Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-04

Leslie was very busy hunting for q
book as she answered. and Mrs. Par
sons did not look up from her work.
"Yes, saw a paragraph about 1t in
the paper, but some of the statements
were so absurd I thought the whole
story might be untrue. I intended to
ask No, dear, we haven't that book.
Did you hear what the child wanted,
Mrs. Parsons?" she asked, as the small
customer retired disappointedly.
| "No, what was it?"
"She wanted Sophie, the Laundress
Queen, or the Victim of Wealth"
Mrs. Parsons laughed.
Probably her mother wanted II.
That's the only kind of stuff those wo-
men care about. The men don't read
fiction at all. Mr.. Carthew, of the
University settlement, tells me the ma
jority of the men at their library call
for a high class Of reading matter, Of
which books on social or economic
subjects form a large percentage.
That's a sign worth watching, think.
| One of the junior assistants down
there recommended novel to highly
intelligent mechanic not long ago, who
returned 1t in disgust, saying he didn't
believe any Of the things the author
reported ever happened at ALL"
81 trust 1t wasn't an historical
novel," laughed Leslie.
"It's possible" observed Mrs. Par
/ p,,t f1 fr WI
talking about. don't understand
business, and I'm old-fashioned enough
| to think the business female wholly
superfiuous to the evolution Of her
sex. However, do believe in woman
using all the influence she possesses
for good on all subjects from babies
to battleships, and want you to inter-
est your father in this Machine COM
pany affair. Of course he can't be ex-
pected to keep in touch with all the
details of all the companies he's con-
nected with, and know he's almost
wholly occupied with the other big
concern. whatever Its name is-The
Milling companies Yes, Of course
But I'm sure, my dear, he'll be inter-
ested in the situation at the Machine
company, and it's entirely worth while.
You know Mr.. Parsons Is the last man
in the world to get excited, but | as
sure you I've never before seen him so
wrought up over anything. Let me tell
you about 1t. John Kennard took the
management of the Consolidated COM
pany or trust, as they call 1t, as soon
as it was formed, and they say he
made a tremendous success Of 1t. or
ganized the whole system on the lines
of his own factory-you told me about
that, you know. Hasn't he ever talked
| to you about this new work?"
mo, don't think he's ever spoken
Of his business at all since he sold his
| factories"
well, I'm not surprised. I gave
him hint once about talking too
much Shop and he's acted on 1t to
such an extent that he's never opened
his lips to me on the subject since.
However, it appears he utilized all the
good things in his own factories and
took advantage of everything he saw
| in the others until he had the whole
company running like one of its own
machines. The work he's done is per-
fectly wonderful, they say, and, as
result, the business has begun to be
very profitable. Now some ring in
Wall street Is endeavoring to control 1t
by the most outrageous methods. and
having obtained the benefit of Johns
skill and experience, they want to
throw him over by any means, fair or
foul, because he opposes their mean
ness and injustice toward the employees
Go on, dear, I'll finish after you've
attended to the wants of those sub
scribers."
Three little girls were waiting shyly
at the door, and Leslie called to them.
Come in. Do you want book?"
A shuttle and an explosion of giggles
landed the smallest of the trio in front
of the table.
"I-want," she began very slowly,
| T-want-the Red Fairy Book" she
ratified off just in time to escape COL
lision with the gigele which followed
| furiously.
That's out I'm sorry.-It's the fif-
teenth call for it to-day" she added
parenthetically to Mrs. Parsons
Wont anything else do?"
Have you got the-the-Ladies'
Home Journal?"
| No"
Have you-got the Elsie Books?"
YES; which one?"
"Oh, any one! We've read 'em all.
This amt much of library. is it,"
Leslie shook her head smilingly, and
handed out the thumbmarked Elsie
Book, which was carried away without
word of comment.
why doesn't Mr.. Kennard complain
to my father about those things?"
Mrs. Parsons looked up swiftly from
her sewing, noted the flush accompa-
nying the question, threaded and
knotted in almost one movement. and
took three vigorous stitches.
"You don't know John Kennard very
we'll, Leslie. or you wouldn't ask that
| question. He'd about as soon run to
your father with his troubles as he
would ask you to carry his overcoat.
Not one word of all this have heard
from him, and l suppose he'd be ter
ribly annoyed II he thought was talk
ing to you. Danville heard half the
story down town. and | dragged the
rest out of Mr.. Maddox when | saw
how John was looking"
as he ill?"
The question came quickly, and Mrs.
Parsons could scarcely repress her JOY
as she noted the anxious tone. She
| bit off a thread and looked in her
work-basket for the emery before she
answered.
Haven't you," she began-"haven't
you seen him lately? No? Well. he's
not actually i'll, but he's breaking down
under the strain and excitement; and
don't wonder. II half hear Is true.
| wouldn't have believed 1t possible
for men to act the way they've done
in this company. At first they worked