WHENBartleyHubbardwenttointerviewSilasLaphamforthe"SolidMenofBoston"series，whichheundertooktofinishupinTheEvents，afterhereplacedtheiroriginalprojectoronthatnewspaper，Laphamreceivedhiminhisprivateofficebypreviousappointment。

"Walkrightin！"hecalledouttothejournalist，whomhecaughtsightofthroughthedoorofthecounting—room。

Hedidnotrisefromthedeskatwhichhewaswriting，buthegaveBartleyhislefthandforwelcome，andherolledhislargeheadinthedirectionofavacantchair。

"Sitdown！I’llhewithyouinjusthalfaminute。"

"Takeyourtime，"saidBartley，withtheeaseheinstantlyfelt。

"I’minnohurry。"Hetookanote—bookfromhispocket，laiditonhisknee，andbegantosharpenapencil。

"There！"Laphampoundedwithhisgreathairyfistontheenvelopehehadbeenaddressing。

"William！"hecalledout，andhehandedthelettertoaboywhocametogetit。"Iwantthattogorightaway。Well，sir，"hecontinued，wheelingroundinhisleather—cushionedswivel—chair，andfacingBartley，seatedsonearthattheirkneesalmosttouched，"soyouwantmylife，death，andChristiansufferings，doyou，youngman？"

"That’swhatI’mafter，"saidBartley。"Yourmoneyoryourlife。"

"Iguessyouwouldn’twantmylifewithoutthemoney，"

saidLapham，asifhewerewillingtoprolongthesemomentsofpreparation。

"Take’emboth，"Bartleysuggested。"Don’twantyourmoneywithoutyourlife，ifyoucometothat。Butyou’rejustonemilliontimesmoreinterestingtothepublicthanifyouhadn’tadollar；andyouknowthataswellasIdo，Mr。Lapham。There’snousebeatingaboutthebush。"

"No，"saidLapham，somewhatabsently。Heputouthishugefootandpushedtheground—glassdoorshutbetweenhislittledenandthebook—keepers，intheirlargerdenoutside。

"Inpersonalappearance，"wroteBartleyinthesketchforwhichhenowstudiedhissubject，whilehewaitedpatientlyforhimtocontinue，"SilasLaphamisafinetypeofthesuccessfulAmerican。Hehasasquare，boldchin，onlypartiallyconcealedbytheshortreddish—greybeard，growingtotheedgesofhisfirmlyclosinglips。

Hisnoseisshortandstraight；hisforeheadgood，butbroadratherthanhigh；hiseyesblue，andwithalightinthemthatiskindlyorsharpaccordingtohismood。

Heisofmediumheight，andfillsanaveragearm—chairwithasolidbulk，whichonthedayofourinterviewwasunpretentiouslycladinabusinesssuitofblueserge。

Hisheaddroopssomewhatfromashortneck，whichdoesnottroubleitselftorisefarfromapairofmassiveshoulders。"

"Idon’tknowasIknowjustwhereyouwantmetobegin，"

saidLapham。

"Mightbeginwithyourbirth；that’swheremostofusbegin，"

repliedBartley。

AgleamofhumorousappreciationshotintoLapham’sblueeyes。

"Ididn’tknowwhetheryouwantedmetogoquitesofarbackasthat，"hesaid。"Butthere’snodisgraceinhavingbeenborn，andIwasbornintheStateofVermont，prettywellupundertheCanadaline——sowellup，infact，thatIcameverynearbeinganadoptivecitizen；forI

wasboundtobeanAmericanofSOMEsort，fromthewordGo！Thatwasabout——well，letmesee！——prettynearsixtyyearsago：thisis’75，andthatwas’20。Well，sayI’mfifty—fiveyearsold；andI’veLIVED’em，too；notanhourofwastetimeaboutME，anywheres！Iwasbornonafarm，and————"

"Workedinthefieldssummersandwenttoschoolwinters：

regulationthing？"Bartleycutin。

"Regulationthing，"saidLapham，acceptingthisirreverentversionofhishistorysomewhatdryly。

