The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-27

was It to Be had! Finally rhung up !
the receiver Of my telep' : ie and lean |
ed back in my chair. dazed by the mad |
whirl along which I was being carried |
My secretary opened the door and |
asked II I would see So-and-so and the |
next man. A broker was clamoring to |
get at me. They wanted one thing
money Their demands came home to
me family, like the noise OF rain ON
window.
"Jim." I said to the man, 81 am
tired. l am going home"
Going homer" he gasped. not BE-
lieving his ears.
Tell EN- all I'm going home. Tell
EN- anything you want to-
While the young man was still star
the room. Even his impassive face
was twisted into a scowl Of fear.
Harris is out there" he said hur-
riedly. He says some one is selling
! Meat Products common and preferred
Big chunks OF ii are coming on the
market. and the price has dropped If
teen points during the morning"
l said nothing. Anything was to be
expected in this whirlwind
DO You suppose It's Grounds stock ?''
| he asked.
Perhaps" l nodded. 1t doesn't
make much difference to US whose 1t
is
I'VE can't let this go on"
Il guess it will have to go on" re-
piled listlessly
Slocum looked 1T me wonderingly.
He had seen me crawl out Of a good
many small holes. and he was waiting
for the word OF action now.
"Well?" he asked at last.
Il am going home" got up and
took his arm. Come along with me.
old man. l want to get out Of this
noise"
The elevator dropped US into the
hurry burly Of the street. Men were
hurryins in and out Of the brokers' Of
fees. where the last reports for the
day were coming in.
"D-n this war; Slocum swore as
I paused to buy 4 paper.
Don't say that Slo!" protested.
This war is o great thing. and every
decent American ought to be proud Of
his country. by thunder! l am"
The lawyer looked at me AZ II my
head had suddenly gone back on me.
Il mean it l tell you. Slo. nations
are like men-they have their work to
| do in this life. When 1t comes to an
issue like this they can't shirk any
more than q man can. II they do. II
| will be worse for them. This war
will do us good. will clean US and cure
US for a good long time Of this cussed
little peevish distemper we have been
through since '93. That was Just self.
ish introspection. This fight for Cuba
viii bring Us all together. Well work
for something better than our bellies.
There's nothing SO good rs a dose Of
real patriotism once in awhile"
ivan, you ought to be In the senate!"
he jeered.
perhaps I shall be there one of these
days when I have finished this other
job
| The idea seemed to strike him hu-
morously.
| "Yos think It might be hard work
for me to prove my patriotism to the
people? Don't you believe 1t. The
| people don't remember SANDER long.
And those things you and have done
which have set the newspapers talking
don't worry anybody. They are Just
the tricks Of the game"
So we sauntered on through the
streets that March afternoon. discuss
Ing like two schoolboys. patriotism
and government. while back In the
Office we had left white faced men
were clamoring for a word with me.
seeking to find out whether was to
90 under at last.
"Well." Slocum finally asked as he
was leaving me. what are you going
to do about this pinch?"
There's nothing to be done tonight.
I'm going to read the papers and see
what they say about the war. am
going home. Perhaps tomorrow 1t win
be all over. Lordy! Well make 4
tolerable big smash when We 60
DOWN.
Get some sleep!" was SlOcum's ad-
vice.
The papers were red hot with the
war spirit, and they did me good.
Somehow l was filed with q strange
gladness because Of the war. Pride In
the people Of my country. who could
sacrifice themselves for another peo-
pie. swelled my heart Where could
you read Of q finer thing in all history
than the way the peoples wrath had
compelled the corrupt. self seeking pol
iticians in Washington to do their will
to strike an honest blow. to redeem
a suffering people! 1t comes not often
In any mans life to feel himself one
Of a great nation when 1t arises in a
righteous cause with all the passion OF
Its seventy million. Let the panic wipe
out my little pile Of money. Let the war
break up the dreams OF my best years.
I would not for that selfish cause stay
its course. 1t made q man feel clean
to think there was something greater
in life than himself and bis schemes.
I walked on and on In the March
twilight, leaving behind me the noisy
city and the struggle Of the market
Why not 60 myself-why not enlistl
l suddenly asked of myself. The very
thought OF 1t made me throw up my
head. Slocun could gather up the