The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-28
I'm HIS STEPS.
rhat Tl1nuth
Seatia DO u?''

his own case 1t was the only safety
valve he had for the tremendous press.
ure put upon him
This particular morning thu bishop
was reading extracts from a morning
paper for the benefit of the others. Sud
denly he paused. and his face instantly
grew stern and sad. The rest looked
mp. and hush fell over the table.
''Shot and killed while taking lump
Of coal from car. His family was
freezing. and he had had no work for
six months. His six children ard wife
all packed into cabin with three
rooms on the west side. One child wrap
ped in rags in a closet
These were headlines that the bishop
read slowly. He then went on and read
the detailed account Of the shooting and
the visit Of the reporter to the tenement
where the family lived.
He finished. and there was silence
around the table The humor of the
hour was swept out Of existence by this
bit OF human tragedy. The great city
roared about the settlement. The awful
current Of human life was flowing in q
great stream past the settlement house,
and those who had work were hurrying
to 1t in a vast throng. but thousands
were going down in the midst Of that
current. clutching at last hopes, dying.
literally in a land Of plenty, because
the boon Of physical toll was denied
them
There were various comments on the
part Of the residents One Of the new.
corners. q young man preparing for the
ministry. said: "Why didn't the man
apply to one Of the charity organiza-
tions for help por to the citys 1t certain.
ly Is not true that, even at its worst,
this city full Of Christian people would
knowingly allow any one to 60 without
food or fuel"
''No; don't believe that it would
replied DIR. Bruce. "But we don t know
the history Of that mans case. He may
have asked for help 80 often before that
finally. in q moment Of desperation. he
determined to help himself. / have
known such cases this winter"
THAT is not the terrible fact in this
case" said the bishop "The awful
thing about 1t is the fact that the man
had not had any work for six months" 4"
| why don't such people go out into
the countryf" asked the divinity stu.
dent
Some one at the table who had made
: special study Of the opportunities for
work IN the country answered the ques.
ton. According to the investigator, the
places that were possible for work in
the country were exceedingly few for
steady employment. and in almost ev-
cry case they were offered only to men
without families Suppose man wife
and children were ILL., How could he
move or get into the countryf How
could he pay even the meager sum nec-
essary to move his few goodsi There
were a thousand reasons probably why
this particular man did not 70 else
where.
Meanwhile there are the wife and
children" said Mrs. Bruce. "How aw.
full Where is the place. did you sayf'
The bishop took up the paper.
why. it's only three blocks from
here. This Is the Penrose district. be-
lieve Penrose himself owns half of the
houses in that block They are among
the worst houses in this part Of the
city. and Penrose Is church member. .
"Yes: he belongs to the Nazareth Av-
enue church. replied Dr. Bruce in a
low voice.
The bishop rose from the table the
very figure OF divine wrath. He had
opened his lips to say what seldom
came from him in the way of denuncia-
tion when the bell rang and one Of the
residents went to the door.
"Tell DIR. Bruce and the bishop ]
want to see them. Penrose is the name
Clarence Penrose. DR.. Bruce knows
me-"
The family at the breakfast table
heard every word. The bishop exchanged
a significant look with DR.. Bruce, and
the two men instantly left the table
and went out into the hall.
"Come In here. Penrose, said DR..
Bruce. and he and the bishop ushered
the visitor into the reception room.
They closed the door m 4 were alone
Clarence Penrose was one of the most
elegant looking men in Chicago. Ho
came from an aristocratic family OF
great wealth and social distinction. He
was exceedingly wealthy and had large
property holdings in different parts of
the city. He had been member of DR.
Bruce's church all his life
This man faced the bishop and his
former pastor with look of agitation
on his countenance that showed plainly
the mark OF some unusual experience.
lie was very pale, and his lip trembled
as he spoke. When had Clarence Pen
rose ever before yielded to such a strange
emotion Of feelingy
This affair Of the shooting-you un.
dcrstand, Iou have read it. The family
lived in one of my houses 1t is u terri
hln ayanf tnt bnt tl