The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-18
CHAPTER ".
The Service Of the Strong.

The Service Of the Strong.
To the nation had come rare pas
sion for building. IL was. tearing
down its old barns, to build anew
bigger and stronger. There wero
cities 20 be ratSS--sn ls1 GSsseSth, .sad
they must be made stanch and last
ing. Wlldernesses were TO be titled
and taught 10 bring forth their fruits !;
land the pioneer and his harvest must
be carried not by crawling conestoga
and mule-train, but by the power Of
steam. Men would go down TO the
sea no longer in ships OF wood, but
in floating palaces that Knocked the
storm. Those who made war were 10
be sheltered behind impenetrable ram
parts, and, again, equipped with
engines and missiles before which
stoutest defenses. crumbled Toilers
on land and sea must find in their
hands new weapons, hard and keen
and sure, TO bring nature, her forces
and treasures, into bondage and ser
vice.
Therefore, steel!
And, therefore, the army of steel
workers. They came from many
But only the strong-here was no
place for the weak or the uncertain
Death lay in wait in "a thousand
forms and il took its toll even of the
strong. More terrible still was the
need for fierce unrelaxing effort tC
satisfy the worlds hunger for steel
! II made young men old, quickly
crushed and threw aside all save
those who had endurance OF soul as
well as of body These survivors
were apt to forget that natural law
and not they, had called the vast in
dustry into being, and in the end
their generals went mad with the lust
OF baser metal. But they bred a
few that were really giants, gave
fertilization an impetus that has not
died and set new ideal OF produc-
tivity.
A strong west wind had sprung up
during the night and the sun shone
clear on the line OF that days re-
cruits. One by one they passed be
fore a keen.eyed youth-only the
young offcered this army-who, after
one glance, accepted or rejected The
enlisted were turned over to the time
keeper, who gave them numbered
cards and assigned them TO various
waiting squads.
A big Swede, a wiry little French
Canadian and slow-moying Pole
were passed Then came one whose
shabby clothes spoke OF another sort
OF toll and whose face showed the
marks OF prolonged intoxication.
Cant use YOU snapped the boss
But, mister, I'm broke and
mo place TO work off jags. step
out-neStW
The man turned dejectedly away
His place was taken by an Italian
boy.
Speak English"
The Italian jabbered unintelligibly
The boss pointed toward the rejected
drunk
Step out" He Interpreted the
command by shove that sent the
immigrant Keeling out OF the nne
Tie nodded CURLY TO the next appli
cant All right, Get your card.
And this recruit was he who had
accepted Thomas Henley's cr lIenge
The latter had already forgotten the
incident. but Mark was still hot with
the determination TO prove his mettle
TO the tanner
He gave his name TO the time-clerk
and received his card also the com
mand. Go with Houlahan gang
Thus, he reflected, he had taken the
first step in his campaign Of conquest
he was a private In Houlahans
squad To himself he emphasized the
fact that ne had got so far without
. 81
he had not time TO analyze-he did
not regret the encounter with the
tanner
Cit move on" Numbered voice
Ia his ear Dye think yez ARE q
prathy shtuck in Oh ground? March,,
IL was the voice OF Houlahan
Mark marched. He had last view
OF the rejected drunk and immigrant
staring wistfully at the departing
gangs
Corporal Houlahan had no romantic
conception OF his duties, and his Is
ranny was OF a sort TO give his nm
behring's the realistic point OF view
The Alpha and Omega OF his theor,
of bossing we're 30 curse and threaten
constantly. thus deadly fear OF hin
should be instilled and prompt obedi
ence and faithful work insured. II q
a simple theory and popular. bu
unfortunately fallible which. per
haps. explains Corporal Hcglahan
brief sojourn in these pages
'Phwat tn hell ARE veg thryin' (
. do TlAs TO Mark who. with som,
vague notion OF proving his mettl,
at once. was plying bis shovel almOs
, frenziedly Dye think yez ARE IN
whole gang2 We got & worruk al
dax d'Vo p,ofndfT