In the far Southwest the cattle barons knock the horns off cattle; a hornless steer comes to the slaughter pen more quietly and with less of threat to those who handle him.

In a day when Money rules as King, its first care is to knock the horns off originality and brains.

Money wants no great horned mental forces roaming the world; they might become a threat.
Richard thought on these matters as he considered this conservative, careful White House one, whose pains had ever been to think nothing that hadn't been thought, say nothing that hadn't been said, do nothing that hadn't been done.
"He is like a bucket of spring water," thought Richard, as he turned away, "cool, pure, tasteless.

But there isn't enough of him to put out a fire, or swim a boat, or turn the wheel of any mill of moment." Richard went into the Green Drawing-room, where the younger, gayer spirits were "receiving behind the line." There he saw Dorothy and Bess.
Before he could go to them, he caught the snarling accents of Storri.

He turned; that Russ was almost at his elbow.