"Parentspoor，ofcourse，"suggestedthejournalist。

"Anybarefootbusiness？Earlydeprivationsofanykind，thatwouldencouragetheyouthfulreadertogoanddolikewise？Orphanmyself，youknow，"saidBartley，withasmileofcynicalgood—comradery。

Laphamlookedathimsilently，andthensaidwithquietself—respect，"Iguessifyouseethesethingsasajoke，mylifewon’tinterestyou。"

"Ohyes，itwill，"returnedBartley，unabashed。"You’llsee；

it’llcomeoutallright。"Andinfactitdidso，intheinterviewwhichBartleyprinted。

"Mr。Lapham，"hewrote，"passedrapidlyoverthestoryofhisearlylife，itspovertyanditshardships，sweetened，however，bytherecollectionsofadevotedmother，andafatherwho，ifsomewhatherinferiorineducation，wasnolessambitiousfortheadvancementofhischildren。

Theywerequiet，unpretentiouspeople，religious，afterthefashionofthattime，andofsterlingmorality，andtheytaughttheirchildrenthesimplevirtuesoftheOldTestamentandPoorRichard’sAlmanac。"

Bartleycouldnotdenyhimselfthisgibe；buthetrustedtoLapham’sunliteraryhabitofmindforhissecurityinmakingit，andmostotherpeoplewouldconsideritsincerereporter’srhetoric。

"Youknow，"heexplainedtoLapham，"thatwehavetolookatallthesefactsasmaterial，andwegetthehabitofclassifyingthem。Sometimesaleadingquestionwilldrawoutawholelineoffactsthatamanhimselfwouldneverthinkof。"Hewentontoputseveralqueries，anditwasfromLapham’sanswersthathegeneralisedthehistoryofhischildhood。"Mr。Lapham，althoughhedidnotdwellonhisboyishtrialsandstruggles，spokeofthemwithdeepfeelingandanabidingsenseoftheirreality。"

Thiswaswhatheaddedintheinterview，andbythetimehehadgotLaphampasttheperiodwhererisenAmericansareallpatheticallyalikeintheirnarrowcircumstances，theirsufferings，andtheiraspirations，hehadbeguiledhimintoforgetfulnessofthecheckhehadreceived，andhadhimtalkingagaininperfectenjoymentofhisautobiography。

"Yes，sir，"saidLapham，inastrainwhichBartleywascarefulnottointerruptagain，"amanneverseesallthathismotherhasbeentohimtillit’stoolatetoletherknowthatheseesit。Why，mymother——"hestopped。

"Itgivesmealumpinthethroat，"hesaidapologetically，withanattemptatalaugh。Thenhewenton："Shewasalittlefrailthing，notbiggerthanagood—sizedintermediateschool—girl；butshedidthewholeworkofafamilyofboys，andboardedthehiredmenbesides。

Shecooked，swept，washed，ironed，madeandmendedfromdaylighttilldark——andfromdarktilldaylight，Iwasgoingtosay；forIdon’tknowhowshegotanytimeforsleep。ButIsupposeshedid。Shegottimetogotochurch，andtoteachustoreadtheBible，andtomisunderstanditintheoldway。ShewasGOOD。

Butitain’theronherkneesinchurchthatcomesbacktomesomuchlikethesightofanangelasheronherkneesbeforemeatnight，washingmypoor，dirtylittlefeet，thatI’drunbareinallday，andmakingmedecentforbed。

Thereweresixofusboys；itseemstomewewereallofasize；andshewasjustsocarefulwithallofus。

Icanfeelherhandsonmyfeetyet！"BartleylookedatLapham’sNo。10boots，andsoftlywhistledthroughhisteeth。

"Wewerepatchedallover；butwewa’n’tragged。

Idon’tknowhowshegotthroughit。Shedidn’tseemtothinkitwasanything；andIguessitwasnomorethanmyfatherexpectedofher。HEworkedlikeahorseindoorsandout——upatdaylight，feedingthestock，andgroaningroundalldaywithhisrheumatism，butnotstopping。"

