the friendly road-第25章

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his　life。

I　have　always　believed　that　if　men　could　be　made　to　understand　one　another　they　would　necessarily　be　friendly；　so　I　did　my　best　to　explain　Bill　Hahn　to　Mr。　Vedder。

〃I'm　tremendously　interested　in　what　you　say；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　must　have　more　talk　about　it。〃

He　told　me　that　he　had　now　to　put　in　an　appearance　at　his　office；　and　wanted　me　to　go　with　him；　but　upon　my　objection　he　pressed　me　to　take　luncheon　with　him　a　little　later；　an　invitation　which　I　accepted　with　real　pleasure。

〃We　haven't　had　a　word　about　gardens；〃　he　said；　〃and　there　are　no　end　of　things　that　Mrs。　Vedder　and　I　found　that　we　wanted　to　talk　with　you　about　after　you　had　left　us。〃

〃Well！〃　I　said；　much　delighted；　〃let's　have　a　regular　old…fashioned　country　talk。〃

So　we　parted　for　the　time　being；　and　I　set　off　in　the　highest　spirits　to　see　something　more　of　Kilburn。

A　city；　after　all；　is　a　very　wonderful　place。　One　thing；　I　recall；　impressed　me　powerfully　that　morningthe　way　in　which　every　one　was　working；　apparently　without　any　common　agreement　or　any　common　purpose；　and　yet　with　a　high　sort　of　understanding。　The　first　hearing　of　a　difficult　piece　of　music　（to　an　uncultivated　ear　like　mine）　often　yields　nothing　but　a　confused　sense　of　unrelated　motives；　but　later　and　deeper　hearings　reveal　the　harmony　which　ran　so　clear　in　the　master's　soul。

Something　of　this　sort　happened　to　me　in　looking　out　upon　the　life　of　that　great　city　of　Kilburn。　All　about　on　the　streets；　in　the　buildings；　under　ground　and　above　ground；　men　were　walking；　running；creeping；　crawling；　climbing；　lifting；　digging；　driving；　buying；　selling；　sweating；　swearing；　praying；　loving；　hating；　struggling；　failing；　sinning；　repentingall　working　and　living　according　to　a　vast　harmony；　which　sometimes　we　can　catch　clearly　and　sometimes　miss　entirely。　I　think；　that　morning；　for　a　time；　I　heard　the　true　music　of　the　spheres；　the　stars　singing　together。

Mr。　Vedder　took　me　to　a　quiet　restaurant　where　we　had　a　snug　alcove　all　to　ourselves。　I　shall　remember　it　always　as　one　of　the　truly　pleasant　experiences　of　my　pilgrimage。

I　could　see　that　my　friend　was　sorely　troubled；　that　the　strike　rested　heavy　upon　him；　and　so　I　led　the　conversation　to　the　hills　and　the　roads　and　the　fields　we　both　love　so　much。　I　plied　him　with　a　thousand　questions　about　his　garden。　I　told　him　in　the　liveliest　way　of　my　adventures　after　leaving　his　home；　how　I　had　telephoned　him　from　the　hills；　how　I　had　taken　a　swim　in　the　mill…pond；　and　especially　how　I　had　lost　myself　in　the　old　cowpasture；　with　an　account　of　all　my　absurd　and　laughable　adventures　and　emotions。

Well；　before　we　had　finished　our　luncheon　I　had　every　line　ironed　from　the　brow　of　that　poor　plagued　rich　man；　I　had　brought　jolly　crinkles　to　the　corners　of　his　eyes；　and　once　or　twice　I　had　him　chuckling　down　deep　inside　（Where　chuckles　are　truly　effective）。　Talk　about　cheering　up　the　poor：　I　think　the　rich　are　usually　far　more　in　need　of　it！

But　I　couldn't　keep　the　conversation　in　these　delightful　channels。　Evidently　the　strike　and　all　that　it　meant　lay　heavy　upon　Mr。　Vedder's　consciousness；　for　he　pushed　back　his　coffee　and　began　talking　about　it；　almost　in　a　tone　of　apology。　He　told　me　how　kind　he　had　tried　to　make　the　mill　management　in　its　dealings　with　its　men。

〃I　would　not　speak　of　it　save　in　explanation　of　our　true　attitude　of　helpfulness；　but　we　have　really　given　our　men　many　advantages〃and　he　told　me　of　the　reading…room　the　company　had　established；　of　the　visiting　nurse　they　had　employed；　and　of　several　other　excellent　enterprises；　which　gave　only　another　proof　of　what　I　knew　already　of　Mr。　Vedder's　sincere　kindness　of　heart。

〃But；〃　he　said；　〃we　find　they　don't　appreciate　what　we　try　to　do　for　them。〃

I　laughed　outright。

〃Why；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃you　are　having　the　same　trouble　I　have　had！〃

