The Democratic advocate., 1909-05-07
The JaII Bird Boss

There was a jail Bird once upon a
time In a small town IN the state OF
Iowa. This ]. b. had had all that he
wanted, and It was his firm intention,
II he ever got another chance, to
show what he was made OF. Many
other ]. BIS have made similar re-
solves. After he got out most every
body gave him the Icy Mitt, but finally
he Accepted a Position Tor, as some
might say, Found Job In Factory.
He started In at 81 week, working
with the boys. for jail birds cannot af-
ford 70 be either fastidlous or finicky.
They have 10 take whatever offers,
So the J. B. started to work.
Now, In every shop or store there
is always some one---man. boy or girl
who knows where Things are.
II you set ten girls at work In a
room, you will find by the third day
that nine Of thoBe girls are asking the
tenth girl these questions.
Is this all right7
Where Is the threadg
What shall | do next?
And the tenth girl tells the others
whether the work Is right and where
to find things and what they had bet
ter do next In one week this tenth
girl win be on hand little earlier In
the morning In order to lay out the
work for the day. and al night she will
stay a little later in order TO put
things away
And she win show In various wayA
that she thinks OF the work outside OF
working hours---between the time she
goes home nj night and the time she
returns In the morning.
OF course the qSiibbier will here in
terpose an objection 70 the effect that
the probabilities are that the ten Girls
will be equally stupid and one and ali
be absolutely iistieaa unless Inspired
by fear OF the Blue Envelope or the
coming footsteps OF the Boss. I think
however. that the objection need not
be seriously considered. for tho fact
Is that az least one person out OF ten
Is not only loyal, but has d Foodiy
grain Of executive ability that can be
cultivated through exercise, Respon-
sibiiitles grayitate to the person who
can shoulder them. and power flows
TO the man who knows how.
And It 10 happened that before the
]. y, was In that factory q month the
boys were going TO him. asking him
where things we're. When they ran
out OF one kind of work they would
ask him what they should do next. And
be, knowing the sequence Of tho work.
would advise them.
Now. there be employers who are
Proud and Oyerbearing, but others
there be who have Common Sense
And Il 30 happened that the man who
owned the factory where the ]. b.
worked had a uiodlcum Of Common
Sense, Seeing that the ]. u knew
where things were and what should
be done next and that the J. 3. put
The work away NJ night and kOt Il out
In the morning and planned things Af
home and picked things mp instead OF
walking over them or kicking them
haide. why, tho Boss encouraged the
J. b. and Raised bis Wages.
80 the y y. evolved into q Right
Hand Man and In time came 10 know
deal more about the details of the
business than the Doas and | believe
eventually married the daughter Of the
Boss, Inherited his money and became
sole owner OF tho Factory. but OF
these things ! am not certain, so I do
not record them But The little incl.
dent ! am shout 10 record really han
pened. one day the Boss saw two
girls who worked IN the factory com.
ing In with o basket OF wild cIamhtis
These girlB proceeded 10 fessnnn the
pillars Of tha big room with the beau-
tful plant who told YOU 10 do
that1" demanded the BoaH.
Why. MF so-ond-ao," said The girls.
referring TO the J. u.
did you send those girls away dur
inE working hours after weedsTs ask.
ed the Boss shortly after of the J. u
Certainly waa the answer. You
see. ! noticed those particular KirIs
seemed very white and not very mtropR
and sort of nervous and worn--thay
say they have things tough AZ home
and ! lust thought I would Try 20 Inn
prove their complications and spIrita by
giving them a run out In the sun
shine"
Ohio You thought they were get.
ung Prison Pallor. did your
Yes. you guessed Il. ! was think
ing Of prlnon PniIor."
And 40 contrived an excuse 10 send
the girls on . two mile walk out
acfosa the neIds7"
Yea"
Had Prison pallor youpelf. ehY~
Yes"
Uaed 10 look Into pocket mirror
and thought Il was GhostY'
Possibly"
Never saw the blue sky except
through grating or whom walking
iockstep across stone paved court
way7"
You have H."
Well look here n don9 .ta.a
around here keeping me from work
wish { Lord could find q few moro
J, BIS TO help run this ahebang. AM.
say. make little list OF the pale. nery,,
Gus, yellow and scared girls and send
them out by turn for ciemntis when
ever the sun shines, Don't stand
around keeping me from work. Don't
you think ! have anything 70 do N.Y.
selfg Go on with youis--Philistlue