German.  ‘Cigarren’!

Waiter.  ‘Schon’!

     [He disappears.]

American. [Affably—­to the little man] Now, if I don’t get that flash of beer quicker’n you got yours, I shall admire.

German. [Abruptly] Tolstoi is nothing ‘nichts’!  No good!  Ha?

American. [Relishing the approach of argument] Well, that is a matter of temperament.  Now, I’m all for equality.  See that poor woman there—­very humble woman—­there she sits among us with her baby.  Perhaps you’d like to locate her somewhere else?

German. [Shrugging].  Tolstoi is ‘sentimentalisch’.  Nietzsche is the true philosopher, the only one.

American.  Well, that’s quite in the prospectus—­very stimulating party—­old Nietch—­virgin mind.  But give me Leo! [He turns to the red-cheeked Youth] What do you opine, sir?  I guess by your labels you’ll be Dutch.  Do they read Tolstoi in your country?

     [The Dutch Youth laughs.]

American.  That is a very luminous answer.

German.  Tolstoi is nothing.  Man should himself express.  He must push—­he must be strong.

American.  That is so.  In America we believe in virility; we like a man to expand.  But we believe in brotherhood too.  We draw the line at niggers; but we aspire.  Social barriers and distinctions we’ve not much use for.

Englishman.  Do you feel a draught?

ENGLISHWOMAN. [With a shiver of her shoulder toward the American] I do—­rather.

German.  Wait!  You are a young people.

American.  That is so; there are no flies on us. [To the little man, who has been gazing eagerly from face to face] Say!  I’d like to have you give us your sentiments in relation to the duty of man.

     [The little man, fidgets, and is about to opens his mouth.]

American.  For example—­is it your opinion that we should kill off the weak and diseased, and all that can’t jump around?

German. [Nodding] ‘Ja, ja’!  That is coming.

Little man. [Looking from face to face] They might be me.

     [The Dutch Youth laughs.]

American. [Reproving him with a look] That’s true humility.  ’Tisn’t grammar.  Now, here’s a proposition that brings it nearer the bone:  Would you step out of your way to help them when it was liable to bring you trouble?

German.  ‘Nein, nein’!  That is stupid.

Little man. [Eager but wistful] I’m afraid not.  Of course one wants to—­There was St Francis d’Assisi and St Julien L’Hospitalier, and——­

American.  Very lofty dispositions.  Guess they died of them. [He rises] Shake hands, sir—­my name is—­[He hands a card] I am an ice-machine maker. [He shakes the little MAN’s hand] I like your sentiments—­I feel kind of brotherly. [Catching sight of the waiter appearing in the doorway] Waiter; where to h-ll is that glass of beer?