Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-05-20
CHAPTER III.-(Continued.)


Paradise furnace by the year. The COM
mercial transaction touched him light
Is: but the moving groups, the import
ed bell boys, the tesselated floors, fres-
coed ceiling and plush covered furni
ture-these bit deeply. Could this be
South Tredegar, the place that had
hitherto figured chiefly to him as
court-day" town and the residence Of
his preacher uncle? It seemed hugely
Incredible.
After the conference with the iron
ouyer they crossed the street to the
railway station; and again Thomas
Jefferson was footloose while his faith
or was closeted with some one in the
managers office.
An express train, with kissing air
brakes, Solomon magnificent sleeping
cars, and locomotive large enough to
swallow whole the small affair that
used to bring the once-G-day train
from Atlanta, had just backed in, and
the boy took its royal measure with
eager and curious eyes, walking slowly
up one side Of it and down the other.
At the rear of the string Of Pull
mans was private car, with deep
observation platform, much polished
brass railing, and sundry other luxuri-
GUS appointments, apparent even to the
eye Of unsophistication. Thomas JET
fersOn spelled the name in the medal
lion, "Psyche"-spelled it without try
ing to pronounce it-and then turned
his attention to the people who were
descending the rubber carpeted steps
and grouping themselves under the di-
rection of a tall man who reminded
Thomas Jefferson of his Uncle Silas
with an indescribable something left
out of his face.
AS I was about to say, General, this
station building is one of the relics.
You mustn't judge South Tredegar-
our new South Tredegar-by this. Eth?
i beg your pardon, Mrs. Vanadam?
Oh, the hotel? 1t is just across the
street, and a very good house; remark
ably good, indeed, all things consider
ed. In fast we're quite proud of the
Marlboro"
One of the younger women smiled.
How enthusiastic you are, Mr.. Far
ley. I thought we had outgrown oil
that-We moderns."
But, my dear Miss Elleroy, if you
could know what we have to be enthu-
siastic about down here! Why, these
mountains we've been passing through
for the last six hours are simply 50
many vast treasure houses; coal at the
top, iron at the bottom, and enough Of
both to keep the worlds industries go
ing for ages! There's millions in
them!"
Thomas Jefferson overheard without
understanding, but his eyes served a
better purpose. Away back in the line
Of the Scottish Gordons there must
have been an ancestor with the seer's
gift of insight, and some drop or two
of his blood had come down to this
sober faced country boy searching the
faces of the excursionists for his cue
of Fellowship or antipathy.
For the sweet-voiced young woman
called Miss Elleroy there was love at
first sight. For a severe, besIliked
Mrs Vanadam there was awe For the
portly General with mutton chop whis-
kers, overlooking eyes and the air Of
a dictator, there was awe, also, not
unmingIed with envy For the tall
man in the frock-coat, whose face re-
minded him of his Uncle Silas, there
had been shrinking antagonism at the
first glance-which keen first impress
sion was presently dulIed and all but
effaCed by the enthusiasm, the suave
tongue, and the benignant manner.
Which proves that insight, like the film
Of q recording camera should have
the dark shutter snapped on it if the
picture is to be preserved.
Thomas Jefferson made way when
the party, marshaled by the enthusi-
asst, prepared for it's descent on the
Marlboro. Afterward, the royalties
having departed and a good-natured
porter giving him leave. he was at lib
erty to examine the wheeled palace 1T
near hand, and even to climb into the
vestibule for peep inside.
Herewith, castles in the air began
to rear themselves, tower on wall.
Here was the very sky-reaching sum-
nit of all things desirable; to have
ones own brass bound hotel on
wheels; to come and go at will; to
give curt orders to a respectful and
uniformed porter, as the awe inspiring
gentleman with the mutton chop whs-
kers had done.
At the highest point on the hunch-
ed shoulder of the mountain Thomas
Jefferson twisted himself in the buggy
seat for a final backward look into the
valley of new marvels. The summer
day was graying to its twilight, and
light haze was stealing out Of the
WOOu6u IdNlu6S dIlIi dCIOSS II1S XIV 81
From the tall chimneys of a rolling
mill a dense column of smoke was as
cending, and at the psychological mo-
ment the Stag flare from an iron fur
mace changed the overhanging cloud
into a fiery aegis.
Having no symbolism save that of
Holy Writ, Thomas Jefferson's mind
seized instantly on the figure, building
far better than it knew. 1t was new
Exodus, with its pillar Of cloud by day
and it's pillar of fire by night. And
its Moses-though this, we may sup
pose, was beyond boys imagining
was the frenzied, ruthless spirit of COM
mercialism, named otherwise, by the
multitude, Modern Progress.
CHAPTER ".
If you have never had the pleasure
of meeting a Southern gentleman OF