Bartleyhidayawnoverhisnote—book，andprobably，ifhecouldhavespokenhismind，hewouldhavesuggestedtoLaphamthathewasnotthereforthepurposeofinterviewinghisancestry。ButBartleyhadlearnedtopractiseapatiencewithhisvictimswhichhedidnotalwaysfeel，andtofeignaninterestintheirdigressionstillhecouldbringthemupwitharoundturn。

"Itellyou，"saidLapham，jabbingthepointofhispenknifeintothewriting—padonthedeskbeforehim，"whenIhearwomencomplainingnowadaysthattheirlivesarestuntedandempty，Iwanttotell’emaboutmyMOTHER’Slife。

Icouldpaintitoutfor’em。"

Bartleysawhisopportunityatthewordpaint，andcutin。

"Andyousay，Mr。Lapham，thatyoudiscoveredthismineralpaintontheoldfarmyourself？"

Laphamacquiescedinthereturntobusiness。"Ididn’tdiscoverit，"hesaidscrupulously。"Myfatherfounditoneday，inaholemadebyatreeblowingdown。

Thereitwas，lyinglooseinthepit，andstickingtotherootsthathadpulledupabig，cakeofdirtwith’em。I

don’tknowwhatgivehimtheideathattherewasmoneyinit，buthedidthinksofromthestart。Iguess，ifthey’dhadthewordinthosedays，they’dconsideredhimprettymuchofacrankaboutit。Hewastryingaslongashelivedtogetthatpaintintroduced；

buthecouldn’tmakeitgo。Thecountrywassopoortheycouldn’tpainttheirhouseswithanything；andfatherhadn’tanyfacilities。Itgottobeakindofjokewithus；

andIguessthatpaint—minedidasmuchasanyonethingtomakeusboysclearoutassoonaswegotoldenough。

AllmybrotherswentWest，andtookupland；butI

hungontoNewEnglandandIhungontotheoldfarm，notbecausethepaint—minewasonit，butbecausetheoldhousewas——andthegraves。Well，"saidLapham，asifunwillingtogivehimselftoomuchcredit，"therewouldn’tbeenanymarketforit，anyway。YoucangothroughthatpartoftheStateandbuymorefarmsthanyoucanshakeastickatforlessmoneythanitcosttobuildthebarnson’em。Ofcourse，it’sturnedoutagoodthing。

Ikeeptheoldhouseupingoodshape，andwespendamonthorsothereeverysummer。M’wifekindoflikesit，andthegirls。Prettyplace；sightlyallroundit。

I’vegotaforceofmenatworktherethewholetime，andI’vegotamanandhiswifeinthehouse。Hadafamilymeetingtherelastyear；thewholeconnectionfromoutWest。There！"Laphamrosefromhisseatandtookdownalargewarped，unframedphotographfromthetopofhisdesk，passinghishandoverit，andthenblowingvigorouslyuponit，toclearitofthedust。"Thereweare，ALLofus。"

"Idon’tneedtolooktwiceatYOU，"saidBartley，puttinghisfingerononeoftheheads。

"Well，that’sBill，"saidLapham，withagratifiedlaugh。

"He’saboutasbrainyasanyofus，Iguess。He’soneoftheirleadinglawyers，outDubuqueway；beenjudgeoftheCommonPleasonceortwice。That’shisson——justgraduatedatYale——alongsideofmyyoungestgirl。

Good—lookingchap，ain’the？"

"SHE’Sagood—lookingchap，"saidBartley，withpromptirreverence。Hehastenedtoadd，atthefrownwhichgatheredbetweenLapham’seyes，"Whatabeautifulcreaturesheis！Whatalovely，refined，sensitiveface！AndshelooksGOOD，too。"

"Sheisgood，"saidthefather，relenting。

"And，afterall，that’saboutthebestthinginawoman，"

saidthepotentialreprobate。"Ifmywifewasn’tgoodenoughtokeepbothofusstraight，Idon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofme。""Myotherdaughter，"saidLapham，indicatingagirlwitheyesthatshowedlarge，andafaceofsingulargravity。"Mis’Lapham，"hecontinued，touchinghiswife’seffigywithhislittlefinger。

