a far country-第46节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
spoke to many of them as we passed。 After we got to State Street； I
asked him his name； and when he told me I was speechless。 He took off
his hat and went away。 He had such a nice facenot at all ugly when you
look at it twiceand kind eyes； that I just couldn't believe him to be
as bad as father and George think he is。 Of course he is mistaken；〃 she
added hastily； 〃but I am sure he is sincere； and honestly thinks he can
help those people by telling them what he does。〃
The question shot at me during the meeting rankled still； I wanted to
believe that Krebs had inspired it； and her championship of him gave me a
twinge of jealousy；the slightest twinge； to be sure； yet a perceptible
one。 At the same time； the unaccountable liking I had for the man
stirred to life。 The act she described had been so characteristic。
〃He's one of the born rebels against society；〃 I said glibly。 〃Yet I do
think he's sincere。〃
Maude was grave。 〃I should be sorry to think he wasn't；〃 she replied。
After I had bidden her good night at the foot of the stairs； and gone to
my room； I reflected how absurd it was to be jealous of Krebs。 What was
Maude Hutchins to me？ And even if she had been something to me； she
never could be anything to Krebs。 All the forces of our civilization
stood between the two； nor was she of a nature to take plunges of that
sort。 The next day； as I lay back in my seat in the parlour…car and
gazed at the autumn landscape； I indulged in a luxurious contemplation of
the picture she had made as she stood on the lawn under the trees in the
early morning light； when my carriage had driven away； and I had turned；
to perceive that her eyes had followed me。 I was not in love with her；
of course。 I did not wish to return at once to Elkington； but I dwelt
with a pleasant anticipation upon my visit； when the campaign should be
over； with George。
XIII。
〃The good old days of the Watling campaign；〃 as Colonel Paul Varney is
wont to call them； are gone forever。 And the Colonel himself； who stuck
to his gods； has been through the burning； fiery furnace of
Investigation； and has come out unscathed and unrepentant。 The flames of
investigation； as a matter of fact； passed over his head in their vain
attempt to reach the 〃man higher up；〃 whose feet they licked； but him
they did not devour； either。 A veteran in retirement； the Colonel is
living under his vine and fig tree on the lake at Rossiter； the vine
bears Catawba grapes； of which he is passionately fond； the fig tree； the
Bartlett pears he gives to his friends。 He has saved something from the
spoils of war； but other veterans I could mention are not so fortunate。
The old warriors have retired； and many are dead； the good old methods
are becoming obsolete。 We never bothered about those mischievous things
called primaries。 Our county committees； our state committees chose the
candidates for the conventions； which turned around and chose the
committees。 Both the committees and the conventionsunder advicechose
the candidates。 Why； pray； should the people complain； when they had
everything done for them？ The benevolent parties； both Democratic and
Republican； even undertook the expense of printing the ballots！ And
generous ballots they were （twenty inches long and five wide！）；
distributed before election； in order that the voters might have the
opportunity of studying and preparing them： in order that Democrats of
delicate feelings might take the pains to scratch out all the Democratic
candidates； and write in the names of the Republican candidates。
Patriotism could go no farther than this。。。。
I spent the week before election in the city； where I had the opportunity
of observing what may be called the charitable side of politics。 For a
whole month； or more； the burden of existence had been lifted from the
shoulders of the homeless。 No church or organization； looked out for
these frowsy； blear…eyed and ragged wanderers who had failed to find a
place in the scale of efficiency。 For a whole month； I say； Mr。 Judd
Jason and his lieutenants made them their especial care； supported them
in lodging…houses； induced the night clerks to give them attention； took
the greatest pains to ensure them the birth…right which； as American
citizens； was theirs；that of voting。 They were not only given homes
for a period； but they were registered； and in the abundance of good
feeling that reigned during this time of cheer； even the foreigners were
registered！ On election day they were driven； like visiting notables； in
