Evening star., 1925-07-27

young English girl to whom her com.
ing was likely to prove SO disastrous
Even the picnic had been arranged at
her suggestion.
We'll. the yacht has arrived, and
other things" she remarked. 1T ts
never too late in this world. so long
as one has the will. Grant, I want
to go to the Dutch East Indies
I'D better tell him to put in AT
Naples and coal, then" he suggested.
You will kindly remember" Susan
observed, that you have the prime
minister of the greatest empire in the
world on board, who will be required
at Nice at quarter TO II tomor-
row morning to preside over the little
tea party there"
That is unfortunate" Gertrude
sighed. Such a quarrelsone little
tea party too. isn't it?'
Lymane, who was seated in the little
circle. moved in his chair uneasily,
Grant turned slightly toward her.
-Quarrelsome, is it?" he repeated.
How do you know that?"
"Oh. the air is full Of rumors," she
answered carelessly. yesterday, for
instance. everybody was saving that
that poor dear Baron Naga had COM
mitted suicide because America was
TO be invited once more TO come into
the Pact"
he had one funnel too many on his
latest cruiser" Bobby Lancaster re-
marked.
idiot his sister exclaimed,
That's the business Of the Limita-
ton of Armaments Congress, not the
Pact"
"Naga, as a matter Of fact, repre-
sented his country on both boards.
Lymane pointed out Too much for
one man. ] know that he dreaded
that journey TO Washington every
year"
The stewards appeared with tea.
Lord Yeovil and Cornelius Blum
Joined the little group. The latter re-
moved his hat. dragged his chair OUT
to where he could get the fun benefit
of the sunlight and the breeze, and
smiled on every one beatihcally.
Mr.. Slattery," he said, you are.
without exception, the most fortunate
man in the world. You own the most
perfect yacht l have ever seen, YOU
have no business or other cares, you
have the friends who make a man
happy. 1t is wonderful existence.
Grant smiled.
Rather a lazy one, l am afraid. :"
he admitted.
'Laziness is the only sound philos-
ophy of life" Blum insisted. IF you
have no need TO work for yourself.
why do you do it? If you spend your
time working for others, you meet
with nothing but ingratitude.
grudge the time I have to give TO the
l am always deeply grateful that I
was never tempted to dabble in poll
tics. l am training up young men.
and in five years time | shall be free
from all cares. When that time
comes. / shall lie like q lizard in the
sun Of good fortune. I will never
write letter and seldom read a news
paper"
II thought that all Germans were
politicians by instinct. from their
cradles upward" Lord Yeovil re.
marked, smiling.
Not in these days" Blum replied.
helping himself TO his third cake.
My father, of course, was a rabjd
politician. but he lived in terrible
times A prosperous Germany is so
much to the good, of course, but her
sons naturally lack the inspiration Of
what used TO be known as patriotism.
The fact of il is" he went on, that
industrially Germany has come in for
a great heritage. If she had been as
prosperous in 1914 as she is today
that wicked old Kaiser of ours might r
have ratified his saber forever and no
one would have listened. What people
have often failed 10 understand about :
my country is that we are not seekers
after glory. We want money and the
ease and comfort and happy days thar
money brings"
You don't think that Germany
wants another war, them Bobby
Lancaster asked
My dear young man." Blum as
sured him emphatically. there isn't
leader living or a cause in existence
which could induce the German Of
today to exchange the loom for the
sword. There isn't nation which
rejoiCes so thoroughly in the Pact
l thought that this was absolutely
understood by now. Even the. Eng
lish sensationalists have begun to
trust US q.
He smiled upon them all. Some
how or other he seemed TO feel the
inspiration of the circle of interested
auditors.
There is only one thing needed, -
he continued, (which my friends the
politicians tell me would end the last
hopes of the militarists, and that is
that the Pact of Nations. over which
my honored friend here. Lord Yeovil.
SO ably presides, should induce the
United States of America to Join them
and abandon forever her present aloof.
ness. | do not understand myself
he means by which this could be
done or the etiquette necessary. but
as a representative German citizen.
my hand of comradeship is ready al
any moment"
Il wonder" Lord Yeovil speculated,
whether you really do speak as a
representative German citizen"
Believe me, l do" was the earnest
reply. MY simple tastes in life are
shared by millions. What the Ger
man of today wants is his beer, his
wine. his music and his womankind
He wants to spend his spare time
with his children and TO be able to
buy his little home early in life. | am
not a great traveller; l don't know
how it is with other nations. l know
how it is with my own. We want TO
live out our days comfortably and !
pleasantly. We are naturally human
beings, filed with natural desires. I
have eaten too many cakes. l shah
walk for little time or I shall have
no appetite for this wonderful dinner.
which our gracious host has promised
us. Princess, will you do me the
honor?"
Gertrude rose from her place. -
Il am not great walker" Mr..
Blum" she warned him, but for 10
minutes. will be your companion"
THAT 10 minutes" he rejoined, will
be the crown of my day"
They all looked after him a little
curiously as he stepped out upon his
promenade. Lord Yeovil was very
much interested.
II am delighted. Grant" he said to
Slattery, that you have given me an
opportunity, through your friend the
Princess Won Diss, of meeting Mr.
Blum. find him an extraordinarily