es, while social standing was something which
he had come to accept as a matter of course. Only of late had he begun
to analyze things for himself and it had been something of a shock to
discover that a college education was just a beginning--that beyond the
campus of his alma mater spread a workaday world which scoffed at dead
languages and went in for a living wage, which turned from isoceles
triangles and algebraic conundrums to solve the essential problems of
food and clothing and shingled roofs. It was a new viewpoint which
planted doubts where what he had supposed to be certainties had been
wont to blossom.

The Honorable Milton Waring's very position as a cabinet minister in
the government of the day always had seemed to carry its own
credentials. As a youth Phil had thrilled with pride on occasions of
public demonstration in his uncle's honor and there had been times of
speech-making when the Honorable Milton's eloquence had swayed his
audience to unrestrained applause. To the unsophisticated eyes of
youth a shiny silk hat, a long-tailed frock coat, a gold-headed cane, a
diamond ring and a prominent place upon the platform had been
indicative of the top rungs of Fame and Success and Honor among men.
The goings and comings of Society's votaries, the bright lights of the
big Waring residence in Rosedale, the orchestras and bands and public
processions and cheering and flags and bunting--these things had
contributed to the awe with which Phil had regarded the Honorable
Milton Waring in the days of boyhood impressions. The mere fact that
his uncle received the acclamations of the people and held high public
office by their gift had seemed to invest the Honorable Milton with all
the attributes of an honorable gentleman of distinction.

Such early impressions are tenacious of place. Yet with maturer years
had come certain doubts that thrust their shadows across moments of
serious thought. Phil Kendrick had begun to think for himself and his
study of political history had awakened him to the knowledge that there
was a very "practical" side to politics as they existed throughout the
country just then--that successful politicians too often were men who
regarded the whole thing as a game wherein the end justified the means,
the end being to carry elections. Was his uncle of this ilk? It had
been hinted. There were those who said that the Honorable Milton
Waring knew much about assembling political machinery aro