The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-27
DOES MANS CROOKEDNESS
MAKE RAILROADS CROOKED?
Dr. Whitaker Talks in Reminiscent Vein of Jonathan
Slick and "Maor Jones' Courtship.' Scene
From the Latter Book.

Yes, I've paid my taxes-State coun-
ty and city-and l find it costs me just
one dollar more to live IN North Caro-
lima than it did last year That dol
lar. it was explained to me, is to help
build railroad from Raleigh to Will
son, which / understand is to go by
Wyndell, Wakefield. Rogerss Cross
Roads. and it is to wend around
through some of the timber lands
which nave been leased by somebody,
or somebody else. I'm in favor of the
road. If / do have to pay a dollar u
year to build it. for it will be a blessing
10 those good people living along It's
proposed track, and / want them 10
nave the blessing.
l expect that the men who are
building the road know what they are
about, and can give a reason for
every crook in the survey: but, to a
man up a tree some crooks are hard
TO be accounted for, unless they were
made for and in consideration of
something which the aforesaid man up
tree can't see.
The old Raleigh and CASTOR rail-
road came nigh getting lost on its
way from CASTOR to Raleigh. Instead
of coming q bee Inc, or even keeping
close to the old stage route, it swung
made bend that must have made
it ten or fifteen miles farther than
q bee line would have been. I'm not
complaining; but. L can't help believ-
ing that, in the long run, it is better
10 locate road properly as nearly
straight as possible, than to be wind
ing about through the country in or
der to go by everybody's house.
crooked railroad that might have
been built straight is an everlasting
reflection upon its builders; for each
curve and twist is an admission that
some sideration-either an indis-
position to do a little extra work that
would have paid in the long run, or
some selfish matter that promised a
little present enjoyment or benefit
made that crook, which will always be
a hard pull and a dangerous place.
AS l ride along sometimes the sun
is shining in on the. right side of the
coach, but, in a moment it comes in
on the left side. and veers around un-
til it is shining from the rear. What's
the matter now / ask. Has the thing
taken the back track? O. no. It's
capering about like old human nature.
The men who built the road were in
the habit of crooking, in their own
lives, ana they impaired to the Great
ure, which they made, some of their
own nature. l sometimes think if men
would learn to walk in the straight
and narrow way. perhaps the railroads
they build would be straighter. 1t
might be harder at first, to level the
road bed; but how much easier would
be the running on the straight than
on the crooked track.
If / may be allowed to Inoralize a
little just here. l would say TO the
young men of the land. who are sur
veying routes, over which they are
expecting to run their trains of life,
that, though it cost a little more labor,
and requires little more Skill and,
patience, it will pay. in thexlong rum
to make the track straight. for then
there1l be no time lost. on winding
about; and less danger of a run off
and smash-up.
Yes. I've paid my taxes and, for
one more year I'm in good ding
and am entitled to all the rights and
privileges of a citizen. It's a mighty
bad thing for one to get behind with
his dues and to stand suspended from
his lodge; but it's worse to get be-
hind i'm the tax business. for he is
not only suspended, but he's adVer
tised; and the world finds out that
he is either hard up. or is trying TO
dead beat his way through life. Some
people are always complaining about
taxes-say they are too high-but, /
guess the tax money, in many cases.
would be spent in a verse way. i
give TO the State. ! have home
among a good people. am protected by
good laws; / am permitted to worship
God according to the dictates of my
own conscience; l can vote and even
run for President if I choose to do so;
and 1 can do just as l please, so long
as L do not tread on other peoples
toes; or trespass upon their rights.
A man who is always complaining
about his taxes is apt to be slow
about paying for the gospel, and will
pay mighty little. after all his grum-
blingS. i know a man who has hVe or
six children, all members of the
church, who think five dollars is a
tremendous amount for him to pay to
support that gospel which is doing so
much to make it easy for him and his
children to be saved He's trying to
cheat-that is-he'S trying to get TO
Heaven without paying his fees. The
stewards or the deacons may not be
able to collect anything from him,
but God, to whom he belongs, and to
whom all he has belongs, will make
him pay up all back dues. in some
way
/ know another man who prays a
feeling prayer''-Whose voice is full
of cry while praving. and whose PEI
titions for the poor and needy seem to
come from a heart that is full of love
for suffering humanity; but he is as
stfngy as Beelzebub would have him
be, when called upon for a contriDu
ton, In a moment, that sweet voice,
just heard in prayer, becomes as gruff
as a bull dogs snarl, and that face
which you supposed (while he was
praying) looked so Christlike, becomes
as cold and hard as a block of ice. Is
he snaps out: Everybody ought TO
take care of himself! If anybody IS
in trouble it's not my fault I've got
my own family to look after-thats as
much as can do!'' Then putting on
a pious look, he says: My Bible tells
me a man must provide for his own
household. and that's what Tn doing.
Charity begins at home, you know.
When he has thus delivered himself,
his mouth droops down at the corn
ers and self-complacency beams on his
face, while listening to the words or
approval spoken by the ungodly fell
lows standing around, who are always