The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-23
TWO "PILLARs OF socIETY."

TWO PILLARS OF SOCIETY,""
I was neither seeing nor hearin
from the Elierslys, father or son; bu
as L knew why, l was not disquieteC
i a made them temporarily easy i
their finances just before that dinnel
Inc they, being fatuous. incurab1e OPP
dmists, We're probably imagining the
would never need me again. / di
not disturb them until Monson and
b got my education so we'll undo
way that even /, always severe in self
criticism and now merciless, was com
PEELED to admit to myself a distinc
change for the better. You know hov
1t is with a boy at the growing age
how he bursts out of clothes an
Ideas of life limos as fast as they ar,
supplied him, SO swiftly is he trans
forming into a man. Well, 1 think 1
Is much that way with us American:
all our lives; we continue on and OF
at the growing age. And If one of u:
puts his or her mind hard upon growth
In some particular direction, you see
almost overnight a development ledge6
to the last t~ail-featlers and tip of top
knot where there was nothing at all
What miracles car be wrought by ar
open mind and a keen sense of the
cumulative power of the unwasted
minute! All this prop of a very
But, be careful how you judge what is
trivial and what important in a uni
verse built up of atoms.
However When my education
seemed far enough advanced, l m for
Sam. He, after his ~footless fashion,
didn't bother to acknowledge my note.
His margin account with me was at
h moment straight; l turned to his
father. / had my cashier send him a
formal, typewriter letter signed
Blackjack & Co., informing him that
his account was overdrawn and that
we would be obliged if he would give
the matter his immediate attention"
following morning; but he did not
come until, after waiting three days,
I'VE" sent him a sharp demand for a
check for the balance due us.
A pleasing, MISUNDERSTANDING fig
ure he made as he entered my office,
with his air of the man whose hands
have never known the stains Of toll,
with his of having always re-
cetved d~eferential treatment. There
was no p%retense in my curt greeting,
my o of "dfspatch your business, sir,
and be gone; for 1 was both busy
guess you want to see our cashier"
said I, after giving him a hasty, alb
rsent-minded handshake. MY boy out
there will take o to him"
The old do-nothing's face lost it's
confident, condescending expression.
Las up QiNCISd, anu i OillItk lIleT6 were
tears in his bad, dim, gray-green eyes.
Z suppose he thought his a profoundly
pathetic case; no doubt he hadn't the
remotest conception what he really
was-and no doubt, also, there are
many who would honestly take his
view. As if the fact that he was born
with all possible advantages did not
make him and his plight ineXcusahle.
IT passes my comprehension why peo-
pie OF his sort, when suffering from
the calamities they have deliberately
brought upon themselves by laziness
and self-indulgence and extravaganza.
should get a sympathy that is withheld
from those of the honest human rank
and file falling into far more real mis-
fortunes not of their own making.
NO, my dear Blackjack" said he,
Bringing now as easily as he had con-
descended-how to cringe and how to
condescend are taught at the same
school. the one he had gone to all his
.life. 1T is you 1 want to talk with.
n first. I w o my apologies.
Z know you'll make allowances for one
who was never trained to business
methods. I've always been like a child
I'm those matters"
you brighten me-" said I. 1.-THE last
gentleman who came throwing me off
my guard with that plea was shrewd
enough to get away with a very large
sam OF my hard-earned money. Be
'sides"-and I was laughing, though
not TOO good-naturedly-.Tve noticed
about business only when the balance
lis against you. When it's in your ia
.vor, you manage to get your minds on
business long enough to collect to the
last fraction of a cent"
He heartily echoed my laugh. IT
only wish I were clever" said he.
However. I've come to ask your in
diligence. I'd have been here before.
but those who owe me have been put
ting me off. And they're of the sort of
people whom it's impossible to press"
,nr na IKE sa,a to sssadGm you
little hint as a cliff sheds rain.
-'but your account has been In an
unsatisfactory state for nearly a month
now"
Tn sure you'll give me a few days
longer was his easy reply, as if we
were discussing a tritle. by the way,
you haven't been to see us yet. Only
this morning my wife was wondering
when you'd come. You quite captivated
her, Blackjack. Can't you dine with us
tomorrow ~night-no, Sunday-at eight !?
We're having in a few people think
you'd like to meet"
II any one imagines that this bald.
businesslike way of putting it set my
teeth on edge, let him dismiss the idea.
my nerves had been too long ac%custorn-
ed to the feel of the harsh facts OF life.
It is evidence of the s~hrewdness of the
old fellow at character reading that he
wasted none Of his silk and velvet pre-
lenses upon me, and SO saved his time
and mine. Probably he wished me to
see that I need have no timidity or
false shame in dealing with him, that
when the time came to ak business I
was free to talk it in my own straight
fashion.
AGlad to come" said I. wishing to be
rid of him, now that my point was
gained. wei let the account stand
open for the present. rather think
your stocks are going up. Give my re-
CARDS to-the ladies. please, especially
to Miss Anita"
He WINGED, but thanked me gracious
ly; gave me his soft, fine hand to shake
and departed, as eager to be off as I
TO be rid of him.. Sunday next-at
eight" were his last words. Don't fail
in the tone of a king address
ing some obscure person whom he had
to court. 1t may be that
old Ellersly was wholly unconscious Of
his superciliousness, fancied he was
Treating me as If 1 were almost an
{. L. L,,A Ia