head in a puzzled way, "I've begun
to read the papers--the political part, I mean--and there are so many
things I don't understand which I want to ask you to explain."

"That is very nice," said Peter, "because there are a great many things
of which I want to tell you."

"Goody!" said Leonore, forgetting again she was now bound to conduct
herself as befit a society girl. "And you'll not laugh at me if I ask
foolish questions?"

"No."

"Then what do the papers mean by calling you a boss?"

"That I am supposed to have sufficient political power to dictate to a
certain extent."

"But don't they speak of a boss as something not nice?" asked Leonore, a
little timidly, as if afraid of hurting Peter's feelings.

"Usually it is used as a stigma," said Peter, smiling. "At least by the
kind of papers you probably read."

"But you are not a bad boss, are you?" said Leonore, very earnestly.

"Some of the papers say so."

"That's what surprised me. Of course I knew they were wrong, but are
bosses bad, and are you a boss?"

"You are asking me one of the biggest questions in American politics. I
probably can't answer it, but I'll try to show you why I can't. Are
there not friends whose advice or wish would influence you?"

"Yes. Like you," said Leonore, giving Peter a glimpse of her eyes.

"Really," thought Peter, "if she does that often, I can't talk abstract
politics." Then he rallied and said: "Well, that is the condition of men
as well, and it is that condition, which creates the so-called boss. In
every community there are men who influence more or less the rest. It
may be that one can only influence half a dozen other intimates. Another
may exert power over fifty. A third may sway a thousand. One may do it
by mere physical superiority. Another by a friendly manner. A third by
being better informed. A fourth by a deception or bribery. A fifth by
honesty. Each has something that dominates the weaker men about him.
Take my ward. Burton is a prize-fighter, and physically a splendid man.
So he has his little court. Driscoll is a humorist, and can talk, and he
has his admirers. Sloftky is popular with the Jews, because he is of
their race. Burrows is a policeman, who is liked by the whole ward,
because of his kindness and good-nature. So I could go on telling you of
men who are a little more marked than the rest, who have power to
influence the opinions of men about them, and therefore have power to
influence votes. Th