The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-12-14

|
lem Of one city alone, but CT them all,
and it needs the thought and help Of
all the people We should have help
from the farming districts.
no doubt it seems So said the
judge. noncommttally.
The whole country should be in
| terested in wiping cut the slum life
of the cities. It is as important as
the restriction Of immigration, or any
of the other measures for pro ection
from undesirable citizenship. And.
aside from that. there is the dire dis
| tress of the present moment. There is
| work. hard work, fer You. but look at
the other side of the picture-thinll OF
| the despair of no work at al! and
mouths to feed.'
You think | should give for the re-
| lief of the unemployed of the city,"
asked the judge. in surprise.
Il do" answered Billiard.
There are many rich in the city,
| suggested the judge.
There are" admitted Billiard. "and
| | confess that they do not give in pro-
portion to their wealth But how does
| that affect us? Would you leave a
| wounded man lying in the street be-
cause some one else, better able to
care for him, passed by?'
Il had not thought of that" said the
Judge. reflectively.
Il can quite understand why this
matter never came home to you," Bull
lard went on. You look out over your
broad acres, and the strife and tur-
MOL and suffering of the city seem
far removed from you. There is ma
tural contentment that makes it all
seem something with which you have
no concern Sitting here in the quiet
Of the evening, surrounded by my own
great fields | confess that l also
might forget the misery that lies 50
far beyond my range of vision. 1t is
an ideal life, in spite of the work, or
rather because of it-a life that never
can be known to the very rich or the
very poor-and for that reason it
should inspire man to sympathetic
thought and action. He should look
beyond his own peaceful surround
ings."
You think should give for the re-
lief of the unemployed of the city,"
said the judge, thoughtfully repeating
his previous question.
Il do, although you understand, of
course that TN considering you only
as the representative of class"
Il understand" returned the judge.
"and you draw a strong and impress
sive picture Will you permit me to
show you the other side of it."
Il shall be glad to have you do So"
1T will be necessary" explained
the judge, ito dwell somewhat on my
personal affairs, but, as compensation
for that, will agree to leave the ques-
ton of my contribution to the unem-
ployed entirely to your judgment when
l have concluded"
''That is decidedly generous"
laughed Billiard, "for l am an interest.
ed party, and l fear you will lose by
it."
But the fact that you have contri-
buted, not alone of your money, but of
your time, shows that you are earnest,
and convinces me that you wish to be
fair, ask no more than that"
Thank you for your good opinion"
said Billiard. SHOW me the other
side of the picture, and l shall strive
to prove myself just Judge"
Il am of the city myself" began
the judge. Most of my life has been
| spent in the city, and l thought of
the country very much as imagine
you think of it. l looked forward to
a time when l could enjoy its peace
and quiet, for planned in sort of
! indefinite way, ultimate retirement to
farm tat would ge me the health
| and contentment that go with an out
| door life The time came sooner than
| l expected. l had worked hard as
| lawyer, had been elevated to the bench,
and finally found myself the victim of
a nervous disorder that necessitated
an immediate and complete change of
| life and environment The city was
for me no more; l must have more of
physical and less of mental labor;
must live in the open air, free from
the mental excitement of city life. To
some men this would have been SER
ious blow, but, aside from the natural
anxiety about my health, it was not
to me. l never had had the ambition
for great wealth, and, beyond securing
reasonable comfort, money represented
nothing to me. l had a little
enough. it seemed to me, for my mod
est needs-and this merely fastened
the realization of dream of peace. to
which my wife had looked forward as