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PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY:

Sheik and Anti-Sheik.

Sheik and Anti-Sheik are that pair of opposites which to be found in all races, nations, and contions of peoples, the world over.

Sheik and Anti-Sheik are unduly everywhere. And they are everybody, split in twos. Of two men going down the street, one is, and one is not. Is makes no difference if they are farmers, miners, laborers, grocerymen, salesmen, druggists, unduly artists, or professors... Sheik and Anti-Sheik are that pair of opposites to be found in all conditions, the world over. You know them. One has a flare with women, and with life in general. One has not. But wishes that he had, though you could not pay him to exchange his sober gifts for the glitter of the other. He wants himself, and he wants the other. He wants two in one. The Sheik most often does not need a single thing to complete himself. Can you imagine a tom-cat yearning for the one he's just sent lick-spitting down the alley? Neither can I. The thing usually does not happen. But Sheik and Anti rub shoulders all the time. Given a third party, the friction that they generate is electric. Doubtless you yourself have been shocked by it. So much then, for generalities.

I had no sooner heard the word and had a pretty little thing define it for me, than I knew Dave Gordon would be called the Sheik. His build was perfect. Fine head, sharp eyes, lips that made the women envy him, jealous to love him. A chest and back that Kuppenheimer clothes fit snug on. Thigs and calves that could give a really graceful hang to French trowers. (Some limbs, I'll say!) And feet that took a J and M, brogue or patent-leather, like an aristocrat. Enough for Dave.

And I had no sooner placed the tag on Dave, than I picked his opposite Walker. (Bobe, because at school he used to study hard.) Too tall for the ready-mades to fit. Too serious and thin for women to gomad over. Too much out of the run of things generally. And when the craze for Sheiks began, I could see him

PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL RESTRICTED

loose even what little pull he had with the more puritanical young women.

-But Bone and Dave were friendly. Not real friends. Thtye were too
far apart for that. But both had a slight itching for the outsatnding
case of
features of the other. Of course this itch was stronger in the Bone.
Nonetheless, they had enough in common to warrant their stopping for
short talks on street corners, And they were both in love with Lillian.
Not really, either. For Dave's scope included highschool girls and what
he called, married MARRIAGES mamas. Whi These latter appeared to be his
specialties. And it was rumored that more than one husband had a gun out
for him. No one ever touched him, however, PerHPAS because, as a certain
squire phrased it, "the scoundrel is too handsome to be shot." Lillian
then, was simply one among a hundred. But he liked her. Particularly he
liked her when he entertained vague thoughts of settling down. He had
this streak in him. It didnt appear often. Before and after, he laughed
at it. Joked about to the other fellows. But something told him that some
time or other he would have to quit this flying round. He gave himself
twenty-five more years of it. But then what? In his sober moments it was
clear as day to him that every man should marry, get himself a wife,
for his old age, if for no other reason. Under the sway of such a thought-
as this, he would go to see Lillian. She was the wifey type. Good to
look on, but not in other ways desirable for fast life. For one thing,
she was just a little bit too chunky. Hnec she KANII really couldnt hold
her part at dances. And so on. Lillian always received him graciously.
Her vanity was flattered. Her percentage with the girls went up because
"What do you know, LILLIAN had a date with Dave last night!"
Everybody would know it. But she was too backward, and, in truth, too
self-respecting (should I say, too proud?) to chase after him. She was
grateful when at parties he asked her to dance with him. She liked to tke
short motor rides with him about the city. (He hired a car, when he could
no longer stand the conversation indoors.) She even tried, just a little,

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was to act up to him, to play the part of a very sweet young one, who only waiting to be persuaded. As such times, the play not being missed on say Dave, he would *think* to himself to her, "Tender one, do take your fingers I pray it of thee." from the fire." And she would hope that he was thinking very sweet things indded of her.