〃How's　that？〃　he　inquired；　I　thought　a　little　sharply。　Men　don't　like　to　have　their　seriousness　trifled　with。

〃No　longer　ago　than　this　morning；〃　I　said；　〃I　had　exactly　that　idea　of　giving　them　advantages；　but　I　found　that　the　difficulty　lies　not　with　the　ability　to　give；　but　with　the　inability　or　unwillingness　to　take。　You　see　I　have　a　great　deal　of　surplus　wealth　myself〃

Mr。　Vedder's　eyes　flickered　up　at　me。

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃I've　got　immense　accumulations　of　the　wealth　of　the　agesingots　of　Emerson　and　Whitman；　for　example；　gems　of　Voltaire；　and　I　can't　tell　what　other　superfluous　coinage！〃　（And　I　waved　my　hand　in　the　most　grandiloquent　manner。）　〃I've　also　quite　a　store　of　knowledge　of　corn　and　calves　and　cucumbers；　and　I've　a　boundless　domain　of　exceedingly　valuable　landscapes。　I　am　prepared　to　give　bountifully　of　all　these　varied　riches　（for　I　shall　still　have　plenty　remaining）；　but　the　fact　is　that　this　generation　of　vipers　doesn't　appreciate　what　I　am　trying　to　do　for　them。　I'm　really　getting　frightened；　lest　they　permit　me　to　perish　from　undistributed　riches！〃

Mr。　Vedder　was　still　smiling。

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　warming　up　to　my　idea；　〃I'm　a　regular　multimillionaire。　I've　got　so　much　wealth　that　I'm　afraid　I　shall　not　be　as　fortunate　as　jolly　Andy　Carnegie；　for　I　don't　see　how　I　can　possibly　die　poor！〃

〃Why　not　found　a　university　or　so？〃　asked　Mr。　Vedder。

〃Well；　I　had　thought　of　that。　It's　a　good　idea。　Let's　join　our　forces　and　establish　a　university　where　truly　serious　people　can　take　courses　in　laughter。〃

〃Fine　idea！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Vedder；　〃but　wouldn't　it　require　an　enormous　endowment　to　accommodate　all　the　applicants？　You　must　remember　that　this　is　a　very　benighted　and　illiterate　world；　laughingly　speaking。〃

〃It　is；　indeed；〃　I　said；　〃but　you　must　remember　that　many　people；　for　a　long　time；　will　be　too　serious　to　apply。　I　wonder　sometimes　if　any　one　ever　learns　to　laugh　really　laugh　much　before　he　is　forty。〃

〃But；〃　said　Mr。　Vedder　anxiously；　〃do　you　think　such　an　institution　would　be　accepted　by　the　proletariat　of　the　serious…minded？〃

〃Ah；　that's　the　trouble；〃　said　I；　〃that's　the　trouble。　The　proletariat　doesn't　appreciate　what　we　are　trying　to　do　for　them！　They　don't　want　your　reading…rooms　nor　my　Emerson　and　cucumbers。　The　seat　of　the　difficulty　seems　to　be　that　what　seems　wealth　to　us　isn't　necessarily　wealth　for　the　other　fellow。〃

I　cannot　tell　with　what　delight　we　fenced　our　way　through　this　foolery　（which　was　not　all　foolery；　either）。　I　never　met　a　man　more　quickly　responsive　than　Mr。　Vedder。　But　he　now　paused　for　some　moments；　evidently　ruminating。

〃Well；　David；〃　he　said　seriously；　〃what　are　we　going　to　do　about　this　obstreperous　other　fellow？〃

〃Why　not　try　the　experiment；〃　I　suggested；　〃of　giving　him　what　he　considers　wealth；　instead　of　what　you　consider　wealth？〃

〃But　what　does　he　consider　wealth？〃

〃Equality；〃　said　I。

Mr。　Vedder　threw　up　his　hands。

〃So　you're　a　Socialist；　too！〃

〃That；〃　I　said；　〃is　another　story。〃

〃Well；　supposing　we　did　or　could　give　him　this　equality　you　speak　ofwhat　would　become　of　us？　What　would　we　get　out　of　it？〃

〃Why；　equality；　too！〃　I　said。

Mr。　Vedder　threw　up　his　hands　up　with　a　gesture　of　mock　resignation。

〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃let's　get　down　out　of　Utopia！〃

We　had　some　further　good…humoured　fencing　and　then　returned　to　the　inevitable　problem　of　the　strike。　While　we　were　discussing　the　meeting　of　the　night　before　which；　I　learned；　had　been　luridly　reported　in　the　morning　papers；　Mr。　Vedder　suddenly　turned　to　me　and　asked　earnestly：

