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。