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to have encountered in Washington Park my honest friend Sergeant X。 and
Roundsman 9999 conveying a party of these derelicts to the station。 One
of the women； evidently； had not had time to change her apparel； and had
thinly disguised the flowing robe and loose cestus of Venus under a ragged
〃waterproof〃； while the other； who had doubtless posed for Mercury； hid
her shapely tights in a plaid shawl； and changed her winged sandals for a
pair of 〃arctics。〃 Their rouged faces were streaked and stained with tears。
The man who was with them； the male of their species； had but hastily
washed himself of his Ethiopian presentment； and was still black behind
the ears； while an exaggerated shirt collar and frilled shirt made his
occasional indignant profanity irresistibly ludicrous。 So they fared on
over the glittering snow； against the rosy sunlight of the square； the gray
front of the University building； with a few twittering sparrows in the
foreground； beside the two policemen； quiet and impassive as fate。 I could
not help thinking of the distinguished A。； the most fashionable B。； the
wealthy and respectable C。； the sentimental D。； and the man of the world
E。； who were present at the performance； whose distinguished patronage
had called it into life； and who were then resting quietly in their beds；
while these haggard servants of their pleasaunce were haled over the snow
to punishment and ignominy。
Let me finish by recalling one brighter picture of that same season。 It
was early； so early that the cross of Grace Church had； when I looked up；
just caught the morning sun； and for a moment flamed like a crusader's
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symbol。 And then the grace and glory of that exquisite spire became
slowly visible。 Fret by fret the sunlight stole slowly down； quivering and
dropping from each； until at last the whole church beamed in rosy radiance。
Up and down the long avenue the street lay in shadow； by some strange
trick of the atmosphere the sun seemed to have sought out only that
graceful structure for its blessing。 And then there was a dull rumble。 It
was the first omnibus；the first throb in the great artery of the reviving
city。 I looked up。 The church was again in shadow。
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WITH THE ENTREES
〃Once； when I was a pirate！〃
The speaker was an elderly gentleman in correct evening dress； the
room a tasteful one； the company of infinite respectability； the locality at
once fashionable and exclusive； the occasion an unexceptionable dinner。
To this should be added that the speaker was also the host。
With these conditions self…evident； all that good breeding could do was
to receive the statement with a vague smile that might pass for good…
humored incredulity or courteous acceptation of a simple fact。 Indeed； I
think we all rather tried to convey the impression that our host； when he
WAS a pirate；if he ever really was one；was all that a self…respecting
pirate should be； and never violated the canons of good society。 This
idea was； to some extent； crystallized by the youngest Miss Jones in the
exclamation； 〃Oh； how nice！〃
〃It was； of course； many years ago； when I was quite a lad。〃
We all murmured 〃Certainly；〃 as if piracy were a natural expression of
the exuberance of youth。
〃I ought； perhaps； explain the circumstances that led me into this way
of life。〃
Here Legrande； a courteous attache of the Patagonian legation；
interposed in French and an excess of politeness； 〃that it was not of a
necessity；〃 a statement to which his English neighbor hurriedly responded；
〃Oui； oui。〃
〃There ess a boke；〃 he continued； in a well…bred； rapid whisper； 〃from
Captain Canot；a Frenchman；most eenterestinghe wasoh； a fine man
of educationand what you call a 'slavair；'〃 but here he was quietly
nudged into respectful silence。
〃I ran away from home；〃 continued our host。 He paused； and then
added； appealingly； to the two distinguished foreigners present： 〃I do not
know if I can make you understand that this is a peculiarly American
predilection。 The exodus of the younger males of an American family
against the parents' wishes does not； with us； necessarily carry any
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obloquy with it。 To the average American the prospect of fortune and a
better condition lies OUTSIDE of his home； with you the home means the
estate； the succession of honors or titles； the surety that the conditions of
life shall all be kept intact。 With us the children who do not expect； and
generally succeed in improving the fortunes of the house； are marked
exceptions。 Do I make myself clear？〃
The French…Patagonian attache thought it was 〃charming and
progressif。〃 The Baron Von Pretzel thought he had noticed a movement
of that kind in Germany； which was expressed in a single word of
seventeen syllables。 Viscount Piccadilly said to his neighbor： 〃That； you
know now； the younger sons； don't you see； go to Australia； you know in
some beastly tradestock…raising or sheepyou know； but； by Jove！ them
fellahs〃
〃My father always treated me well；〃 continued our host。 〃I shared
equally with my brothers the privileges and limitations of our New
England home。 Nevertheless； I ran away and went to sea〃
〃To seewhat？〃 asked Legrande。
〃Aller sur mer；〃 said his neighbor； hastily。
〃Go on with your piracy！〃 said Miss Jones。
The distinguished foreigners looked at each other and then at Miss
Jones。 Each made a mental note of the average cold…blooded ferocity of
the young American female。
〃I shipped on board of a Liverpool 'liner；'〃 continued our host。
〃What ess a 'liner'？〃 interrupted Legrande； sotto voce； to his next
neighbor； who pretended not to hear him。
〃I need not