carryalls and carriages to the polls！ Some of them； as though in
compensation for ills endured between elections； voted not once； but many
times； exercising judicial functions for which they should be given
credit。 For instance； they were convinced that the Hon。 W。 W。 Trulease
had made a good governor； and they were Watling enthusiasts；intent on
sending men to the legislature who would vote for him for senator； yet
there were cases in which； for the minor offices； the democrat was the
better man！
It was a memorable day。 In spite of Mr。 Lawler's Pilot； which was as a
voice crying in the wilderness； citizens who had wives and homes and
responsibilities； business men and clerks went to the voting booths and
recorded their choice for Trulease； Watling and Prosperity： and working…
men followed suit。 Victory was in the air。 Even the policemen wore
happy smiles； and in some instances the election officers themselves in
absent…minded exuberance thrust bunches of ballots into the boxes！
In response to an insistent demand from his fellow…citizens Mr。 Watling；
the Saturday evening before； had made a speech in the Auditorium； decked
with bunting and filled with people。 For once the Morning Era did not
exaggerate when it declared that the ovation had lasted fully ten
minutes。 〃A remarkable proof〃 it went on to say； 〃of the esteem and
confidence in which our fellow…citizen is held by those who know him
best； his neighbours in the city where he has given so many instances of
his public spirit； where he has achieved such distinction in the practice
of the law。 He holds the sound American conviction that the office
should seek the man。 His address is printed in another column； and we
believe it will appeal to the intelligence and sober judgment of the
state。 It is replete with modesty and wisdom。〃
Mr。 Watling was introduced by Mr。 Bering of the State Supreme Court （a
candidate for re…election）； who spoke with deliberation； with owl…like
impressiveness。 He didn't believe in judges meddling in politics； but
this was an unusual occasion。 （Loud applause。） Most unusual。 He had
come here as a man； as an American； to pay his tribute to another man； a
long…time friend； whom he thought to stand somewhat aside and above mere
party strife； to represent values not merely political。。。。 So
accommodating and flexible is the human mind； so 〃practical〃 may it
become through dealing with men and affairs； that in listening to Judge
Bering I was able to ignore the little anomalies such a situation might
have suggested to the theorist； to the mere student of the institutions
of democracy。 The friendly glasses of rye and water Mr。 Bering had taken
in Monahan's saloon； the cases he had 〃arranged〃 for the firm of Watling；
Fowndes and Ripon were forgotten。 Forgotten； too； when Theodore Watling
stood up and men began； to throw their hats in the air；were the
cavilling charges of Mr。 Lawler's Pilot that； far from the office seeking
the man； our candidate had spent over a hundred thousand dollars of his
own money； to say nothing of the contributions of Mr。 Scherer； Mr。
Dickinson and the Railroad！ If I had been troubled with any weak；
ethical doubts； Mr。 Watling would have dispelled them； he had red blood
in his veins； a creed in which he believed； a rare power of expressing
himself in plain； everyday language that was often colloquial； but never…
…as the saying goes …〃cheap。〃 The dinner…pail predicament was real to
him。 He would present a policy of our opponents charmingly； even
persuasively； and then add； after a moment's pause： 〃There is only one
objection to this； my friendsthat it doesn't work。〃 It was all in the
way he said it； of course。 The audience would go wild with approval； and
shouts of 〃that's right〃 could be heard here and there。 Then he
proceeded to show why it didn't work。 He had the faculty of bringing his
lessons home； the imagination to put himself into the daily life of those
who listened to him；the life of the storekeeper； the clerk； of the
labourer and of the house…wife。 The effect of this can scarcely be
overestimated。 For the American hugs the delusion that there are no
class distinctions； even though his whole existence may be an effort to
rise out of once class into another。 〃Your wife；〃 he told them once；
〃needs a dress。 Let us admit that the material for the dress is a little
cheaper than it was four years ago； but when she comes to look into the
family stocking〃 （Laughter。） 〃I needn't go on。 If we could have things
cheaper； and more money to buy them with； we should all be happy； and the
Republican party could retire from business
