Atlanta Georgian., 1912-06-29

United States of America, and
of that portion called the
- Middle West A city once con-
servative and provincial, and
rather proud of these qualities;
but now outgrown them, and
linked by lightning limited trains to other
teeming centers of the modern world city
Overtaken, in recent years, by the plague
that has swept our country from the At
iantic to the Pacific Prosperity Before
It's advent, the Goodriches and Cores, the
Warnings, the Prestons, and the Atterburys
lived leisurely liveL in a sleepy quarter OF
shade trees and spacious yards and muddy
macadam streets, now passed away forever
Existence was decorous, marriage an ire
vocabe step, wives were wives and the
Authorized Version of the Bible was true
from cover to cover.
Among the many church bells that rang
on those bygone Sundays was that OF ST.
Johns of which DR.. Gilman of beloved
memory, was rector. Dr.. Gilman was
saint, and if you had had the good luck to be
baptized or confirmed or married or buried
by him, you were probably fortunate in an
earthly as we'll as heavenly sense. One has
to be careful not to deal exclusively in
superatiyes, and yet it is not an exaggera
tion to say that ST. Johns was the most
beautiful and churchly ediice in the city,
thanks chiefly to several gentlemen of sense,
and one gentleman, at least of taste-Mr
Horace Bentley
Little did the Goodriches and Cores, the
Warnings and Prestons and Atterburys and
other prominent people forsee the havoc that
prosperity and smoke were TO play with
their residential plans! One by one, sooty
commerce drove them out westward con
servatve though they were, from the para
disc they had created, blacker and blacker
grew the gothic facade of st Johns. And
before you could draw your breath. the cable
cars had become electric. Gray hairs began
to appear in the heads Of the people OF Dr.
Gilman had married in the SOS, and their
children were going East to college.
Asa Waring looked witt stern distaste
upon certain aspects of modern life. And
though he possessed the means to follow his
friends and erstwhile neghbors into the
newer paradise five miles westward he had
successfully resisted for several years
formidable campaign to uproot him. His
three married daughters lived in that clean
and verdant district surrounding the Park
(speled with a capitaD, while Evelyn and
Rex spent most of their time in the West
End or at the Country CluDs. Even Mrs
Waring, who resembled a Roman matron
with her wavy white hair parted in the
middle and her gentle yet classic features
sighed secretly at times at the unyielding
attitude of her husband, although admiring
him for it. The grandchildren drew her
On the occasion of Sunday dinner, when
they surrounded her. her heart was filled to
overfowns.
Sometimes a visitor was admitted to this
sacramental feast the dearest old gentle
man in the world with great. hial-
bridged nose, a slight stoop a kindlng
look and snow white hair, though the top
of his head was bald. He sal on Mrs
Warnings right, and was treated with the
greatest Difference by the elders, and with
none at all by the children who besieged
him. The bigger ones knew that he had
what is called a history that he had
been rich once, with a great mansion of
his own, but now he lived on Dalton Street
almost in the slums, and worked among
the poor. His name was Mr. Bentley
He was not there on the particular Sun
day when this story opens, otherwise the
conversation about to be recorded would
not have taken place For St Johns
Church was not often mentioned in MIR
Bentley's presence
Well grandmother" said Phil Good
rich who was the favorte son-in-aw how
was the new rector to-day?"
MIR. Holder is a remarkable young man.
Phil Mrs Warng declared and dc
livered such a good sermon couldn't
help wishing that you and Rex and Evelyn
and George had been in church"
Phil couldn't go, explained tAe unmar-
ried and sunburned Evelyn. ne had a
match on of eighteen holes with me-
Mrs. Waring sighed
u can't think what's got into the younger
people these days that they seem so in
different TO religion Your fathers a yes
tryman, Phil and | believe il has always
been his hope that you would succeed him
I'm afraid Rex won't succeed ms father
she added with a touch of regret and a
glance of pride at her husband "YOu
never so to church, Rex Phil does"
81 got enough church at boarding school
to last me a lifetime mother" her son re.
piled He was Slightly older than Evelyn,
and Just out Of college Besides, any
heather can get on the yestry-it's inan.
cial board and they're due TO pun Phil on
some day They're always putting him on
boards"
His mother looked a little distressed
Rex, wish you wouldn't talk that way
about the Church.
I'm sorry. mother he said. with quick
penitence Mr. Langmaid's a vestryman.
YOU know, and they've only got him there
because he's the best corporation LAWYER
in the city. He isn't exactly what you'd
call orthodox He never goes
I'VE are indebted to Mr. Langmaid for
Mr. Holder This was one of Mr. War
ines rare remarks
Eleanor Goodrich smiled
Il like him | think he's sincere ARD
that first Sunday he came when | saw him
get up in the pulpit and wave that long arm
Of his, all ! could think OF was modern
Savonarola He looks like one And then.