If I didn't keep that
point swinging back, when I slacked my pace or stopped they would walk
right up on me...."
* * * * *
Dr. Percival Hammond, managing editor of the New York _Independent_. the
first magazine to print my poems, came to town ... to lecture on his
favourite topic of international peace.
It occurred to me strongly that I ought to afford him some witness of my
gratitude for what his magazine had done for me.
Though broke, I borrowed ten dollars from the owner of a lunch counter
where I ate.
"I want to give a dinner to Dr. Hammond ... his magazine has helped me
as a poet ... it is obvious that I can't give the dinner at your lunch
counter."
Ten dollars was all the lunchcounter man would lend me.
But Walsh Summers of the Bellman House said I could give a luncheon in
honour of Hammond at fifty cents a plate ... he would allot me two
tables ... and a separate room ... and I could invite nineteen
professors ... and he would throw in two extras for Jack Travers and
myself.
I gave the lunch, inviting the professors I liked best.
After dessert and a few speeches I told them how I had borrowed the
money. Hammond privately tried to pay me back out of his own pocket, but
I wouldn't let him.
* * * * *
I asked Hammond if he knew Penton Baxter.
"Yes; we printed his first article, you know .
Pages:
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460