7

Here his bent toward psalmody can be
leisurely indulged, his literary appetite
finds food in Moses, Sheridan, Browning,
the Strand Magazine (when the ladies
haven't it out) and the Blue Jay;
while his argumentative rage plunges
him into joyous discussions about a
man on a bicycle, a squirrel going
round a tree or the crimes of Ross
and Whitney. It is beautiful to see
David handle a whole tableful of
snarling opponents on a political
question without losing his temper
over their sophistries. He pities and
not hates he is merciful.

In his first year or so at college, David
did not amount to much. Even his
pole vault in those days was not over
eight feet. At his books he was assiduous
but proportionately unsuccessful. The