the turmoil-第12章

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putting　forth　〃show…windows〃　on　their　first　floors；　seeming　to　mean　it　　for　a

joke；　one　or　two　with　unaltered　facades　peeped　humorously　over　the　　tops　of

temporary　office　buildings　of　one　story　erected　in　the　old　front　　yards。

Altogether；　the　town　here　was　like　a　boarding…house　hash　the　　Sunday　after

Thanksgiving；　the　old　ingredients　were　discernible。



This　was　the　fringe　of　Bigness's　own　sanctuary；　and　now　Bibbs　reached　the

roaring　holy　of　holies　itself。　　The　car　must　stop　at　every　crossing　while　　the

dark…garbed　crowds；　enveloped　in　maelstroms　of　dust；　hurried　before　　it。

Magnificent　new　buildings；　already　dingy；　loomed　hundreds　of　feet　　above　him；

newer　ones；　more　magnificent；　were　rising　beside　them；　rising　　higher；　old

buildings　were　coming　down；　middle…aged　buildings　were　coming　　down；　the

streets　were　laid　open　to　their　entrails　and　men　worked　　underground　between

palisades；　and　overhead　in　metal　cobwebs　like　spiders　　in　the　sky。

Trolley…cars　and　long　interurban　cars；　built　to　split　the　　wind　like

torpedo…boats；　clanged　and　shrieked　their　way　round　swarming　　corners；

motor…cars　of　every　kind　and　shape　known　to　man　babbled　　frightful　warnings

and　frantic　demands；　hospital　ambulances　clamored　　wildly　for　passage；

steam…whistles　signaled　the　swinging　of　titanic　　tentacle　and　claw；　riveters

rattled　like　machine…guns；　the　ground　shook　　to　the　thunder　of　gigantic

trucks；　and　the　conglomerate　sound　of　it　all　was　　the　sound　of　earthquake

playing　accompaniments　for　battle　and　sudden　　death。　　On　one　of　the　new　steel

buildings　no　work　was　being　done　that　　afternoon。　　The　building　had　killed　a

man　in　the　morningand　the　　steel…workers　always　stop　for　the　day　when　that

〃happens。〃



And　in　the　hurrying　crowds；　swirling　and　sifting　through　the　　brobdingnagian

camp　of　iron　and　steel；　one　saw　the　camp…followers　and　the　　pagan　womenthere

would　be　work　to…day　and　dancing　to…night。　　For　the　　Puritan's　dry　voice　is

but　the　crackling　of　a　leaf　underfoot　in　the　rush　　and　roar　of　the　coming　of

the　new　Egypt。



Bibbs　was　on　time。　　He　knew　it　must　be　〃to　the　minute〃　or　his　father　　would

consider　it　an　outrage；　and　the　big　chronometer　in　Sheridan's　　office　marked

four　precisely　when　Bibbs　walked　in。　　Coincidentally　with　　his　entrance　five

people　who　had　been　at　work　in　the　office；　under　　Sheridan's　direction；　walked

out。　　They　departed　upon　no　visible　or　　audible　suggestion；　and　with　a

promptness　that　seemed　ominous　to　the　　new…comer。　　As　the　massive　door　clicked

softly　behind　the　elderly　　stenographer；　the　last　of　the　procession；　Bibbs　had

a　feeling　that　they　　all　understood　that　he　was　a　failure　as　a　great　man's

son；　a　　disappointment；　the　〃queer　one〃　of　the　family；　and　that　he　had　been

summoned　to　judgmenta　well…founded　impression；　for　that　was　exactly　　what

they　understood。



〃Sit　down；〃　said　Sheridan。



It　is　frequently　an　advantage　for　deans；　school…masters；　and　worried　　fathers

to　place　delinquents　in　the　sitting…posture。　　Bibbs　sat。



Sheridan；　standing；　gazed　enigmatically　upon　his　son　for　a　period　of　　silence；

then　walked　slowly　to　a　window　and　stood　looking　out　of　it；　his　　big　hands；

loosely　hooked　together　by　the　thumbs；　behind　his　back。　　They　　were　soiled；　as

were　all　other　hands　down…town；　except　such　as　might　be　　still　damp　from　a　basin。



〃Well；　Bibbs；〃　he　said　at　last；　not　altering　his　attitude；　〃do　you　know　　what

I'm　goin'　to　do　with　you？〃



Bibbs；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　fixed　his　eyes　contemplatively　upon　the

