Part 28 (1/2)

Of these nameless guests, two individuals alone, from the very significance of their appearance, from their plain dress, unsuited to the occasion, and from the puzzled expression of their faces, seemed out of harmony with the galaxy of distinction which surrounded them.

They seemed to speak only to one another, and even that somewhat after the fas.h.i.+on of an appreciative chorus to what the rest of the company was saying; while the manner in which they rubbed their hands together and hung upon the words of the other speakers in humble expectancy seemed to imply that they were present in the hope of gathering rather than shedding light. To these two humble and obsequious guests no attention whatever was paid, though it was understood, by those who knew, that their names were The General Public and the Man on the Street.

”A sad spectacle,” said the Negro President, and he sighed as he spoke. ”One wonders if our civilisation, if our moral standards themselves, are slipping from us.” Then half in reverie, or as if overcome by the melancholy of his own thought, he lifted a spoon from the table and slid it gently into the bosom of his faded uniform.

”Put back that spoon!” called The Lady Pacifist sharply.

”Pardon!” said the Negro President humbly, as he put it back. The humiliation of generations of servitude was in his voice.

”Come, come,” exclaimed Mr. Jennings Bryan cheerfully, ”try a little more of the grape juice?”

”Does it intoxicate?” asked the President.

”Never,” answered Mr. Bryan. ”Rest a.s.sured of that. I can guarantee it. The grape is picked in the dark. It is then carried, still in the dark, to the testing room.

There every particle of alcohol is removed. Try it.”

”Thank you,” said the President. ”I am no longer thirsty.”

”Will anybody have some more of the grape juice?” asked Mr. Bryan, running his eye along the ranks of the guests.

No one spoke.

”Will anybody have some more ground peanuts?”

No one moved.

”Or does anybody want any more of the shredded tan bark?

No? Or will somebody have another spoonful of sunflower seeds?”

There was still no sign of a.s.sent.

”Very well, then,” said Mr. Bryan, ”the banquet, as such, is over, and we now come to the more serious part of our business. I need hardly tell you that we are here for a serious purpose. We are here to do good. That I know is enough to enlist the ardent sympathy of everybody present.”

There was a murmur of a.s.sent.

”Personally,” said The Lady Pacifist, ”I do nothing else.”

”Neither do I,” said the guest who has been designated The Philanthropist, ”whether I am producing oil, or making steel, or building motor-cars.”

”Does he build motor-cars?” whispered the humble person called The Man in the Street to his fellow, The General Public.

”All great philanthropists do things like that,” answered his friend. ”They do it as a social service so as to benefit humanity; any money they make is just an accident.

They don't really care about it a bit. Listen to him.

He's going to say so.”

”Indeed, our business itself,” The Philanthropist continued, while his face lighted up with unselfish enthusiasm, ”our business itself--”

”Hush, hus.h.!.+” said Mr. Bryan gently. ”We know--”

”Our business itself,” persisted The Philanthropist, ”is one great piece of philanthropy.”