APES AND ANGELS

BY

RICHARD EDWARD CONNELL

Short Story Index Reprint Series

BOOKS FOR LIBRARIES PRESS

FREEPORT, NEW YORK

First Published 1924

Reprinted 1970

DEDICATION

To Apes playing Angels, and remembering their Halos while forgetting their Tails—

To the Earnest and Purposeful Men and Women, of the world, who have made it what it is today—

To Kings, Generals, Ecclesiastics, Statesmen—

To Dignitaries generally, not forgetting Wearers of Regalia and Phi Beta Kappa keys—

To All who, taking life heavily and solemnly, thank God they have a sense of Humor—

To Leaders of Movements, Champions of Causes and all Minor Messiahs—

To Those who have found Absolute Truth and know no Doubt—

To Prudent, Thrifty Souls who save up their pleasure in this world so they may enjoy it, with interest, in the next—

To Men who feel refreshed in the presence of Thoroughbred Horses—

To Patronizers of Humor—

To Artists who think an Important Manner makes Matter Important—

To New-laid Æsthetes who bamboozle other New-laid Æsthetes by saying Nothing in a New Way—

To Revilers of Public Taste who forget that clarity begins at home—

To Critics whose most lethal epithet is “light,” who deem tears more civilized than laughter, and the causing of pain a higher art than the giving of pleasure—

To Weepers in Playtime and Dieters at the Banquet of Life—

To all Mental Masochists—

To the Serious Minded—

This book of light tragedies is dedicated in warm gratitude for the joy they have given me.

RICHARD CONNELL

Green’s Farms, Conn.

February 11, 1924.

CONTENTS

PAGE
A Friend of Napoleon[1]
A Reputation[35]
Son of a Sloganeer[63]
The Wronging of Edwin Dell[98]
The Unfamiliar[138]
A House in the Country[163]
Shoes[184]
The Prince Has the Mumps[199]
The Battle of Washington Square[224]
The Last of the Flatfeet[256]
The Man Who Could Imitate a Bee[291]

APES AND ANGELS