The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-18

cut across every principle OF my life
every conviction that has ever prompt.
ed me to be OF use in the world"
Rufus Gordon finally spoke after his
son had been silent long time.
We've been over all this more or
less before, l hoped your trip abroad
would take some of Your foolishness
out Of you. 1t seems 1t hasn't We'll,
what do you expect to do?"
The question was blunt, 1t was more
it was brutal
John Gordon rose and began walk.
iuC up and down His father sat look
inc ut him coldiy hut curiously, rs II
s;udyinc some peculiar characteristic
that for the FIRST time had begun to af
feet him.
"Father." John Gordon finally ex.
claimed YOU viii never understand
nay choice wondered all the way
home whether il was worth while to
try 10 explain uyscf But you have
right 10 know why refuse your offer
and why ] make choice Of the career
must follow"
Rufus Gordon gave no sign of assent.
hut his son went on speaking with
growing feeling that Mt times rose into
genuine passion. yct nj no point did he
lose con.-o. Of himself either in voice
or IN manner.
- am not judging vou. father. when
! say that q lie that is content to eX-
pend its greatest energies in money
making Is q life that has not only no
attractions Cor me hut II has q positive
rcpulSiou TO spend the day in a com
petitivo strife that seeks to get more
and more largely nj the expense Of
the weak and helpless; to spend night
after night in dressing up In fine cloth
ING and being amused, to live only with
those select companions who are able
"a dress and eat as well rs we are, 10
he practically ignorant of and abso-
lutely indifferent 10 the conditions Of
thousands Of human beings In this
great city. 10 have no ideals higher
than commercial standard and no
passions beyond the physical appe-
tites-aI this is q growing horror to
me. We 1--we In q beautiful house. y"
John Gordon glanced around the room.
which was furnished with elegance
and great good taste with only here
and there a suggestion of q barharic
lapse into the vulgarIty of over display.
I'VE have servants, carriages, yachts.
Summer rcsidences-luxuries OF all de-
1--,ntions. Out of all the wealth OF
our lives we give fraction OF income
to so called charity. We are all three
OF us church members. We pay large
sun nomiDally 10 church expenses,
We do not give anything OF Our per
sonRl lives or personal enthusiasm to
church or Christian work The whole
o. our family life has revolved about
ourselves-our eating dressing, enter
tanning and money making. What
have we ever done for this city where
we live' How much OF service PR
sentinc real sacrifice have we ever
given 10 heip solve any Of its real hu-
man problems We live from DAY to
cay as II there were no such thing IN
America as poverty or tntemperance
cg injustice or inequality OF greed or
/ child murder The wealth that buys
I things seems 10 D. our daily goG. The
prayers VIZ say IL church have NO
meaning pecGuse We do not meal
tneu The very charity We dispense
: Is I'll ac- o. prOyv which represents no
though. NJ sacrifice GnG DO human
affection W. give DecuuEe Il Is Gus
tomary o. us L means o. BiiencinG God
pity us. uur waking cunsclences that
Il spite o. u sometimes remind US
thGI tnere Is Q numgL brotherhood.
'Dsv ptIer day wit Inunotonous
} treauml'l rei,uiu-'ry follows one func-
! tul utls- unUtuer-recepLions teas,
tneuIers concerts GuyctIes self sell
, ssi;-wlha the city grows VI IN its 30
, iitrca. NE rotten viie uncareC for 10y
TIE uIUu@r i.rubDerF - iUnG as TOO
! much bINCEu"l. b. uUr ieyIeC Uu the
Dusllees b. wuic. ". sre engaged.
Practically W. usvr said al these
year u rDis cit, whsr. our MONEY
las Deer made. We care nothing Tor
your real niy All that We want cut of
you is living for ourselves, Il luxuri.
Gus living. Le. tue preachers and The
pniianInrupisys ano the professional
refVrDers set 10 all tbe palnful ano
dlsagr5eaD4e Details % human misery
snd sVcial wruEg. We are lUO busy
with Uur money making IL De dis
turUed uy cries tv JusJlce Or righteous
uess FeILrr you know this il the
JOr. - NE YOU plan fuf me ~ perpetu.
ut' NUur ambition tVr me Is ~ have
lue eu,rr yAe uanE, 10 become al e..
per- iu huaucr. 10 marry anc manage
J. iuAurIUuE, proud, exclusive establish.
ueu- aud lrail Any children ~ follow
ou iu TIM eame path, keeping the namt
~ the LOrlUn7 az q social and imam
cta wOrC tO syeah iu the city and iu
sg.ec- cHc.es as o. syHOuy ~ tOr d.sCil
ggssAec we.,i.l aDl uigu breeding uu
miAeg viii auy vulgar association
sIr. common humanity 7 Say s.cL q
,..r.af ills g.a .iHl horror t.gI a- A.