Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-02
KILLING PACE IN.
! BUSINESS IS
DEPLORED
"SIaves to Industry" Better OF
Seeking "ReaI' Things in
Life, Says Forbes.
BY 8. c. FORBES.

how DO you ike being retired
asked the veteran ex-comptroller
of an important railroad system who
laid down his business burdens year
or more ago
''Fine--it gives one time to think"
be replied
Then you enjoy it,"
His answer is worth recording II
may cause some men to stop In their
feverish daily struggling long enough
a 10 let down a plummet into their souls
and take their bearings
''Weu-it-it-'
There was an uneasy pause. a mo-
hnent OF doubt and hesitation. Would
he lay bare tho secret that was press
sng on his mind2 or would he pass
the question off with a brief, evasive
temark?
He decided to tell
It's like this: Our rule was to take
rs much as we could get--all we
could get Off within every case, II
we could get more than our share for
handling a shipment we took 1t. We
didn't bother about the other road or
the other fellow that might get the
short end Of the stick. We regarded
that as their lookout. We thought
our lookout for number-one meth
DDS all right
But since l have had lots Of
seisure to think things over, when ]
look back upon our policy, | have been
wondering n well--wel I've been
wondering whether II was bist--well
whether II was just right. you
know"
could see that the old mans con-
science was troubling him What
appeared TO be fair enough when he
was In the thick Of the business fray, |
now, in the quiet Of the eventide OF
fis life raised disturbing question
angs.
As the gray headed old man, now |
past the allotted span OF three score |
years and ten. stood In front OF me- |
there flashed into my mind another |
rase that | had often meant to tell |
you about, fos ii always struck me as |
a beacon OF warning to others who |
snight be tempted to tread similar |
path.
In this case a young man. humble |
of origin, but consumed with ambi- !
tien. seized opportunities to work |
himself In with a set OF saloon rail |
Hchening. grating politicians and |
franchise mongers. He had a fair |
dowry of brains, and a moderate |
amount OF education. At first he car
ried a fair cargo of conscience hut In |
order to do the bidding OF his elders |
me began to Jettison It. As he threw |
overheard his honesty he was able to |
add to his riches. In return for many
years services his confreres. to feed |
hts ambition, elevated" him to the |
bench
Then he found time for mental |
stock -talting. Here was he. n rank |
CRATER. the creature OF despicable |
politicians, n dispenser OF law, the |
holder OF the scale of justice that no |
such unclean hands should besmirch |
His conscience smote him. He chang |
ed entirely He first became severe |
norose and religious" then a tyrant |
toward his own and other people. |
None carried higher head or OBJ
served the outward forms of religion |
more rigidly.
But all the while the memory OF his !
early msdeeds gnawed at the very |
vitals OF his soul And il is so gnaw- |
ing at this moment.
Now, these two cases-real not inn
aginary ones-carry. 1t seems to me, a |
lesson that il might be worth while |
rendering When we are young, |
when we are pushing and struggling |
and elbowing to get our feet on the |
ladder. when our god is the dollar, |
when ambition drives us forward |
when fame" sings siren songs In our /
ears. and when all our hours are |
crowded with duties or pleasures. are |
we not apt to drown the still small |
voice Of conscience. to so crowd our |
days and nights with distractions |
that we have not one hour for serious |
reflection, scarce n moment To ask |
ourselves whittier we are going and |
the whyfor of II allT
Then one Gay the mad race ends |
Nature cries. Halt" We are called |
10 give an accounting We seek to |
put IL off. We would fsin fee from |
ourselves We rebel against letting |
memory dwell upon the record. We
refuse to answer the inner question
ings: WHITTIER" Why" what |
shall the end be-" What OUGHT
the reward to be?"
Is this too sentimental slush for a |
business column? Shall be accused |
OF encroaching upon the Salvation |
Armys preserves? Maybe.
But ] have lived long enough to
stand sneers and scoru from the |
thoughtless. have seen enough done
in the name of business" and known
enough OF too-late regrets. OF soul
torture in the twilight of life Ia stay
my pen IL by using II I may happily
lead even but a few men neck deep
in the struggle for existence to stop
and plumb their souls NOW TO pause
and ask themselves what II shall
profit them though they gain much
II they thereby lose that peace OF
mind without which all else Is worse
than dross
II Is. believe me. sound business
proposal.