The Need of Money E-Book

Booth Tarkington

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

In "The Need of Money," Booth Tarkington crafts a poignant and incisive exploration of the human condition, filtered through the lens of financial desperation. The narrative unfolds with a blend of humor and gravitas, showcasing Tarkington's masterful use of dialogue and keen characterizations. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, the book offers a vivid portrayal of societal values and the impact of wealth on personal relationships, while illustrating the often absurd lengths to which individuals will go in pursuit of financial stability. Tarkington's style intertwines a light-hearted touch with profound observations, making the text both accessible and deeply resonant. Booth Tarkington, an esteemed American novelist, was no stranger to the complexities of wealth, having experienced both privilege and financial struggle in his life. His background, marked by an acute awareness of class dynamics and a keen interest in societal norms, often informed his writings. Tarkington's firsthand experiences motivated him to investigate the interplay between ambition and morality, which is brilliantly captured in this work. Readers seeking a rich commentary on the intersection of money and morality will find "The Need of Money" to be an enlightening read. With its well-drawn characters and engaging narrative, Tarkington's exploration of financial necessity resonates powerfully even in today'Äôs economic landscape. This work is not just a story about money, but a timeless inquiry into what truly sustains human connections.

Leseprobe

Booth Tarkington

The Need of Money

Published by Good Press, 2020

[email protected]

EAN 4064066405564

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

The Need of Money

Table of Contents

THE NEED OF MONEY

BY

BOOTH TARKINGTON

ILLUSTRATED BY GENEVIEVE COWLES

FAR back in his corner on the Democratic side of the House, Uncle Billy Rollinson sat through the dragging routine of the legislative session, wondering what most of it meant. When anybody spoke to him in passing, he would answer, in his gentle, timid voice, "Howdy-do, sir." Then his cheeks would grow a little red and he would stroke his long, white beard elaborately, to cover his embarrassment. When a vote was taken, his name was called toward the last of the roll, so that he had ample time, after the leader of his side of the House, young Hurlbut, had voted, to clear his throat several times and say "Aye" or "No" in quite a firm voice. But the instant the word had left his lips he found himself terribly frightened, and stroked his beard a great many times, the while he stared seriously up at the ceiling, partly to avoid meeting anybody's eye, and partly in the belief that it concealed his agitation and gave him the air of knowing what he was about. Usually he did not know, any more than he knew how he had happened to be sent to the legislature by his county. But he liked it. He liked the feeling of being a person to be considered; he liked to think that he was making the laws of his state. He liked the handsome desk and the easy leather chair; he liked the row of fat, expensive volumes, the unlimited stationery, and the free penknives that were furnished him. He enjoyed the attentions of the colored men in the cloak-room, who brushed him ostentatiously and always called him (and the other Representatives) "Senator," to make up to themselves for the airs which the janitors of the "Upper House" assumed. Most of these things surprised him; he had not

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expected to be treated with such liberality by the State and never realized that he and his colleagues were treating themselves to all these things at the expense of the people, and so, although he bore off as much note-paper as he could carry, now and then, to send to his son, Henry, he was horrified and dumbfounded when the bill was proposed appropriating $135,000 for the expenses of the seventy days' session of the legislature.

He was surprised to find that among his "perquisites" were passes (good during the session) on all the railroads that entered the state, and others for use on many inter-urban trolley lines. These, he thought, might be gratifying to Henry, who was fond of travel, and had often been unhappy when his father failed to scrape up enough money to send him to a circus in the next county. It was "very accommodating of the railroads," as Uncle Billy thought, to maintain this pleasant custom, because the members' traveling expenses were paid by the state just the same; hence, the economical could "draw their mileage" at the Treasurer's office, and add it to their salaries. He heard—only vaguely understanding—many joking references to other ways of adding to salaries.

Most of the members of his party had taken rooms at one of the hotels, whither those who had sought cheaper apartments repaired in the evening, when the place became a noisy and crowded club, admission to which was not by card. Most of the rougher man-to-man lobbying was done here; and at times it was Babel.

Through the crowds Uncle Billy wandered shyly, stroking his beard and saying, "Howdy-do, sir, " in his gentle voice, getting out of the way of people who hurried, and in great trouble of mind if any one asked him how he intended to vote upon a bill. When this happened he looked at the interrogator in the plaintive way that was his habit, and answered slowly: "I reckon I'll have to think it over." He was not in Hurlbut's councils.

There was much bustle all about him, but he was not part of it. The newspaper reporters remarked the quiet, inoffensive old figure pottering about aimlessly on the outskirts of the crowd, and thought Uncle Billy as lonely as a man might well be, for he seemed less a part of the political arrangement than any member they had ever seen. He would have looked less lonely and more in place trudging alone through the furrows of his home fields in a wintry twilight.

And yet, everybody liked the old man, Hurlbut in particular, if Uncle Billy had known it; for Hurlbut watched the votes very closely and was often struck by the soundness of Representative Rollinson's intelligence in voting.