"MybrotherWillardandhisfamily——farmatKankakee。

HazardLaphamandhiswife——BaptistpreacherinKansas。

Jimandhisthreegirls——millingbusinessatMinneapolis。

Benandhisfamily——practisingmedicineinFortWayne。"

Thefigureswereclusteredinanirregulargroupinfrontofanoldfarm—house，whoseoriginaluglinesshadbeensmartenedupwithacoatofLapham’sownpaint，andheightenedwithanincongruouspiazza。

Thephotographerhadnotbeenabletoconcealthefactthattheywerealldecent，honest—looking，sensiblepeople，withaveryfairshareofbeautyamongtheyounggirls；

someofthesewereextremelypretty，infact。Hehadputthemintoawkwardandconstrainedattitudes，ofcourse；

andtheyalllookedasiftheyhadtheinstrumentoftorturewhichphotographerscallahead—restundertheirocciputs。

Hereandthereanelderlylady’sfacewasamereblur；

andsomeoftheyoungerchildrenhadtwitchedthemselvesintowaveringshadows，andmighthavepassedforspirit—photographsoftheirownlittleghosts。

Itwasthestandardfamily—groupphotograph，inwhichmostAmericanshavefiguredatsometimeorother；andLaphamexhibitedajustsatisfactioninit。"Ipresume，"

hemusedaloud，asheputitbackontopofhisdesk，"thatwesha’n’tsoongettogetheragain，allofus。"

"Andyousay，"suggestedBartley，"thatyoustayedrightalongontheoldplace，whentherestclearedoutWest？"

"Noo—o—o，"saidLapham，withalong，louddrawl；

"IclearedoutWesttoo，firstoff。WenttoTexas。

Texaswasallthecryinthosedays。ButIgotenoughoftheLoneStarinaboutthreemonths，andIcomebackwiththeideathatVermontwasgoodenoughforme。"

"Fattedcalfbusiness？"queriedBartley，withhispencilpoisedabovehisnote—book。

"Ipresumetheyweregladtoseeme，"saidLapham，withdignity。"Mother，"headdedgently，"diedthatwinter，andIstayedonwithfather。Iburiedhiminthespring；

andthenIcamedowntoalittleplacecalledLumberville，andpickedupwhatjobsIcouldget。Iworkedroundatthesaw—mills，andIwasostlerawhileatthehotel——I

alwaysDIDlikeagoodhorse。Well，IWA’N’Texactlyacollegegraduate，andIwenttoschooloddtimes。

Igottodrivingthestageafterwhile，andbyandbyIBOUGHTthestageandrunthebusinessmyself。

ThenIhiredthetavern—stand，and——welltomakealongstoryshort，thenIgotmarried。Yes，"saidLapham，withpride，"Imarriedtheschool—teacher。Wedidprettywellwiththehotel，andmywifeshewasalwaysatmetopaintup。Well，Iputitoff，andPUTitoff，asamanwill，tillonedayIgivein，andsaysI，’Well，let’spaintup。Why，Pert，’——m’wife’sname’sPersis，——’I’vegotawholepaint—mineoutonthefarm。

Let’sgooutandlookatit。’Sowedroveout。I’dlettheplaceforseventy—fivedollarsayeartoashif’lesskindofaKanuckthathadcomedownthatway；andI’dhatedtoseethehousewithhiminit；butwedroveoutoneSaturdayafternoon，andwebroughtbackaboutabushelofthestuffinthebuggy—seat，andItrieditcrude，andI

