46
PARTISAN REVIEW
"Well," the first man rocked on his heels, "ever heat of the A.E.F.?"
"So what?"
"And the
B.
E. F. Ever hear of that?"
Confused, "Sure."
"Well, buddy, I was in both of them outfits and I know what I kin
do--but it won't be fighting dirtyshirt stiffs like myself anymore."
. . . certainly it is true that the eyes of the whole city, the whole
state, nay, the country and the whole world are on us tonight.
If
the
ideals on which this country and this community were founded and, the
feat of God, if it means something....
"Poipa, poipa," the newsboy shouted, "ail about the City-Hali fight
this morning."
Came Washington at Home. The ivytwined white columns, the
latticed doors, the colored bulbs how cunningly displayed, drew great
applause. Washington in a powdered wig and silken kneebreeches pointed
with a tiny wand at the words, rolled back on a barrelled tablet, For
the People, By the People, Of the People. Martha presided at the cakes.
A group of statesmen dressed as Washington threw kisses. A woman held
up to Washington a shivering thin baby.
It
screamed as Washington
waved a white handkerchief and blew kisses.
"Didn't Abe Lincoln say dat," a policeman said, "he came later, didn't
he?"
"Say what?"
. . . tomorrow night, ladeez . and genmen, is really the big night.
For it is then that the Mist Prophet gives the annual ball to his people
before disappearing for a year into the mysterious realm whence he came.
Who the Mist Prophet is, nobody knows,
"Get your handbills here, fellow-workers," a ragged man urged,
"all about the City Hall demonstration this morning! all about the fight
against starvation!"
Looking down, "you can make your choice, Frankie," the girl said,
"the job and me, or-"
"Don't be like that," he said, "damn if you don't talk likei a book,
damn if you don't."
She wrenched her hand loose from his and walked down the street.
He began to follow her but stopped.
It was turning cold, he noticed. The parade had passed by now.
Music could be faintly heard as it turned north on Broadway to the
stables. People dispersed, shivering, to busec;, cars and streetcars. Some
