lars in cash, the incident was
closed.

CHAPTER VI

HOME LIFE OF HOOSIER STATESMEN

In no other place can a young man so quickly attain wisdom as in a
newspaper office. There the names of the good and great are playthings,
and the bubble reputation is blown lightly, and as readily extinguished,
as part of the day's business. No other employment offers so many
excitements; in nothing else does the laborer live so truly behind the
scenes. The stage is wide, the action varied and constant. The youngest
tyro, watching from the wings, observes great incidents and becomes
their hasty historian. The reporter's status is unique. Youth on the
threshold of no other profession commands the same respect, gains
audience so readily to the same august personages. Doors slammed in his
face only flatter his self-importance. He becomes cynical as he sees how
easily the spot light is made to flash upon the unworthiest figures by
the flimsiest mechanism. He drops his plummet into shoal and deep water
and from his contemplation of the wreck-littered shore grows skeptical
of the wisdom of all pilots.

Harwood's connection with the "Courier" brought him in touch with
politics, which interested him greatly. The "Courier" was the organ of
the Democratic Party in the state, and though his father and brothers
in the country were Republicans, Dan found himself more in sympathy with
the views represented by the Democratic Party, even after it abandoned
its ancient conservatism and became aggressively radical. About the time
of Harwood's return to his native state the newspaper had changed hands.
At least the corporation which had owned it for a number of years had
apparently disposed of it, though the transaction had been effected so
quietly that the public received no outward hint beyond the deletion of
"Published by the Courier Newspaper Company" from the head of the
editorial page. The "policy" of the paper continued unchanged; the
editorial staff had not been disturbed; and in the counting-room there
had been no revolution, though an utterly unknown man had appeared
bearing the title of General Manager, which carried with it authority in
all departments.

This person was supposed to represent the unknown proprietor, about whom
there had been the liveliest speculation. The "Courier's" rivals gave
much space to rumors, real and imaginary, as to the new ownership,
attributing the purchase to a number of prominent politicians in rapid