ISAAC ROSENFELD
19
zation. They have mastered mechanism-they have the machine within
themselves. To be well
adjusted,
to
junction,
to be rid of
repression
(which prevents the machine from running at its full speed). And
certain
dividends:
the orgasm. They want
to get
something out of life,
as out of an investment. Their great nay is an abject yea, an affirmation
of corruption even at a lower level than society offers.
Lionel. Ralph Ross was once (years ago) at a party with him.
Lionel suggested a game. "We sit in a circle
&
each person makes up
insults about his neighbor. The point is to see how well we can take
it. " Everybody demurred. No game. But Ralph played a little game of
his own. "Lionel," said he, "the reason you come out with such ideas is
that you're afraid certain secrets of yours are known. You can't resist
the temptation to find out if it is so. But everybody who's ever read your
stories knows that they're nothing but watered-down imitations of
Dostoevsky."
Lionel was furious. "You son of a bitch! Come over here, I'll
punch you in the nose! " He was standing at the opposite end of the
room.
"Why should I have to come to you for a punch in the nose?
If
you
want to punch me, you come to me."
"You damned coward! Look what a coward he is. And he's bigger
than me, too. He could kill me with one punch, the coward."
Everyone crowded round Lionel
&
quieted him. He sat down in a
corner. The subject of conversation was quickly changed. Suddenly
Lionel lit a match
&
set fire to his hair. The people jumped at him to
smother the fire.
When the tumult had subsided, Ralph walked across the room
&
presented himself before Lionel. "Here I am, Lionel , I've come to you.
Punch me in the nose! "
Lionel was terribly embarrassed.
"Now who's the coward? I could kill you with one punch. But I
won't touch you. I promise you, on my word, I won't lay a hand on
you. Go ahead
&
punch me, Dostoevsky imitator. You've carried
imitation too far. You think you're a Dostoevsky character yourself.
But you're a rotten fake, a plagiarizer."
Lionel, his hair scorched, it was giving off a powerful burnt odor,
ran into the other room, grabbed his hat
&
coat
&
ran out of the house.
(Ralph in the above, shows himself, of course, to be infinitely the
worse character. )
