF Eelas-
quez." interrupted Cobb.
Yes, Diego Rodriguez Velasques
de silva, a great painter agreed the
friend.
He was 4 great painter, and to
many painters he was the greatest
painter. He was. in fact, the paint
ers' painter" added Cobb, and the
friend agreed.
Cobb knows the old masters and
the modern. Knows Corot and Tur-
ner, whistler and Degas, Millet and
Diaz, Melchers and Sargent.
And Cobb knows music. He knows
the classical in music. He is ac-
quainted with the works of the great
composers, the French, the Italian
German and Russian.
Surprises Musician.
One evening Cobb sat in famous
restaurant. The orchestra was offer
ing that evening A program of classi-
cal selections. During the intermis-
sion the conductor came to Cobb's
table and was introduced. Cobb In
vited him to sit down. The composer
asked Cobb how he liked the orches.
ira and Cobb criticized certain phases
OF the rendition. The orchestra lead
er, really gifted musician, imme-
diately tried TO corner Cobb in q
technical discussion. The attempt
failed utterly, for Cobb dazed the
Reader with his knowledge OF the
technique of orchestration. The con-
versation drifted>to the violin, for the
orchestra leader was a noted violinist
and analyzed the merits OF the va
rious leading masters of the tnstru-
ment, supporting each statement with
a brilliant collection of faI-s, A
stranger, hearing the conversation
would have experienced difhculty ir
choosing the musician II told that
one man was musician and the
other was not.
He has knowledge of sculpture
He knows Rodin and admires the
work of the great French master
The ruggedness, virility, power and
force of Robins sculpture appeals tC
OOpO more ludn lDdL OF any OInel
man who works in stone, wax, clay
or bronze.
He has a knowledge OF precious
stones, He knows diamonds, pearls
rubies, emeralds, sapphires. He
knows the history of many gems. He
Is a judge of diamonds and the nativ.
ity of the different diamonds, theil
cut. their value
The man who thinks he can sell
Cobb modern Oriental rug for ar