THE DESPOILERS 63 



braid ; may love, without being able to speak 

 of it in words. 



So fish may know without giving voice 

 to the knowledge, or feel without vocal ac- 

 companiment. Since, however, this is the 

 story of a fish designed for men to read, the 

 mental and emotional states of the fish may 

 be given their corresponding human word 

 signs, so that all who read may understand. 



It is significant, therefore, that the central 

 figure of this story was early given the name 

 of Old Black Bass. In the human realm 

 are boys old and mature beyond their years, 

 lacking the playful spirit and looking at life 

 through disillusioned eyes. These oldish 

 boys are usually addressed as "Old Bill" or 

 "Old Tom" or "Old Dave," the significance 

 being that they are adult and oldish in their 

 attitudes. 



Old Black Bass was so named because he 

 was old in spirit, critical, lacking the play- 

 ful attitude, fiercely belligerent when others 

 were playfully sportive. He discouraged 

 friendliness, scoffed at young helpfulness, 

 hurt cruelly, killed without mercy. 



Men have two kinds of names, the Chris- 

 tian name given to the young child, which is 



