The daily worker., 1928-11-06
BY A. 3. MAGIL

Let me CSll you tIlcse lAlAitoiAS'AA %
certainly know how to live. 1t is
a fine place, that sumptuous Van
derfeller home on Park Ave. 1t
made me hesitate a little and wish
that dear Oscar Ameringer were
with me, with his inimitable wit and
presence of mind, when the big
building hove into sight as we old
salts say.
No less than two servants ush-
cred me up to Percy Vanderfeller's
private den. I noticed their livery
at once-it had that distinctive Van
Ierfeller touch. Young Vanderfel-
,er was reclining or sort Of divan
evidently waiting for me. He wore
an exotic dressing gown that I'M
nediately transported me to realms
far from the traffic and travail of
.Tis mundane world. He at once
shook hands. 1t was so character
site. Percy Vanderfeller is a DEM
oerat to his finger-tips.
sPardon me, old fellah," he said,
yawning and gazing muddily in my
direction. Didn't realize it was
three o'clock already Pulled in a
trifle late or rather early this morn
ing and haven't had breakfast yet.
Adolph!"
An inscrutable-looking servant
entered. He also wore the distinc-
tive Vanderfeller livery. Break
fast, Adolph, and-a little some
thing for the gentleman" The serv-
ant bowed ard left. The efficiency
of it captivated me.
I sat and chatted with him just
as if the person before me were
not the heir of fabulous millions,
but any ordinary mortal like you
or me. After exchanging the usual
commonplaces, I Immediately went
TO the point. "What made you join
the socialist party, Comrade-eh,
pardon me-Mr.-that is, l mean
Comrade Vanderfeller?" He pre-
tended that he hadn't noticed the
slip. 1t was so characteristic.
Just then Adolph re-entered with
tray of food. "Just a little
snack" young Vanderfeller muir
INJURED. The plate was loaded down
with bacon and eggs, mushrooms on
toast very distinctively prepared
and many other delicacies approp-
rate to the station and refinement
of Percy Vanderfeller. Behind him
came another servant with tray
containing caviar sandwiches, bot
tie With warm green liquid and
several glasses.
"I'm frightfully out of sorts to-
day." young Vanderfeller moaned.
isn't it perfectly terrible?"
Tho slightly mystified, I nodded
assent.
"And I thought that at last we
were going to have winning team.
Harvard's my alma mater, you
know, and no one but a Harvard
man can appreciate what it means.
What's your collegeT
was ashamed to say University
of Pennsylvania, so I murmured
Yale in as indistinct tone as pos
sible. He made deprecatory ges-
ture.
| thought it was about time to
spring my question on him again
"What made you join the socialist
party?"
He thought a while. And on his
face appeared that look of medita-
tive austerity that is so characters
tic Of Percy Vanderfeller and
makes him seem infinitely older
than his % years. Really, I don't
know" he said slowly as if pom
dering each word. "Only ! thought
there is so much more opportunity
for man in my position in the So
cialist party than in any other. You
see. the other two parties have nc
tone, if you know what mean
There's something unspeakably vul-
gar about them. The socialist par
fy is really the only party with the
aristocratic old-world flavor as II
were. | don't see how anyone who
considers himself gentleman car
belong to any other"
Young Vanderfeller nibbled deli
cately at his food as he talked.
noticed at once that his manners
were impeccable. l fortified my.
self with the caviar sandwiches
while a servant poured out two
glasses of the greenish liquid. cab
sinthe," young Vanderfeller said il
a.voice full of emotion. 81 got this
in Paris"
The mention of Paris was like
magic incarnation. Instantly the
barrier between us was broken dowr
and before long we were chatting
like old friends, swapping stories
about Monte Carlo, Vienna, Berlir
and all the capitols. He had beer
all over and it was really delight
to talk to him, his conversation was
SO cosmopolitan. | learned too that
young Vanderfeller is a young mar
of decidedly serious cast of minc
and while in Paris last summer hi
did considerable research work il
the Montmartre.
AS we were talking of this ant
that, Vanderfeller pointed to pic.
ture on the wall. had been eyeine
it for some time. To me it looked