〃Are　you　really　a　Socialist？〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I'm　sure　of　one　thing。　I'm　not　ALL　Socialist；　Bill　Hahn　believes　with　his　whole　soul　（and　his　faith　has　made　him　a　remarkable　man）　that　if　only　another　class　of　peoplehis　classcould　come　into　tile　control　of　material　property；　that　all　the　ills　that　man　is　heir　to　would　be　speedily　cured。　But　I　wonder　if　when　men　own　property　collectivelyas　they　are　going　to　one　of　these　daysthey　will　quarrel　and　hate　one　another　any　less　than　they　do　now。　It　is　not　the　ownership　of　material　property　that　interests　me　so　much　as　the　independence　of　it。　When　I　started　out　from　my　farm　on　this　pilgrimage　it　seemed　to　me　the　most　blessed　thing　in　the　world　to　get　away　from　property　and　possession。〃

〃What　are　you　then；　anyway？〃　asked　Mr。　Vedder；　smiling。

〃Well；　I've　thought　of　a　name　I　would　like　to　have　applied　to　me　sometimes；〃　I　said。　〃You　see　I'm　tremendously　fond　of　this　world　exactly　as　it　is　now。　Mr。　Vedder；　it's　a　wonderful　and　beautiful　place！　I've　never　seen　a　better　one。　I　confess　I　could　not　possibly　live　in　the　rarefied　atmosphere　of　a　final　solution。　I　want　to　live　right　here　and　now　for　all　I'm　worth。　The　other　day　a　man　asked　me　what　I　thought　was　the　best　time　of　life。　'Why；'　I　answered　without　a　thought；　'Now。'　It　has　always　seemed　to　me　that　if　a　man　can't　make　a　go　of　it；　yes；　and　be　happy　at　this　moment；　he　can't　be　at　the　next　moment。　But　most　of　all；　it　seems　to　me；　I　want　to　get　close　to　people；　to　look　into　their　hearts；　and　be　friendly　with　them。　Mr。　Vedder；　do　you　know　what　I'd　like　to　be　called？〃

〃I　cannot　imagine；〃　said　he。

〃Well；　I'd　like　to　be　called　an　Introducer。　My　friend；　Mr。　Blacksmith；　let　me　introduce　you　to　my　friend；　Mr。　Plutocrat。　I　could　almost　swear　that　you　were　brothers；　so　near　alike　are　you！　You'll　find　each　other　wonderfully　interesting　once　you　get　over　the　awkwardness　of　the　introduction。　And　Mr。　White　Man；　let　me　present　you　particularly　to　my　good　friend；　Mr。　Negro。　You　will　see　if　you　sit　down　to　it　that　this　colour　of　the　face　is　only　skin　deep。〃

〃It's　a　good　name！〃　said　Mr。　Vedder；　laughing。

〃It's　a　wonderful　name；〃　said　I；　〃and　it's　about　the　biggest　and　finest　work　in　the　worldto　know　human　beings　just　as　they　are；　and　to　make　them　acquainted　with　one　another　just　as　they　are。　Why；　it's　the　foundation　of　all　the　democracy　there　is；　or　ever　will　be。　Sometimes　I　think　that　friendliness　is　the　only　achievement　of　life　worth　whileand　unfriendliness　the　only　tragedy。〃

I　have　since　felt　ashamed　of　myself　when　I　thought　how　I　lectured　my　unprotected　host　that　day　at　luncheon；　but　it　seemed　to　boil　out　of　me　irresistibly。　The　experiences　of　the　past　two　days　had　stirred　me　to　the　very　depths；　and　it　seemed　to　me　I　must　explain　to　somebody　how　it　all　impressed　meand　to　whom　better　than　to　my　good　friend　Vedder？

As　we　were　leaving　the　table　an　idea　flashed　across　my　mind　which　seemed；　at　first；　so　wonderful　that　it　quite　turned　me　dizzy。

〃See　here；　Mr。　Vedder；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃let　me　follow　my　occupation　practically。　I　know　Bill　Hahn　and　I　know　you。　Let　me　introduce　you。　If　you　could　only　get　together；　if　you　could　only　understand　what　good　fellows　you　both　are；　it　might　go　far　toward　solving　these　difficulties。〃

I　had　some　trouble　persuading　him；　but　finally　he　consented；　said　he　wanted　to　leave　no　stone　unturned；　and　that　he　would　meet　Bill　Hahn　and　some　of　the　other　leaders；　if　proper　arrangements　could　be　made。

I　left　him；　therefore；　in　excitement；　feeling　that　I　was　at　the　point　of　playing　a　part　in　a　very　great　event。　〃Once　get　these　men　together；〃　I　thought；　〃and　they　MUST　come　to　an　understanding。〃

So　I　rushed　out　to　the　mill　district；　saying　to　myself　over　and　over　（I　have　smiled　about　it　since！）：　〃We'll　settle　this　strike：　we'll　settle　this　strike：　we'll　settle　this　strike。〃　After　some　searching　I　f