Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-04

formally engaged as physical instruct
or to the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation at salary Of sixty dollars
month. It was struggling institution,
situated In what had lately been q
disreputable hotel and dance place,
and so near the mills that 1t perpetu-
ally shivered with the whir Of ma
chinery Unlike its sisters elsewhere,
The Manaswan Y. M. G. A. was poorly
supported, either by the moneyed peo-
, lie Of the town or the horde of Hitter
ate foreigners whom 1t was intended
to uplift: and 1t wore detected
aspect, like that of a forlorn hope
whose courage had oozed away at the
sight of the enemy.
Mr. Cummins, the superintendent,
a very low voiced young man with eye
glasses, laid less stress on Mats capa-
bilities as physical instructor than
whether he would be prepared to
"help out" That had been the trouble
with the previous Instructors they
wouldn't "help out" Diplomas and de-
grees were all right, but what Mr..
Cummins really wanted was a young
man that would help out" Cheer
fully" added Mr.. Cummins, with an
air Of extreme depression, as though
burdening the camel with the last
straw. Would Matt help out cheer
fully? Matt promptly replied that he
would, and smiling broadly to prove
it, inquired for a more precise defini-
ton Of helping out.
This, it seemed, included washing
the gymnasium windows, scrubbing
the gymnasium floor, drying the bath
| ing suits, cleansing the swimming
tank, checking the towels, doing what
ever painting or vanishing was re-
uuired in the building, oiling and
cleaning a dozen typewriter machines.
and ng-cheerfully-for any
further services that might be needed.
Mats answers were so satisfactory
that he soon found himself on the roof.
in suit of borrowed Overalls, assist
ing deaf and dumb Swede In re-
shingling It, Here. high above the
street, and with superb view OF the
flashing dam that provided the mills
with power, he crawled over the roof
! with his mouth full of nails, and
perched himself on the edge OF
eternity. The deaf and dumb tnstruc.
lions were hard to follow; moreover,
they were impatient, and often accom-
panied by scornful jabs that were cal
culated to land him In the street; but
Matt held on tight, and even burst out
laughing at the absurdity Of his posi-
ton. r.
BY degrees he won deaf and dumb
approval; got some pats on the back;
81, a nina
and pounding nails unmolested. He
had been so long idle that the work
was enjoyable; he whistled as he
thought of his sixty dollars a month;
before long, what with helping out,
and "cheerfulness," 1t would be aug
! mented to seventy-five, and then!
Hammer, hammer, hammer every
! thing was coming his way Hammer,
hammer, hammer--if only Chris could
see him now! Hammer, hammer, ham
mer-and it was a lot to be young and
vigorous and alive, and 1t would all
happen just as she said it would.
At six they Knocked off and
descended through the skylight to the
ghostly, silent interior below. Matt re-
ported at the office and was told to
return at 1880 for his classes. Mr..
Cummins had thawed perceptibly; a
physical instructor who could Single
was gratifying acquisition; he gave
| Matt a dog.eared volumn entitled
Simple Gymnastics. together with a
chart representing the different posi-
lions for Hollis Manly Exerciser. 1t
was tacitily assumed that MATHS
knowledge needed refreshing, which
indeed was so much the case that he
hurried through his supper at ten
cent restaurant in order to fortify
himself for what was to come.
He returned to find the gymnasium
swarming with young Hungarians In
black tights and singlets. and the
swimming tank beyond crowded with
hilarious bathers. His Glasses" were
going on merrily without him, and his
appearance in their midst seemed al.
most an intrusion. Black legs were
swinging over trapezes; painting
youngsters were pulling at the exer
cisers along the wall; others were con
torting themselves on mattresses, OF
turning frantic sonersaults: the
punching bag was reverberating loudly
and about 1t rose quarrelsome out
cry as half dozen tried to get to II
att once. The athletic side Of the Y. M
G. A. was we'll patronized. however
small the attendance might be in the
other departments. ~ .
! Matt moved about. wondering what
he was to do, and finally decided not
to do anything beyond keeping order
and encouraging some Of the more
backward Whenever he saw any one
looking at all helpless and abashed II
the general pandemonium, he went W
to him and started him pulling at 6
Hollis Manly Exerciser. He stopped {
fist fight and sent the culpr1ts home
stopped good deal Of more or Less
boisterous horseplay, and gradual,
asserted a quiet but effective author
3! ity. They were very manageable set
taking it all in all, much more so thar
the same number Of young American!
| would have heen and when Mr. Chm