The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-09-25
CROSSING
WATCHMAN
RELEASED;
TOO Old

crossing watchman at Ninth street.
has been relieved from duty.
"Incapacitated through age" the Or
ders from the General Superintendent
read. TOO old" is what ordinary
folk would have said. But Leo is only
in the prime of life. he's only fifty or
a little more. Just the time when
men are getting in their best efforts
in life's cycle. And yet, for twenty
seven years. since 1856. Leo has work
ed for the one road. 1t was still in
its infancy when he started in its en-
ploy. He was young. too, with an
ample fund of years ahead of him and
with the usual splendid prospects.
Now the road is In its prime. just
rounding into its years OF affluence
and profit-making. And SO is Leo in
his prime. but his years Of affluence
and proit-making have suddenly been
shut from him.
Yes, Leo is too old" Twenty-sev
en- years, counted up day by day
month by month. and year by year Is
a long time to be faithful to one en-
ployer. II shows a steadfastness and
n determination that few men have
and which fewer men. still. can at
tain.
But 1t mattered not in this instance
What good is steadfastness and de
termination when the ruthless hand
of time slowly marks twenty-seven
revolutions on the dial and stops be-
cause a power told 1t to? What mat
ters II that the best years given to n
man have been spent faithfully and
earnestly in the pursuit of duty ald
what matters 1t II man is but fifty
and still strong and healthy and still
determined and steadfast and even
now more conscientious in the realizd
ton OF duty because of those twenty
seven long years. II matters net when
the man higher up writes ''Incapaciat-
ed from age" II matters not whether
it is the lowly watchman at his s35
per month. or the man next to 'the
Man Higher Up" at ten times that
sum. IL the hand up above writes the
fateful words.
The scrap heap is tine railroad
graveyard. II Is there that old wheels,
old cars, old engines. and old men are
thrust. 1t is the reward of years OF
service. The scrap heap shows the
relics OF years OF constant service and
endeavor. There are no pensions
there. There is no kindly word OF
parting. no thanks, no appreciation.
Just a fling and a shove and the in
strument of service. be 1t wheel or
man. lands the best possible way.
And that is whore Leo has landed.
Yes. he got his pay every month. The
road gave him just what it agreed TO
pay him. But he gave what ne lad
agreed TO in return. He was giving. at
the time the word came Just what he
had given for the last twenty-seven
years, all of his mind and OF his heart
in the fulfllment OF duty. He was
giving what he was paid fer. and even
more.
The passers-by at MINI str, ct who
were greeted with a smile and a wave
of the haad at all seasons OF the year
rein or shine. snow or r md. know that
Leo was giving OF his best. He dis
played IN more why's than .ust duty
:,.at he had the interests OF the com
Isny at Leart.
The little flag shanty. clean and
neat. with its Interior swept and dust.
ed and with its exterior washed oc.
casionally to drive away the traces OF
the CRIME OF smoke and dust. It's paint
gIistening in the sunlight. testihes tc
this. The little vines clInging to the
sides and each year extending their
area and fnIIape and the iItfIn nnwer