In his humiliation, it was a comfort to know that there were two people in the world who knew him just as he was. Those others who despised him, believed he was worse than he could possibly have been. His wife and William Farley believed in him and counted on him. To Mr. Farley, whom he saw every day, he confided nearly all his affairs. Once he had prided himself on standing alone, trusting no one; now it helped him to place his perplexities before that quiet and shrewd intelligence. Once he urged Farley to study law and go into partnership with him, and he laughed when the journalist held up his hand in protest. He envied Farley’s unswerving devotion to ideals of service that were so like his own in his best moods, and so unlike most of the realities that he achieved. It was Mr. Farley’s advice that made him decide, after his return to New York, to keep out of active politics for a couple of years. He needed time for readjustment, he said jocosely to himself. In two years he would be ready to make a fresh start. They would be hard years, for already he missed the excitement and the sense of being associated in the large interests that politics had given him. Meanwhile, he kept assuring himself that he was young; a man’s best work in life was done after his fortieth year. Already, as he had observed with pleasure and hope, some of the newspapers were lamenting his withdrawal from politics, and were referring to some of his past services, from which he had expected no return. Here, too, he found material for his philosophy. There were men in political life who did practically nothing for which they could claim honorable credit, and who were constantly engaged in schemes either for defrauding the government or for using their opportunities for private gain. So far as he could see they suffered neither from remorse or lack of self-respect or from the resentment of their constituents. But he was not one of them. It was clear to him now that he must keep straight or take his medicine, and he assured himself that he had already had medicine enough. ISSUED MONTHLY ON THE 15TH. [Illustration: THE SMART SET A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS] =Yearly Subscription, $3.00.= =Single Copies, 25c.= The sub-title, “=A MAGAZINE OF CLEVERNESS=,” suggests the aims of “THE SMART SET.” It appeals to everyone who wishes to be entertained. =Nowadays, more people wish to be amused than instructed.= Each number contains a complete story, equal in style and literary merit to the modern $1.50 book; also many short stories, poems and bright miscellany. There are 160 pages of reading matter in each issue. “THE SMART SET” is a departure from the stereotyped character of current magazines. =Upon receipt of 25 cents, a copy of the current number will be sent post paid.= ESS ESS PUBLISHING CO., 452 Fifth Ave., New York. 90-93 Fleet St., London, E. C., England. Transcriber’s Notes In a few obvious cases, missing punctuation has been added.