ceiling。　　〃I　heard　you　tell　Jim；〃　he　began；　in　his　slow　way。　　〃You　said　　you'd

send　him　to　the　machine…shop　with　me　if　he　didn't　propose　to　Miss　　Vertrees。

So　I　suppose　that　must　be　your　plan　for　me。　　But〃



〃But　what？〃　said　Sheridan；　irritably；　as　the　son　paused。



〃Isn't　there　somebody　you'd　let　ME　propose　to？〃



That　brought　his　father　sharply　round　to　face　him。　　〃You　beat　the　devil！

Bibbs；　what　IS　the　matter　with　you？　　Why　can't　you　be　like　anybody　else？〃



〃Liver；　maybe；〃　said　Bibbs；　gently。



〃Boh！　　Even　ole　Doc　Gurney　says　there's　nothin'　wrong　with　you　　organically。

No。　　You're　a　dreamer；　Bibbs；　that's　what's　the　matter；　and　　that's　ALL　the

matter。　　Oh；　no　one　o'　these　BIG　dreamers　that　put　through　　the　big　deals。！

No；　sir！　　You're　the　kind　o'　dreamer　that　just　sets　out　　on　the　back　fence　and

thinks　about　how　much　trouble　there　must　be　in　the　　world！　　That　ain't　the

kind　that　builds　the　bridges；　Bibbs；　it's　the　kind　　that　borrows　fifteen　cents

from　his　wife's　uncle's　brother…in…law　to　get　　ten　cent's　worth　o'　plug

tobacco　and　a　nickel's　worth　o'　quinine！〃



He　put　the　finishing　touch　on　this　etching　with　a　snort；　and　turned　again　　to

the　window。



〃Look　out　there！〃　he　bade　his　son。　　〃Look　out　o'　that　window！　　Look　at　　the

life　and　evergy　down　there！　　I　should　think　ANY　young　man's　blood　　would

tingle　to　get　into　it　and　be　part　of　it。　　Look　at　the　big　things　　young　men

are　doin'　in　this　town！〃　　He　swung　about；　coming　to　the　　mahogany　desk　in　the

middle　of　the　room。　　〃Look　at　what　I　was　doin'　at　　your　age！　　Look　at　what

your　own　brothers　are　doin'！　　Look　at　Roscoe！　　　Yes；　and　look　at　Jim！　　I　made

Jim　president　o'　the　Sheridan　Realty　　Company　last　New…Year's；　with　charge　of

every　inch　o'　ground　and　every　　brick　and　every　shingle　and　stick　o'　wood　we

own；　and　it's　an　example　to　　any　young　manor　ole　man；　eitherthe　way　he

took　ahold　of　it。　　Last　　July　we　found　out　we　wanted　two　more　big　warehouses

at　the　Pump　Works　wanted　'em　quick。　　Contractors　said　it　couldn't　be　done；

said　nine　or　　ten　months　at　the　soonest；　couldn't　see　it　any　other　way。　　What

'd　Jim　do？　　　Took　the　contract　himself；　found　a　fellow　with　a　new　cement　and

concrete　　process；　kept　men　on　the　job　night　and　day；　and　stayed　on　it　night

and　　day　himselfand；　by　George！　we　begin　to　USE　them　warehouses　next　　week！

Four　months　and　a　half；　and　every　inch　fireproof！　　I　tell　you　　Jim's　one　o'

these　fellers　that　make　miracles　happen！　　Now；　I　don't　say　　every　young　man

can　be　like　Jim；　because　there's　mighty　few　got　his　　ability；　but　every　young

man　can　go　in　and　do　his　share。　　This　town　is　　God's　own　country；　and　there's

opportunity　for　anybody　with　a　pound　of　　energy　and　an　ounce　o'　gumption。　　I

tell　you　these　young　business　men　I　　watch　just　do　my　heart　good！　　THEY　don't

set　around　on　the　back　fence　no；　sir！　　They　take　enough　exercise　to　keep

their　health；　and　they　go　to　　a　baseball　game　once　or　twice　a　week　in　summmer；

maybe；　and　they're　　raisin'　nice　families；　with　sons　to　take　their　places

sometime　and　carry　　on　the　workbecause　the　work's　got　to　go　ON！　　They're

puttin'　their　　life…blood　into　it；　I　tell　you；　and　that's　why　we're　gettin'

bigger　every　　minute；　and　why　THEY'RE　gettin'　bigger；　and　why　it's　all　goin'

to　keep　ON　　gettin'　bigger！〃



He　slapped　the　desk　resoundingly　with　his　open　palm；　and　then；　observing　　that

Bibbs　remained　in　the　same　impassive　attitude；　with　his　eyes　still　　fixed　upon

the　ceiling　in　a　contemplation　somewhat　plaintive；　Sheridan　was　　impelled　to

groan。　　〃Oh；　Lord！〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　the　way　you　always　were。　I　don't

