He seized a sheet of paper and fell to work, while Smith looked on, drumming with his fingers and contorting his huge black eyebrows. For half an hour complete silence reigned, broken only by the gliding sound of Cosmo Versál's pencil, occasionally emphasized by a soft thump. At the end of that time he threw down the pencil and held out the paper to his companion.
"Of course," he said, "this is not a complete list of human occupations. I have set down the principal ones as they occurred to me. There will be time to correct any oversight. Read it."
No. of Probable No. Occupation Names of Places
Science (already assigned) 75 225 Rulers 15 45 Statesmen 10 30 Business magnates 10 30 Philanthropists 5 15 Artists 15 45 Religious teachers 20 60 School-teachers 20 60 Doctors 30 90 Lawyers 1 3 Writers 6 18 Editors 2 6 Players 14 42 Philosophers 1 3 Musicians 12 36 Speculative geniuses 3 9 "Society" 0 0 Agriculture and mechanics 90 270 ____ ____ Totals 329 987 Special reservations 13 ____ Grand total, places 1000
Several times while Joseph Smith was reading he raised his eyebrows, as if in surprise or mental protest, but made no remark.
"Now," resumed Cosmo when the secretary had finished, "let us begin with the rulers. I do not know them as intimately as I know the men of science, but I am sure I have given them places enough. Suppose you take this book and call them over to me."
"George Washington Samson, President of the United States."
"He goes. He is not intellectually brilliant, but he has strong sense and good moral fiber. I'll save him if for no other reason than his veto of the Antarctic Continent grab bill."
"Shen Su, Son of Heaven, President-Emperor of China."
"Put him down. I like him. He is a true Confucian."
Joseph Smith read off several other names at which Cosmo shook his head. Then he came to:
"Richard Edward, by the grace of God, King of Great--"
"Enough," broke in Cosmo; "we all know him--the man who has done more for peace by putting half the British navy out of commission than any other ruler in history. I can't leave him out."
"Achille Dumont, President of the French republic."
"Admitted, for he has at last got the war microbe out of the family blood."
Then followed a number of rulers who were not lucky enough to meet with Cosmo Versál's approval, and when Smith read: