MEET ME ON THE BARRICADES

“Mn-n-n, no, I hardly think the electorate would stand for it—in the rural sections, I mean.”

“What else?”

“Free birth control information for those who really require it. . . .”

“And who doesn’t?” the President asked, arching an eyebrow and looking about him cautiously.

“One more thing,” Simpson went on, speaking so rapidly that his words seemed to come in a steady stream, “I mean about the arts why shouldn’t we create a federal commission of fine arts government support for literature music sculpture poetry the drama architecture all that is noble and beautiful and which will endure when this civilization has long since crumbled into dust after all the government subsidizes banks railroads shipping aviation why not the good the true and the beautiful although I sup- pose if such a commission fell into the hands of pro- fessional politicians it might be a means of subsidizing mediocrity just the same all those millions of dollars would be well spent if we produced one Shakespeare or Bach. . . .”

o “A splendid suggestion,” the President said with marked enthusiasm. “I’ll take it up with Mr. Farley who understands these matters.”

“But wasn’t he a member or something of the New

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