believe　you　understood　a　darn　word　I　been　sayin'！　　You　don't　LOOK　　as　if　you

did。　　By　George！　it's　discouraging！〃



〃I　don't　understand　about　gettingabout　getting　bigger；〃　said　Bibbs；

bringing　his　gaze　down　to　look　at　his　father　placatively。　　〃I　don't　see　　just

why〃



〃WHAT？〃　　Sheridan　leaned　forward；　resting　his　hands　upon　the　desk　and　　staring

across　it　incredulously　at　his　son。



〃I　don't　understandexactlywhat　you　want　it　all　bigger　for？〃



〃Great　God！〃　shouted　Sheridan；　and　struck　the　desk　a　blow　with　his　　clenched

fist。　　〃A　son　of　mine　asks　me　that！　　You　go　out　and　ask　the　　poorest

day…laborer　you　can　find！　　Ask　him　that　question〃



〃I　did　once；〃　Bibbs　interrupted；　〃when　I　was　in　the　machine…shop。　　I〃



〃Wha'd　he　say？〃



〃He　said；　'Oh；　hell！'〃　answered　Bibbs；　mildly。



〃Yes；　I　reckon　he　would！〃　Sheridan　swung　away　from　the　desk。　　〃I　reckon　　he

certainly　would！　　And　I　got　plenty　sympathy　with　him　right　now；　myself！〃



〃It's　the　same　answer；　then？〃　　Bibbs's　voice　was　serious；　almost　tremulous。



〃Damnation！〃　Sheridan　roared。　　〃Did　you　ever　hear　the　word　Prosperity；　　you

ninny？　　Did　you　ever　hear　the　word　Ambition？　　Did　you　ever　hear　the　　word

PROGRESS？〃



He　flung　himself　into　a　chair　after　the　outburst；　his　big　chest　surging；　　his

throat　tumultuous　with　gutteral　incoherences。　　〃Now　then；〃　he　said；　　huskily；

when　the　anguish　had　somewhat　abated；　〃what　do　you　want　to　do？〃



〃Sir？〃



〃What　do　you　WANT　to　do；　I　said。〃



Taken　by　surprise；　Bibbs　stammered。　　〃Whatwhat　doIwhat〃



〃If　I'd　let　you　do　exactly　what　you　had　the　whim　for；　what　would　you　do？〃



Bibbs　looked　startled；　then　timidity　overwhelmed　hima　profound　　shyness。　　He

bent　his　head　and　fixed　his　lowered　eyes　upon　the　toe　of　his　　shoe；　which　he

moved　to　and　fro　upon　the　rug；　like　a　culprit　called　to　　the　desk　in　school。



〃What　would　you　do？　　Loaf？〃



〃No；　sir。〃　　Bibbs's　voice　was　almost　inaudible；　and　what　little　sound　it　　made

was　unquestionably　a　guilty　sound。　　〃I　suppose　I'dI'd〃



〃Well？〃



〃I　suppose　I'd　try　toto　write。〃



〃Write　what？〃



〃Nothing　importantjust　poems　and　essays；　perhaps。〃



〃That　all？〃



〃Yes；　sir。〃



〃I　see；〃　said　his　father；　breathing　quickly　with　the　restraint　he　was　　putting

upon　himself。　　〃That　is；　you　want　to　write；　but　you　don't　want　to　　write

anything　of　any　account。〃



〃You　think〃



Sheridan　got　up　again。　　〃I　take　my　hat　off　to　the　man　that　can　write　a　　good

ad；〃　he　said；　emphatically。　　〃The　best　writin'　talent　in　this　　country　is

right　spang　in　the　ad　business　to…day。　　You　buy　a　magazine　for　　good

writin'look　on　the　back　of　it！　　Let　me　tell　you　I　pay　money　for　　that　kind

o'　writin'。　　Maybe　you　think　it's　easy。　　Just　try　it！　　I've　　tried　it；　and　I

can't　do　it。　　I　tell　you　an　ad's　got　to　be　written　so　it　　makes　people　do　the

hardest　thing　in　this　world　to　GET　'em　to　do：　it's　　got　to　make　'em　give　up

their　MONEY！　　You　talk　about　'poems　and　essays。'　　　I　tell　you　when　it　comes　to

the　actual　skill　o'　puttin'　words　together　so　　as　to　make　things　HAPPEN；　R。　T。

Bloss；　right　here　in　this　city；　knows　　more　in　a　minute　than　George　Waldo

Emerson　ever　knew　in　his　whole　life！〃



〃Youyou　may　be〃　Bibbs　said；　indistinctly；　the　last　word　smothered　　in　a

cough。



〃Of　COURSE　I'm　right！　　And　if　it　ain't　just　like　you　to　want　to　take　up　　with

the　most　out…o'…date　kind　o'　writin'　there　is！　'Poems　and　essays'！　　　My　Lord；

Bibbs；　that's　WOMEN'S　work！　　You　can't　pick　up　a　newspaper　　without　havin'　to

see　where　Mrs。　Rumskididle　read　a　paper　on　'Jane　Eyre；'　　or　'East　Lynne；'　at

the　God…Knows…What　Club。　　And　'poetry'！　　Why；　look　at　　Edith！　　I　expect　that

poem　o'　hers　would　set　a　pretty　high…water　mark　for　　you；　young　man；　and　it's

the　only　one　she's　ever　managed　to　write　in　her　　whole　LIFE！　　When　I　wanted

her　t