New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-03-17
! 6e Oblig|ing
/ Reforn1er.
By STELLA cADr1Us.
! Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.


There was no use denying that sgd
ney Gerald was a dawdler. He had
wealth, good looks, youth, and was a
society favorite. Now and then he
went hunting or yachting. but most
OF, the time he simply dawdled That
meant his club, the races and society
He was accounted catch, but nc
one caught him. He didn't really try
to dawdle. but pursued his lymphatio
way simply because there seemed
nothing else to do.
said the widow Of the late Hon
Charles Spofford one evening at re.
ception as she drew him down to a
seat beside her Il have duty tc
perform"
Il wish had he replied.
People are saying you have nc
energy, no ambition, no aim In life
You have too much money-too much
time on your hands. You are throw.
ing your years away"
Tell me what to do" replied Sgd
ney, yawning.
Get married"
"Too much trouble-too many emo.
tfons."
''Take trip around the world"
''Too much change Of scenery"
"Ah, have itr' exclaimed Mrs. Snof.
|. ford after moments thought. "You
are rich. Why not turn philanthro,
pist? Not in the way of hospitals OF
asylums, but 60 among the poor. and
give few Of your dollars to alleviate
distress and misfortune. You don't
know the real people as I do. There
is no day that am not feeding the
! hungry and giving out. aims. Only
this afternoon I gave one legged man
half dollar, and You ought to have
heard his words Of gratitude
"Just so,'' replied Sydney Gerald
with bit of a smile as he thought OF
the many one legged men he had
tossed quarters to.
''Try it for few weeks-for three
months. It may lead to your becom-
ing reformer. At any rate, 1t will
rouse you up and give you something
new to think of. 1t is positively sin.
full for you to be dawdling along this
way"
"Yes, think So"
eff you should turn out to be re-
former I shall take most Of the credit
to myself Three months, Mr.. Gerald
try it for three months, and at the
81 hot T f>y. 81
little gathering to hear your report
It cannot fail to be interesting You
will have hundred different incidents
to relate Don't you feel a new and
strange ambition already?"
Eyes, 1 think 1 do. Yes, think l
will turn reformer. may not make a
success Of 1t, but I'll make try.
The relict Of the Hon. Charles spread
the news. AS Sydney Gerald did not
entirely drop society while fitting him
self for refOrmer, he was laudel
and quizzed on numerous occasions by
numerous people.
Only scanty few credited him with
the necessary energy to pursue the
object and the most that was predict
ed of his efforts was the depletion Of
his purse without corresponding gain.
There was great deal said about the
unthankfulness and ingratitude' of the
world in general, but it didn't seem to
affect him much.
You know you must not look for
too much gratitude" cautioned Mrs.
Spofford.
mo, shan't."
"You will feel that you have done
your duty, and your conscience will
reward YOU"
Gust So
Many and many time have given
pennies and got never word of
thanks, In fact, 1 have got black
looks as the wheels of nv carriage
happened to throw little mud, but I
drove on feeling that 1 had made the
world a trif1e better That feeling
must be your reward"
eyes, shall look for IT.
When the three months had expired
Sydney Gerald announced his readi-
ness to report A score of ladies gath
cred in the drawing room Of the Hon.
Charles widow. There were no men
among them. Charity and reform did
not touch that sex
When he was ushered in if was re
marked that he seemed to have ac-
qu1red energy and gained ambition
and there was great curiosity as TO
what he would report.
Ladies', beg to say began Sydney.
that in my ignorance of how to go to
work began my investigations in the
house Of wealthy lady. It came
about almost by accident. I found
that she was in arrears to all her sery-
ants and that tradesmen were cIamor
Ing for their bills. I relieved the dis
tress. l gave each servant two months,
back pay and paid each tradesman
something on account. / have mem
orandum of her name"
Here Sydney Gerald paused. Mrs.