George Ade

In Pastures New George Ade

Take some captain of industry who resides in a large city of the Middle West. Athome he is unquestionably IT. Everyone knows the size of his bank account, andwhen he rides down to business in the morning the conductor of the trolley holdsthe car for him. His fellow passengers are delighted to get a favouring nod fromhim. When he sails into the new office building the elevator captain gives him acheery but deferential "good morning." In his private office he sits at a $500 roll topdesk from Grand Rapids, surrounded by push buttons, and when he gives the wordsomeone is expected to hop. At noon he goes to his club for luncheon. The headwaiter jumps over two chairs to get at him and relieve him of his hat and then leadshim to the most desirable table and hovers over him even as a mother hen broodsover her first born.