In his private life, homely Henry Louis Mencken was never an ogreish misanthrope. It did not take marriage with Sara Powell Haardt, two and one-half years ago, to mellow him. At 52 Editor Mencken is little changed—stocky, slovenly dressed, wearing the best cravats that 50¢ can buy, still fond of draught beer and Baltimore seafood. He enjoys playing the piano with the loud pedal pushed down, singing bass in his cups, playing the fiddle Saturday nights in a parlor orchestra. But he keeps more regular hours now, leaves Baltimore less often. He reads The...
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