River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-11-06

Sin and suffering were familiar to
| her in the abstract sodden wretches
| she had seen invade even Fifth ave-
nue., but that back of all were stories
| Of Weaknesses misfortunes, oppres-
sion. inhuman exploitation, and mans
/ inhumanity to man she had not con-
sidered. She believed they were born
into their caste just as she was born
into hers.
Now as she listened to this work
man talk, heard his story from Mrs
Hayes, learned that he had little chill
dren dependent upon him just as she
had been dependent upon her father
before he had made settlement upon
her, making her independent, Gloria
began to realize that there was such
thing as the fellowship of man. She
was not uncharitable. Whenever any
appeal had been made to her she had
always emptied her pocketbook
thoughtlessly and considered her duty
done Now the thought Of personal
service came to her. She was tgno
rant of what she could do, even Of it's
power to bring her any measure Of
happiness, but 1t was worth trying
They had driven in silence almost
to town before Gloria turned to Mrs.
Hayes and said
Mrs. Hayes, the next time you go
to the mission | want you to take me-"
Several days later Gloria went with
| Mrs. Hayes to view at close range the
work being done in the poorer quar-
| ters of Belmont by the Presbyterian
Mission She met Mrs. Wallace. the
matron, and from her learned the
story Of the humble but unfortunate
toilers, and the evils to which they
were constantly a prey through their
! ignorance and inability to protect
themselves. Gloria then accompanied
her on round Of visits, and soon the
girls interest was such that on the
days Mrs Hayes went to the mission
she was glad to go with her,
The boss was disturbed at his
daughters trip into the lowest quar-
ters of Belmont.
This amt no kind O. play, girl"
he complained. why don't you stick
to society,""
Society" she replied with fine
scorn. "Why doesn't society stick to
me?"
whats the matter?"
He had been quick to catch the note
of unhappiness. His daughter had not
meant to say anything. but the words
had slipped out before she could Think.
She now tried to erase tie impress
sion by saying:
Matter? Nothing Why?"
The boss suspicious were not to
be so lulled.
You're keepin' somethin' back from
me, Gloria. What is it,"
mo, Pm not" s@e insisted.
HAS anyone done anythin' or said
anythin to you?"
Nothing"
but sometimes back o. all this. You
amt happy. Anybody can see that.
Now what's it all about?" He wait
ed for her to reply, but she would
not SPEAK. Cant you answer"
t's-it's-well-it' just an atmos-
pierre"
You go every place"
"To all the big things, yes"
People are nice to you
She hesitated but finally said.
"Ye-es"
"Ain't they?"
ooh, | suppose so,' she admitted in
a lifeless manner. Perhaps I'm not
used to western ways, yet the nice
people look just like nice people look
back East
Whats different, them"
They seem to keep me at arms
/ length. | don't see why. You're the
biggest man in Belmont, and yet II"
She did not finish the sentence.
"Yet-I-what?" he urged.
Il don't understand, that's all"
Who, for instance?"
Gloria thought for moment. and
resolved only to name persons in a
general way.
We'll, Lefty Loomis."
"Old John LOOMS daughter?"
rs he the big wholesale grocer"
That's him What d she do?"
4 tell you-she didn't do anything.
It's just--an atmosphere.
Huh! A beautiful lot O airs she's
got right to put on" snorted the
boss. ID you know how old LOOMS
made his money!"
"Out of groceries, didn't he?"
Groceries. nothin'. That's just a
stall. He's got a warehouse chuck
full of rotten whisky he sells in pro-
hibition Kansas. That's his real bust
ness. He don't sell enough groceries
in year to feed first class boardin
house. l wouldn't let him sell any
thing to the poor farm. Don't lei
that girl O. his put it over you any
And they say he passes tha plate
in church! Cad, l hate a hypocrite
I'll make him sweat for it,
Her father was so wrought up that
Gloria was afraid to speak further
but when he insisted she told of sew
eral instances of which she had beer
pleased to term antagonistic atmos
phere, and in each case Kerr related
some disgraceful characteristic of the
head of the family Once he did MOI
hesitate to give his opinion of soci
ETY. woman whose history he knew
we'll. This intimate knowledge of Bel
mont affairs and his belittling refer
ences to leading citizens made Gloria
reach the conclusion that in some way
he was in a class by himself. Thii
caused her to soothe him with the
remark:
: Father. l think they're jealous be
cause you're head and shoulders above