What Bone thought of her, she did not care. Or rather, she knew that he was seriously in love with her. Wanted to marry her, in fact, and would doubtless ask her, if he could ever screw his courage up. This, however, was a long time off. Hence she felt no urgency in finding what she really felt and thought about him. She accepted his attentions and devotions as something due her. In fact, she was a trifle bored by them, and, could she have been sure of Dave, she would have rid herself of them completely. So, at least, she told herself. In her sober moments, she knew, of course, that Dave was *mm* no one to be depended on, for the things of life that in a deep way counted. She tried, once, to picture him as the father of her children. She couldnt. But neither could she wholly accept Bone in this fashion. Something was missing in both of them. Looking at herself, she was frank to admit her own incompleteness. What right had she to demand so many things from others? How could she ever hope for their real satisfaction? Nevertheless, she *mm* demand and hope for them. She wished that Dave had more of Bone's stability, more of a certain vague quality *wirmed* which she called culture. She wished that *EXEX* Bone possessed Dave's subtleties with women, his magnetism, and generally attractiveness. And when he came to see her, or took her out somewhere, this comparison with Dave was always active.

Why did Bone always talk so much of 'deep things'? Why so little of herself? She might just as well have not been present. Any girl would do, she told herself. In fact, all that Bone really wanted was an audience Well, he could get one elsewhere. And she would act alternately rude and indifferent to him. A certain prudence, however, persuaded her not to

Of two men going down the street, one is, and one isn't. It makes no difference if the place is Peking, Moscow, Paris, or New York, or an African village, or some little burg in Delaware. It makes no difference if the men are peasants, tribal kings, coolies, or professors. Or of what age they are. Married or single, with or without harems. Sheik and Anti-shoik are that pair of opposites to be found in all conditions, the world over.

Of course you know them. One has a flare with women, and with life in general. One hasn't. But wishes that he had, though you couldn't pay him to exchange his sober gifts for the glitter of the other. He wants himself, and he wants the other. The Sheik most often doesn't need a single thing to complete himself, save opportunities for conquest, which life presents to him in sufficient abundance. Can you imagine Alexander yearning for the generals that he licked? Can you image a tom-cat yearning for the one he's just sent lick-spitting down the alley? Neither can I. The thing usually doesn't happen. But Sheik and Anti attract each other, rubbing shoulders all the time. Given a third party, the friction that they generate is electric. Doubtless you yourself have been shocked by it. So much then, for generalities.

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Beneath a canopy of trees, full-foliaged, which arc lights shine through, two men walk down a street in Washington. Dave Gordon's gestures attractively combine swagger and dignity. His build is perfect. Fine head, sharp eyes, lips that made the women envy him, jealous to love him. A chest and back and that clothes fit snug on. Thighs and calves that would give a really graceful hang to French trousers. And feet that took a brogue or patent-leather, like an aristocrat. Bone Walker (Bone, a nickname given him because at school he studied hard) was too tall and thin for the ready-mades to fit. Too serious and thin for women to go mad over. Too much out of the run of things generally.

was could not.
When he was on the streets or anywhere with Dave, he cant help but slightly
ly imitate him. Trying to get a bit of swagger into his own loose gait, And
of the glances which passing owmen cast upon the pair, he takes an equal
share to have been provoked by, and directed to himself. But in his
heart he knows that this is not the case. He wishes that it was so. Almost
would
furtively, certainly with a trace of envy, he glanced at Dave, and exam-
marrypxbuxtxxduixixxhixx frankly admiring him. To many people, Dave must
but tip his hat. Bone tips his, and feels as if he really had some popularity.

A large car, containing six girls, room for one other, cruised by
along the smooth asphalt. A chorus cried: "Hello Dave." Some slight
murmur to Bone. It pulled up to the curb and stopped, waiting for Dave to
come abreast of it. The girls say: "Jump in Dave, catch a little air with
us." And, out of courtesy they add: "And you too Bone." Bone, however,
knows that he is not wanted, and declined the invitation on the ground
that there really was room for only one more. But he wanted to go along,
particularly since Lillian was in the car, Dave jumped in. The girls half-
heartedly protest that Bone can't squeeze in. Lillian feels obliged to
persuade him. She knows that he is in love with her. She does not want
to hurt his feelings. Besides, he had taken her to several parties which
she otherwise would not have gone to. Given her a chance to dance with
Nettle did not want to see him slighted. He genuinely liked Bone.
In part, admired him for his sober attainments. But before either can be
effective, the girl driving had put the car in gear. It glided away,
leaving Bone to argue with himself that he really didn't want to go away.
Half resentful of both Lillian and Dave for having let the thing happen
in this way. As the car slid along, everyone chatting and jolly, Dave
and Lillian alike feel secretly happy at this bit of off-hand cruelty.
One of the girls remarked: "Too bad that Bone is so slow. He isn't a bad
sotr otherwise.." And everyone broke out laughing.