The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-18

MORTON BRILL paid little. or no attention to the
AVA many people who pressed against his knees as
he sat in the crowded subway train. He was think
ing not of lfes usual perplexities but of figures
Decimals, ones, and oughts formed curious links
and danced grotesque rituals in his head. In front
of him the tabloid into which he gazed diff
IDENTIFY. Unable to concentrate on the news, he
shifted his eyes to the right, where a girl was
reading the same paper. He watched her turn the
pages then focused his glance at the men and
women, crowding to reach for strap. Sometime
later he looked thru the window as the downtown
bound train rolled to a stop. It was 14th Street
and he should have alighted at Grand Central
Hurredly arising he pushed his way thru the center
door, crossed the platform to the other side and
rode up station.
At the uptown branch of Peabody and Wicks
where Brill employed as margin clerk, activity
started Upon arriving he exchanged good morn
ings" with those who acknowledged his entrance
and took his usual seat at high desk table. From
a drawer he extracted a green eyeshade which he
fitted his brow. look of mild interest nestled
his face he made an effort to concentrate
the numerous bond receipts lying before him.
He couldn't, the figures still before his eyes,
clogging thoughtful concentration.
The room gradually began to take on the aspects
which characterize bond brokers' office Runners
carrying securities began fiterng thru the door.
Telephones buzzed. Clerks darted from desk to
desk. Typewriters clicked noisely. Orders to buy
ana sell were hearQ, news ClckerS began TO reel
out coils of price quotations. Holdings were i'm
periledi A tension of anxiety gripped everybody,
Brill soon relaxed into a state of busy occu-
patton. The pen he constantly dipping into
inkwell up and down the ledger in slow delib-
crate strokes.
1t was nearing eleven o'clock Another clerk
working alongside of Brill winked his eye "How's
the old contest getting on Brin?" Morton made
reply, enigmatic smile broke thru his lips,
which faded away in an instant. Leave him alone,
he's figuring out how to spend the ten thousand
dollars" chmed in another Still answer, other
than a grunt evoked from Brill.
The staffs favorite sport, that of kidding Mr..
Brill commenced, and promised to continue indefin-
itey. At times this ocular horseplay justified,
there something about his person that
invited ridicule. Just what it was is difficult to
determine, it may be attributed to the seriousness
with which he took the jests, or, perhaps his APP
pearance, yet Morton Brill was, much to his dis
comforture the butt of constant jokes.
This person Brill was a type, nay, than
that, formula, symbol perfect example of the
petty bourgeois circle he gravtated in In the
office, he, for reasons of antiquity became fix
ture. People grew used to seeing him at his DESK
as to the desk itself. He seemed to belong there
Lacking entirely in initiative intelligence he
regulated his habits by standards. Brill did only
what the "best people" did, and to him they rep
resented the successful in fe The to be looked
up to-, admired and initiated.
His own life was so totally DEVOID OF interest tnat
for sheer want of something to occupy his time with
he thrilled at other peoples victories and grieved
at other peoples losses. Winding someone else's
business was his chief source of enjoyment, and
a result his head became walking almanac. He
could tell you without minutes hesitation how
many divorce cases the Supreme Court handled last
year, or the salaries and income taxes of famous
movie stars In this fashion he sublimated his mem
tai vacuum into IN ilIusorv region. where he fanced
himself being a man of Importance.