Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-05-15
THz ss1s? 1F 4 MODERN GIANT,
A Story for Children Of All A ses.
Written for the Iron County Register.

Written FOR the Iron County Register.
CHAPTER V.-cOntinued.
| The giant never allowed anything
to appear on the surface of his life
| that would excite adverse criticis IA
He was a. patron of the church, anC
thereby prevented the morality of hi:
acts towards bis men from being ques
toned The churches he built were
the gr2ndest in the island. Their tai
steepies pointed like index fingers, to-
ward heaven. Their marble floors
stained windows, ofnamen ted pulpits,
and altars, and costly communion ser
vice, enabled him to worship amid the
| elegant surroundings to which he had
| accustomed himself. But had the
| humble Son Of the carpenter, in his
| travel-stained garments, aud with his
dust covered sandals the garb in
which he went about GalIilee, doing
| good, relieving the suffering, healing
| the sick, and comforting the poor and
niserable-whose whole life was pass
was ever raised against their oppres-
| elon-passed under the massive arch
OF any one Of their portals. and stood
upon the marble floor Of the wide isle
been met and turned back for Il
"tranp," which term had become as
sociated in the giants mind with every
one whose clothing was not of superb
or material and most stylish cut. And
as he turned away, We can imagine him
looking back at the beautiful structure,
its sleeple the only thing about il
pointing to heaven, like one looks at
beautiful corpse, in which there is nc
life nor any possibility Of life. The
pastors who officiated at his altars
were stone deaf; their ears We're filled
with plugs Of gold; their eyes We're
ruined with golden spectacles; and had
any one of them dared 10 call attention
to this mans robbery and wrong-do-
ing, lie would have found himself
straighlway looking for another con-
gEegation. The churches he honored
were dead chugches, with the heart
rotted out Of them, leaving only a
shell.
He also had his pet charities, in
which he invested u portion of his i'll
gotten wealth, but not one in a thous-
and of those who worked for him ever
received any benefit from them. He
built vast libraries in the cities of the
island, but had none of these things
about his mines or factories. They
were built in conspicuous places, and
served the double purposes of monu-
ments to his vanity and giving him a
reputation for liberality. If he was ac-
cused of greed, he polluted to his pub.
lie library. If he was accused of indif
ference to the life and health of his
men, he pointed to his hospital, and
one Of these institutions was made to
go long way in covering his short
comings. If he was accused of being
like the unjust Judge. who neither
feared God nor regarded man, he
pointed to his church.
But a crisis came after awhile. The
farmers home was about to be sold
over his head. The giants mortgage
had devoured it. Some thing must be
done; but, instead of going this time To
consult the giant, he thought he would
consult his sons. So he went, first in
to the mountains, where those of his |
sons lived who were miners. Here be
did not see any 0dldtiaL residences; |
10 grounds beautified and ornamented |
with trees, shrubbery, or statutes; 40
broad walks, no fountains, no evidenc-
es of culture and refinement, that he |
saw when he visited the giant. No
Iiveried servants, nor did any strains |
Of music reach his ears; but, as he |
passed On, he came to long rows Of di-
apidated wooden shapties, in many
cases reekiDg with filth and vermin.
He saw, playing about, scores of squal-
il. unkempt, uDwashed children, with
famine written all over their faces.
He saw women-many of sIoVen, slip
shOd appearapce-With bald look in
heir faces, not born of modesty; 9TH
9rs, modest enough, neat enough, but
Ill wearing an expression in their faces
If utter hOpelessness, as if help could
never by any possibility reach them.
Were these the wives and daughters of
sons? He heard strange voices, W hose
auguage he did not understand, and
DC SO " strange faces which bore not
aven distant resemblance 20 bis de-
,cendants. Who were these people?
As he turned up one of the narrow
streets between two long rows of fdusky
BOARD shanties, he thought be saw the
'0rn Of man on ahead of him. This
could not be his son: where was the man.
y part. the firm, elastic step? The
neat but comfortable clothing that
bad formerly been the characteristic
Of his sons? This man was clad like
boy that bad been cruelty beate for
fault. He went forward and touched
his arm. Yes, the face that was turn
ed to him was that of his son-yes,
though it was pinched with hunger;
though it had lost that look of intelli-
gence that it formerly possessed;
though all the manliness had been
starved out Of it-still it was the face