The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-04-10
Illustrations by Ray Walters
Copyright by a. G. McClurg Co., 1912
By Harry King 100tls

a knowledge of his family affairs
which astonished Gloria After they
had passed, the girl questioned her
about the workman and how she came
to know him.
His wife came to the mission for
help last winter when he was sick"
Mrs. Hayes explained.
Gloria looked at the man in the
trench, bending his back in pain that
she might have a place to serve tea in
the afternoon and loll in swinging
seat in the moonlight. He was but
unit out Of those teeming millions of
units to whose existence she had al
ways been Indifferent. Had she been
told in other days that this mans
family had almost died of want she
would have let it stay in her mind no
longer Van the news that hundred
poor girls had been burned to death
in a fire trap a bribed factory inspec-
tor had branded as safe. In other
words, she would not have considered
the matter at all. To have dominion
over palm and pine to Gloria meant
only that from these lands should be
gathered the best there was TO" the
lords of the earth. And Of that order
she knew herself to be one.
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
a 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 igno-
rant Of what she could do, even Of its
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-
tiers 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
81, YJn ~ wit
The boss was disturbed at his
daughters trip into the lowest quar-.
ters Of Belmont.
"This amt no kind O. play, girl, y
he complained. why don't you stick
to society,"
Society" she replied with fine
scorH. why doesn't society stick to
me?"
What's 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 the impress
sion by saying:
Matter? Nothing Why?"
The boss suspicious were not tc
be so lulled.
You're keepin' somethin' back from
me- Gloria. What is it?'
mo, I'm not" she insisted.
"Has anyone done anythin' or sait
anythin' to you?
Nothing"
"But somethin's 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"
"It's-it's-well-it's just an atmos
phere."
You go every place"
ITO all the big things, yes"
People are nice to you"
/ She hesitated, but finally said
"Ye-es"
"Ain't they?"
"Oh, suppose So" she admitted il
lifeless manner Perhaps I'm no
used to western ways, yet the nict
people look just like nice people lool
back East
/ .yUhaf,c diffarnnt then ?"