the vision spendid(美景)-第29章
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themselves。 By a large majority it passed the House。 Two days later it
squeezed through the Senate。
Rawson； who had been persuaded half against his judgment to support
the bill； lunched with Jeff that day。
〃Now watch the corporations dig a grave for your little pet at the next
legislature；〃 he chuckled； helping himself to bread while he waited for the
soup。
〃They may。 Then again they may not；〃 Farnum answered。 〃We are
ruled by political machines and corporations only as long as we let them。
I've a notion the people are going to assert themselves at the next
election。〃
〃How are you going to make the will of the dear people effective with
the assembly？〃 asked Rawson； amused。
〃Make the initiative and referendum the issue of the campaign。 Pledge
the legislators to vote for it before nominating them。〃
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〃Pledge them？〃 grinned Rawson cynically。 〃Weren't they pledged to
support Hardy？ And did they？〃
〃No； but they'll stick next time； I think。〃
〃You're an incurable optimist； my boy。〃
〃It isn't optimism this time。 It's our big stick。〃
〃Didn't know we had one。〃
〃Do you remember House Bill 19？〃
〃No。 What's that got to do with it？〃
〃It slipped through early in the session。 Anderson introduced it。
Nobody paid any attention to it because he's a back country Swede and his
bill was very wordy。 The governor signed it to…day。 That bill provides for
the recall of any public official； alderman or legislator if the people are not
satisfied with his conduct。〃
The big man stared。 〃I thought it only applied to district road
supervisors。 Were you back of that bill； Jeff？〃
〃I had it drawn up and helped steer it through the committee； though I
was careful not to appear interested。〃
〃You sly old fox！ And nobody guessed it had general application。
None of us read the blamed thing through。 You're going to use it as a club
to make the legislators stand pat on their pledges。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But don't you see how revolutionary your big stick is？〃 Rawson's
smile was expansive。 〃Why； hang it； man； you're destroying the
fundamental value of representative government。 It's a deliberate attack on
graft。〃
〃Looks like it； doesn't it？〃
It was while Rawson was waiting for his mince pie piled with ice
cream that he ventured a delicate question。
〃Say； Jeff！ What about James？ Is he getting ready to flop over to the
enemy？〃
〃No。 Why do you ask that？〃
〃I notice he explained when he voted for House Bill 77 that he
reserved the right to oppose it later。 Said he hadn't made up his mind； but
felt the people should be given a chance to express themselves on it。〃
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Upon Farnum's face rested a momentary gravity。 〃I can't make James
out lately。 He's lost his enthusiasm。 Half the time he's irritable and moody。
I think perhaps he's been blaming himself too much for Hardy's defeat。〃
Rawson laughed with cynical incredulity。 〃That's it； is it？〃
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 11
〃Faustina hath the fairest face； And Phillida the better grace； Both have
mine eye enriched： This sings full sweetly with her voice； Her fingers
make so sweet a noise； Both have mine ear bewitched。 Ah me！ sith Fates
have so provided； My heart； alas！ must be divided。〃
THE HERO； ASSISTED BY THE MONA LISA SMILE；
DEPLORES THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF MODERN
CIVILIZATION
PART 1
With the adjournment of the legislature politics became a less
absorbing topic of interest。 James at least was frankly glad of this； for his
position had begun to be embarrassing。 He could not always stand with a
foot in either camp。 As yet he had made no break with the progressives。
Joe Powers had given him a hint that he might be more useful where he
was。 But as much as possible he was avoiding the little luncheons at which
Jeff and his political friends were wont to foregather。 He gave as an excuse
the rush of business that was swamping him。 His excuse at least had the
justification of truth。 His speeches had brought him a good many clients
and Frome was quietly throwing cases his way。
It was at one of these informal little noonday gatherings that Rawson
gave his opinion of the legal ability of James。
〃He isn't any great lawyer； but he never gives it away。 He knows how
to wear an air of profound learning with a large and impressive silence。
Roll up the whole Supreme Court into one and it can't look any wiser than
James K。 Farnum。〃
Miller laughed。 〃Reminds me of what I heard last week。 Jeff was
walking down Powers Avenue with James and an old fellow stopped me to
point them out。 There go the best citizen and the worst citizen in this town；
he said。 I told him that was rather hard on James。 You ought to have heard
him。 For him James is the hero of the piece and Jeff the villain。〃
〃Half the people in this town have got that damn fool notion；〃 Captain
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Chunn interrupted violently。
〃More than half； I should say。〃
〃Every day or two I hear about how dissipated Jeff used to be and how
if it were not for his good and noble cousin he would have gone to the
deuce long ago；〃 Rawson contributed。 Chunn pounded on the table with
his fist。 〃Jeff's own fault。 Talk about durn fools！ That boy's got them all
beat clear off the map。 And I'm dashed if I don't like him better for it。〃
〃Move we change the subject；〃 suggested Rawson。 〃Here comes
Verden's worst citizen。〃
With a casual nod of greeting round the table Jeff sat down。
〃Any of you hear James' speech before the Chamber of Commerce
yesterday？ It was bully。 One of his best；〃 he said as he reached for the
menu card。
Captain Chunn groaned。 The rest laughed。 Jeff looked round in
surprise。 〃What's the joke？〃
PART 2
It was a great relief to James； in these days when the complacency of
his self…satisfaction was a little ruffled； to call often on Valencia Van Tyle
and let himself drift pleasantly with her along primrose paths where moral
obligations never obtruded。 Under the near…Venetian ceiling of her den；
with its pink Cupids and plump dimpled cherubs smiling down； he was
never troubled about his relation to Hardy's defeat。 Here he got at life from
another slant and could always find justification to himself for his course。
She had a silent divination of his moods and knew how to minister
indolently to them。 The subtle incense of luxury that she diffused banished
responsibility。 In her soft sensuous blood the lusty beat of duty had small
play。
But even while he yielded to the allure of Valencia Van Tyle； admitting
a finish of beauty to which mere youth could not aspire； al