trieditburnt；andIlikedit。M’wifeshelikedittoo。

Therewa’n’tanypainterbytradeinthevillage，andI

mixeditmyself。Well，sir，thattavern’sgotthatcoatofpaintonityet，andithain’teverhadanyother，andIdon’tknow’siteverwill。Well，youknow，Ifeltasifitwasakindofharumscarumexperiment，allthewhile；andIpresumeIshouldn’thavetrieditbutIkindoflikedtodoitbecausefather’dalwayssetsomuchstorebyhispaint—mine。AndwhenI’dgotthefirstcoaton，"——LaphamcalleditCUT，——"IpresumeI

musthavesetasmuchashalfanhour；lookingatitandthinkinghowhewouldhaveenjoyedit。I’vehadmyshareofluckinthisworld，andIain’ta—goingtocomplainonmyOWNaccount，butI’venoticedthatmostthingsgetalongtoolateformostpeople。Itmademefeelbad，andittookalltheprideoutmysuccesswiththepaint，thinkingoffather。SeemedtomeImight’atakenmoreinterestinitwhenhewasbytosee；butwe’vegottoliveandlearn。Well，Icalledmywifeout，——I’dtrieditonthebackofthehouse，youknow，——andsheleftherdishes，——Icanremembershecameoutwithhersleevesrolledupandsetdownalongsideofmeonthetrestle，——

andsaysI，’Whatdoyouthink，Persis？’Andsaysshe，’Well，youhain’tgotapaint—mine，SilasLapham；

you’vegotaGOLD—mine。’Shealwayswasjustsoenthusiasticaboutthings。Well，itwasjustaftertwoorthreeboatshadburntupoutWest，andalotofliveslost，andtherewasagreatcryaboutnon—inflammablepaint，andIguessthatwaswhatwasinhermind。’Well，I

guessitain’tanygold—mine，Persis，’saysI；’butI

guessitISapaint—mine。I’mgoingtohaveitanalysed，andifitturnsoutwhatIthinkitis，I’mgoingtoworkit。Andiffatherhadn’thadsuchalongname，IshouldcallittheNehemiahLaphamMineralPaint。

But，anyrate，everybarrelofit，andeverykeg，andeverybottle，andeverypackage，bigorlittle，hasgottohavetheinitialsandfiguresN。L。f。1835，S。L。t。1855，onit。Fatherfounditin1835，andItrieditin1855。’"

"’S。T。——1860——X。’business，"saidBartley。

"Yes，"saidLapham，"butIhadn’theardofPlantationBittersthen，andIhadn’tseenanyofthefellow’slabels。

IsettoworkandIgotamandownfromBoston；andI

carriedhimouttothefarm，andheanalysedit——madearegularJobofit。Well，sir，webuiltakiln，andwekeptalotofthatpaint—orered—hotforforty—eighthours；

kepttheKanuckandhisfamilyup，firing。Thepresenceofironintheoreshowedwiththemagnetfromthestart；

andwhenhecametotestit，hefoundoutthatitcontainedaboutseventy—fivepercent。oftheperoxideofiron。"

Laphampronouncedthescientificphraseswithasortofreverentsatisfaction，asifawedthroughhispridebyalittlelingeringuncertaintyastowhatperoxidewas。

Heaccenteditasifitwerepurr—ox—EYED；andBartleyhadtogethimtospellit。

"Well，andwhatthen？"heasked，whenhehadmadeanoteofthepercentage。

"Whatthen？"echoedLapham。"Well，then，thefellowsetdownandtoldme，’You’vegotapainthere，’sayshe，’that’sgoingtodriveeveryothermineralpaintoutofthemarket。Why’sayshe，’it’lldrive’emrightintotheBackBay！’Ofcourse，Ididn’tknowwhattheBackBaywasthen，butIbeguntoopenmyeyes；thoughtI’dhad’emopenbefore，butIguessIhadn’t。Sayshe，’Thatpainthasgothydrauliccementinit，anditcanstandfireandwaterandacids；’henamedoveralotofthings。

Sayshe，’It’llmixeasilywithlinseedoil，whetheryouwanttouseitboiledorraw；anditain’ta—goingtocracknorfadeany；anditain’ta—goingtoscale。

Whenyou’vegotyourarrangementsforburningitproperly，you’regoingtohaveapaintthatwillstandliketheeverlastinghills，ineveryclimateunderthesun。’

