Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-14

1.-The most vivid human picture of
America is seen in that lusty eager
ness of youth to fight it's way out. 1t
fights it's way out of an environment
it considers dull. and gains spiritual
and mental muscle in the struggle. 1t
goes straining onward to bigger and
bigger places. Finally 1t lands in the
center OF the whole web.
Take New York I've never been
there. but l imagine that it does little
to reproduce itself 1t relies for its
top on men and women from provin.
cial America. 1t relies for it's bottom
upon mere excess numbers of human
beings who immigrate. And in the
middle is the runout StOck-the Sec
ond or third generation from the for
mer top. who are tired Of it all, and
the second or third generation who
have come into prosperity from the
bottom and hold their gold inheritance
in their weary hands,
When Colchester spoke Of New York,
CLEAN came into his eye, but 1t was
Chicago that first drew him into
great center. l am not much of a
letterwritter. and several years had
gone before l knew that he had been
asked to be assistant counsel for one
Of the Midwestern railroads. Some
u,
we lost each other in a subway crush.
But though I did not hear directly
from him. I often thought Of Carrie
Graham's mention of the faces of mum.
berless human beings in the light of
the warehouse fire.
FINALLY, at bankers convention
at Atlantic City, l met Jim Col
chester. We almost knocked each
other down. exclaimed about the
luck of this meeting.
Come on here and sit down." he
said. II hear you have quit the law
No wonder. You've been adverturing
around the world. Well, well!'
There was something in his voice
that spoke of formula of good will
and great good nature. 1t was almost
like that quality OF speech called by
another attorney giving clients the
cheeriO.'
Where are you now?" I asked
"Chicago?"
New York several months ago. The
firm is Dane. Colchester. Evans K
Wye"
Il should have known" I said.
Not at all, not at ALL" he replied
hriskly. II really came unexpectedly
l wanted to get in where the plums
are. because
His face suddenly changed, became
alive again, and reminded me Of it's
old enthusiasms.
Because" he said, II want to stay
just long enough in this game to work
myself out of it. l had enough ex-
perience in my own family-my father
went without a Winter overcoat to
give dresses to my sisters-so that
want to he protected. l have work
to do in this world. il I can get ell
bows free-things l really want to try
to do. you know
I did not exactly know, but I sup.
posed he referred to the ideas he had
poured out to Carrie Graham.
And you've got to protect your
family. We have two youngsters now.
Come up and see 'em. Here. give me
that pencil. That's where we are liv.
ing. 1t costs like the deuce, but l
can't very we'll go dowr and live in
old Chelsea, or anything like that. 1t
doesn't look well. Telephone us when
you are in town. Come up to dinner.
Wen talk it over
Then / made a terrible gaff. l said:
II will be so glad to see Carrie again.
too"
A strange expression, almost like
fear. came into his eyes.
why I didn't marry Carrie" he
said. as if surprised. Indeed. / be.
| lieve she is still unmarried. You did
not assume that we were engaged?"
MOO. Not formally"
| I was thinking of Carrie G. dham.
who was not quite at an equal level
fF ht.tIt srrlN -.
suspected of being little plain-good
enough for that town--but not quite
in focus for the greater salons.
II married Jeanne D'Orsay," he
said. ''She was a Chicago girl. You
may know Allen D'Orsay, the man
who is always trailing off on explor.
| ing expeditions. He's her brother.