The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-11-22
TWO PILLARS OF SOCIETY"

oo J. ~ why. 4 H6o 1Iol e-NA14-%N1-
1 had made them temporarily Easy in
their finances just before that Inner,
and they, being fatuouS, incuraDie OPP
timists, were probably imagining they
would never need me again l dio
not disturb them until Monsoon and l
had got my education SO well under
way that even l, always severe in self
criticism and now merciless, was COM
PEELED to admit TO myself a distinct
change for the better. You know how
1t is with a boy at the growing age
how he bursts out of clothes and
ideas Of life almost as fast as they are
supplied him. so swiftly is he trans
forming into a man. Well, / think it
is much hat way with US Americans
all our lives; we continue on and on
at the growing age And IL n or US
puts his or her mind lard upon growth
in some particular direction, you see
almost overnight a development fedged
to the last taii-feathers Il tip OF top
knot where there was nothing at all.
What miracles can be wrought by an
open mind and a keen sense of the
cumulative power OF the unwasted
minute! Ali his apropos Of a very
trivial matter, you may be thinking.
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, | sent for
1DEI LIZ SAltSl Iip - tNI''s@>
didn't bother to acknowledge my note.
His margin account with me was at
the moment straight; l turned to his
father. l had my cashier send him a
formal, typewriter letter signed
Blackjack & Co, informing him that
his account was overdrawn ana that
we would be obliged IL he would give
the matter his immediate attention"
The note must have reached him the
following morning; but he did not
come until, after waiting three days,
We" 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 manner of having always re-
ceived d~eferential treatment. There
was no pretense in my curt greeting,
my tone of dispatch your business, sir,
and be gone; for / was both busy
and much irritated against him. Il
guess you wan TO see our cashier"
said 1, after giving him a hasty, alb
sent-minded ha%ndshake. My boy out
there will take you to him."
The old do-nothing's face lost its
confident, condescending expression.
lis lip quivcred, and l think there We're
tears in his bad, dim. gray-green eyes.
I suppose he thought his a profoundly
pathetic case; no doubt he hadn't the
tClIlpttSl conception io IN Ntify
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 lot
make him n his plight ~inexcusable.
1t passes my comprehension why peo-
pie of his sort, when suffering from
the calamities they have deliberately
brought upon themselves by ~laziness
and self-lndulgence 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.
mo, my deaf Blackjack" said he,
cringing now as easily as he had on
descended-how to cringe and how 10
condescend are taught at the same
school, the n he had gone to all his
life. ut is you I want to talk with.
And, first, I 1--WE o my apologies
I know you'll make allowances for onc
who was never trained to business
methods. I've always been like a child
in those matters"
you brighten me-" said l. THE last
gentleman who came throwing me of
my guard with that plea was shrewd
enough to get away with a very large
sum of my hard-earned BE
sides"-and I was laughing. though
not TOO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES noticed
that you gentlemen become vague
about business only when the balancs
40 oS11 wa 1 w = = LII sS41 "a
vor, you manage to get your minds or
business long enough to collect to ths
last fraction of a cent"
He heartily echoed my laugh. g
only wish Z were clever said he
However, I've come to ask your In.
diligence. I'd have been here before
but those who W me have been put,
ting me off. And they're of the sort O
. people whom it's impossible to press.
I'D like to accommodate yo,
: further" said I. shedding that las
little hint as a cliff sheds rain
) but your accoun has been In a,
: unsatisfactory state for nearly a montl
e now
: I'm sure yos'n give me o few day
( longer was his cas- reply, as if w
were discussing a trifie. by the way
E you haven't been to see us yet. Onl
t this morning my wife was wonderin,
r when you'd come. You quite captiyate,
= her, Blackjack. Can't you dine with u
tomorrow night-no. Sunday-at eight
We're having In a few people I thin
you'd like to meet
If any n imagines that this BALD
businesslike way OF putting 1t set m
teeth on edge, let him dismiss the idea
9 my nerves had been too long accustom
!, ed to the feel of the harsh facts Of lif,
7 1t is evidence of the shrewdness of tn
old fellow at character reading that h
0 wasted none of his silk and velvet pre-
n lenses upon HE, anu SO SdNGQ MS Tin
and mine. Probably he wished me t
see that I need have no timidity G
false shame in dealing with him, tina
sgllse.. the time came tie talk ie..s:.e So
was free to talk 1t In my own straigh
fashion.
"Glad to come" said /, wishing to /
!, rid of him, now that my point wa
= gained. We'll let the account stan
omen for the present-I rather thin
y your stocks are going Jap. Give my n
!. CARDS to-the ladies'. Nease. especial
to Miss Anita"
He WINGED, but thanked me graciou.
" ly: gave me his soft. fine hand to shal
Z and departed, as cage to be off as
9 - Ito be rid Of him. Sunday next-s
g eight, were his last words. Don Ia
II us'.--that In the tone Of a king adiddfes,
ini Ing some obscure person whom he ha
commanded to court. 1t may be thu
y old Ellersly was wholly unconscious ].
ln his supereiliousness, faneied he We
Sf treating me as if I were almost a
equal; but / suspect he rather accent,
- ated his natural manner nth the .ds
of iHlpressing upon me that In our de
IO he was giving at least rs much as =.
7 recall that I thought about him I,
several minutes after he q gone
~ philosophical the folly Of Il mar
4AHeas WING A.as