Thenhewentintoalotofparticulars，andIbeguntothinkhewasdrawingalong—bow，andmeanttomakehisbillaccordingly。SoIkeptprettycool；butthefellow’sbilldidn’tamounttoanythinghardly——saidImightpayhimafterIgotgoing；youngchap，andprettyeasy；

buteverywordhesaidwasgospel。Well，Iain’ta—goingtobragupmypaint；Idon’tsupposeyoucameheretohearmeblow"

"Ohyes，Idid，"saidBartley。"That’swhatIwant。

Tellallthereistotell，andIcanboilitdownafterward。

Amancan’tmakeagreatermistakewithareporterthantoholdbackanythingoutofmodesty。Itmaybetheverythingwewanttoknow。Whatwewantisthewholetruth；

andmore；we’vegotsomuchmodestyofourownthatwecantemperalmostanystatement。

Laphamlookedasifhedidnotquitelikethistone，andheresumedalittlemorequietly。Oh，thereisn’treallyverymuchmoretosayaboutthepaintitself。

Butyoucanuseitforalmostanythingwhereapaintiswanted，insideorout。It’llpreventdecay，andit’llstopit，afterit’sbegun，intinoriron。Youcanpainttheinsideofacisternorabath—tubwithit，andwaterwon’thurtit；

andyoucanpaintasteam—boilerwithit，andheatwon’t。

Youcancoverabrickwallwithit，orarailroadcar，orthedeckofasteamboat，andyoucan’tdoabetterthingforeither。"

"Nevertrieditonthehumanconscience，Isuppose，"

suggestedBartley。

"No，sir，"repliedLaphamgravely。"Iguessyouwanttokeepthatasfreefrompaintasyoucan，ifyouwantmuchuseofit。

Inevercaredtotryanyofitonmine。"Laphamsuddenlyliftedhisbulkupoutofhisswivel—chair，andledthewayoutintothewareroombeyondtheofficepartitions，whererowsandranksofcasks，barrels，andkegsstretcheddimlybacktotherearofthebuilding，anddiffusedanhonest，clean，wholesomesmellofoilandpaint。

TheywerelabelledandbrandedascontainingeachsomanypoundsofLapham’sMineralPaint，andeachborethemysticdevices，N。L。f。1835——S。L。t。1855。"There！"saidLapham，kickingoneofthelargestcaskswiththetoeofhisboot，"that’saboutourbiggestpackage；andhere，"headded，layinghishandaffectionatelyontheheadofaverysmallkeg，asifitweretheheadofachild，whichitresembledinsize，"thisisthesmallest。Weusedtoputthepaintonthemarketdry，butnowwegrindeveryounceofitinoil——verybestqualityoflinseedoil——andwarrantit。

Wefinditgivesmoresatisfaction。Now，comebacktotheoffice，andI’llshowyouourfancybrands。"

Itwasverycoolandpleasantinthatdimwareroom，withtheraftersshowingoverheadinacloudyperspective，anddarkeningawayintotheperpetualtwilightattherearofthebuilding；andBartleyhadfoundanagreeableseatontheheadofahalf—barrelofthepaint，whichhewasreluctanttoleave。ButheroseandfollowedthevigorousleadofLaphambacktotheoffice，wherethesunofalongsummerafternoonwasjustbeginningtoglareinatthewindow。OnshelvesoppositeLapham’sdeskweretincansofvarioussizes，arrangedintaperingcylinders，andshowing，inapatterndiminishingtowardthetop，thesamelabelbornebythecasksandbarrelsinthewareroom。

Laphammerelywavedhishandtowardthese；butwhenBartley，afteracomprehensiveglanceatthem，gavehiswholeattentiontoarowofclean，smoothjars，wheredifferenttintsofthepaintshowedthroughflawlessglass，Laphamsmiled，andwaitedinpleasedexpectation。

"Hello！"saidBartley。"That’spretty！"

"Yes，"assentedLapham，"itisrathernice。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读