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。