The day book. [volume], February 11, 1914, NOON EDITION, Image 24

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
THE DOOM OF THE DANCE
AFTER THE HINDU STYLE OF POETICAL NARRATIVE
, By Fred Schaefer.
I.
Humdrum, the stranger, came to
the city of many entrances of plate
glass. The dust was on him from travel.
He craved for refreshment.
People homeward were hurrying.
In black streams people homeward
were hurrying from the canyons of
structural steel and of concrete.
Smoke-colored shadows empurpled
the still depths of the canyons desert
ed. But on the "Way That Was
White" blazed forth the lamps.
Ablaze were the cabarets and cafes.
The swift hum of the taxis cleft the
gloom and the silence. Afar he sniff
ed the odor of beefsteak and onions.
For Humdrum was hungry.
II.
Amidst a vista of crystal and da
mask and silver, Humdrum demanded
a menu. He ordered of beefsteak and
onions. Gosh, he was hungry!
Rare strains of weird music came
stealing his senses; the rhythm of
dancing, the rustle of silk.
Came vassals bearing the viands
he'd ordered. His place was void.
Humdrum was dancing.
in.
Panting, he paused with the pause
of the niusic He famished for beef
steak, he hungered for onions.
He speared a potato.
Madding, insistent, the music re
called him. Humdrum debated. Once
more he danced.
Danced with the potato held on a
fork.
IV.
Seventeen times did the stranger
not eat. Seventeen times did he seek
to begin. Seventeen times did the
tango entice. Seventeen times was
the beefsteak untouched.
In the sway of the dance, to the
plaint of the viol, Humdrum just
danced'.
V.
Hurt was "the gaze he threw at the
crystal, the damask and silver. An
guished his gaze, as he whirled and
dipped, at the beefsteakand onions.
Ever madder, more weird', on went
the tango. The onions, the beefsteak,
grew cold.
Dawn tapped at the windows with
slim fingers of pearly The music was
hushed. The viands, "removed. Hum--drum
was wan.
He was hungry.
VI.
In the morniny they found his
gaunt frame in the street.
He clutched on a fork a clammy
potato.
"Starved!" said the coroner's jury.