circus parade from his father's broad back, whether the shoulder be
Morton's in his youth, or Wilson's in his maturity.

Some have tried to explain House by saying that he had the vanity
of loving familiarity with the great; but I doubt if House cared
for kings, as kings, any more than a bibliomaniac cares for jade.
He wanted to see; and kings were merely tall objects on which to
perch and regard the spectacle.

He remained simple and unaffected by his contacts with Europe, did
none of the vulgar aping of the toady, coming away from the Peace
Conference an unconscious provincial, who said "Eye-talian" in the
comic-paper way, and Fiume pronouncing the first syllable as if he
were exclaiming "Fie! for shame!"--an unspoiled Texan who must have
cared as little what kings and potentates thought of him as a
newsboy watching a baseball game cares for the accidental company
of a bank president.

The world has been good to Colonel House, according to his
standards. He has realized his ambition to the fullest. Life has
given him all he wanted, the privilege of seeing, more abundantly
than to any other in his generation, perhaps in all time; for he is
history's greatest spectator.

He is glad. His heart is full. He wishes to give in return. He is
the kindest-hearted man who has ever had empires at his disposal.
He wants to give, give, give. He wants to make happy. He was the
fairy godmother of Europe, the diplomatic Carnegie, who thought it
a disgrace to die diplomatically rich.