Короли и капуста
The Phonograph and the Graft
Amanstoodonaboxandpassedaroundsomegoldwatches,screwcase,stem-winders,Elginmovement,veryelegant.Twentybuckstheycostyouoverthecounter.Atthreedollarsthecrowdfoughtforthetickers.Themanhappenedtofindavalisefullofthemhandy,andhepassedthemoutlikeputtinghotbiscuitsonaplate.Thebackswerehardtounscrew,butthecrowdputitseartothecase,andtheytickedmollifyingandagreeable.Threeofthesewatchesweregenuinetickers;therestwereonlykickers.Hey?Why,emptycaseswithoneofthemhornyblackbugsthatflyaroundelectriclightsin’em.Thembugskickoffminutesandsecondsindustriousandbeautiful.So,thismanIwasspeakingofcleanedup$288;andthenhewentaway,becauseheknewthatwhenitcametimetowindwatchesinLittleRockanentomologistwouldbeneeded,andhewasn’tone.
"So,asIsay,Henryhad$360,andIhad$288.TheideaofintroducingthephonographtoSouthAmericawasHenry’s;butItooktoitfreely,beingfondofmachineryofallkinds.
"‘TheLatinraces,’saysHenry,explainingeasyintheidiomshelearnedatcollege,‘arepeculiarlyadaptedtobevictimsofthephonograph.Theyhavetheartistictemperament.Theyyearnformusicandcolorandgaiety.Theygivewampumtothehand-organmanandthefour-leggedchickeninthetentwhenthey’remonthsbehindwiththegroceryandthebread-fruittree.’
"‘Then,’saysI,‘we’llexportcannedmusictotheLatins;butI’mmindfulofMr.