The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-09
MUSIC'S GREAT CHARM
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.

BY GEORGE ELMER COBB. 3
esssssssssssssssssssssssss
When Rodney Phail inherited the lit.
tie Westbrook factory that had been
the quiet, unassuming property of his
deceased uncle for two decades, he
posted up his one order in all Of the
four working rooms of the plant.
1t was: Sing"
What does he mean, anyhow"
growled we1l-meaning but surly JEFF
Dodson, the foreman. rs there bet
ter system IN any shop along the riv.
err? 'Swear!' would suit me better
when a machine breaks down."
Maybe his advice would be good
for you. them" suggested his assistant.
1T doesn't do the youp 3sters much
good to hear you rip it off when you're
riled, Jeff."
Before another day, however, all
hands in the plant understood the stu
alton clearly. The new proprietor ar.
rived-a rather serious-faced young
man, but with a kindly light in his
eyes and gentle, sympathetic voice
that attracted the eighty odd employees.
The first thing Rodney Phail did was
to call all hands into the main rest
room and make them speech.
He told them that he felt something
more than mere enrichment in being
the favored owner of the business-a
sense Of great responsibility. The
same conservative business methods
would be followed. Old and deserving
employees would be retained. His
great wish, however, was to make OF
them a hapy family. He intended to
build club house for them, where mu-
sic, lectures and entertainments could
be held to break the monotony Of their
lives. There would be a good library
| and q gymnasium. These faithful
workmen had borne bravely the brunt
of the industrial battle. They should
share in the prosperity Of the business.
Each year twenty-five per cent Of the
profits of the concern should be dis
tributed equally among the employees.
OF course there was rare apprecia-
ton evinced at the mention Of this lib
eral donation. Then Mr.. Phail said:
Il have put up q sign reading, Sing
I want to explain about that. For ten
years my life has been spent on q lone
ly ranch. taking care as custodian Of
piece Of property in litigation belong.
ing to my uncle. The solitude. the eve
ming WEAKNESS after an uneventful
day, the uneventful existence fast
made Of me an unsociable hermit.
There was no sweetness In my life.
Then, one day, wonderful bird took
up Its home just above my cabin door.
It sang from morning until night. It
filled the air with rare, beautiful mu.
sic, and my sou! with delight. When
1t few away to SUMMER climes with the
approach Of winter l missed 1t great
ly. Then new idea came to me:
would sing myself. My friends. you
do not know how his companionship
of music cheered and refined me-"
This was the text. and further upon
the subject the new boss" briefly
descanted. He showed them how. e.
pecially in the work rooms where the
assembling OF the plant was done al
long tables, the hours could be enliv'
ened by music, the vocal organs exer
cised and rhythm, poetry and good
cheer engendered.
There was SO much promise to the
plan, the girls especially so eagerly re
sponded to the music suggestion, that
Rodney decided to go step further
He advertised In q near city newspa
per for q cultured lady to undertake an
orderly educational superintendency Of
group Of sixty young factory girls.
One especially neat. terse and com
prehensive reply from Miss Mabe
Durant pleased him. A week later the
young lady in question arrived upon
the scene with her aged mother. Rod
ney had a neatly furnished cottage
near the works all ready for them. Fol
the first time in his life woman't
face attracted him in new way. With
In q week he was ardent in his appro
baton of the system pursued by thu
quiet, refined young lady. who entered
with zest into taking charge Of the CIR
workers.
Rodney left all the details Of man
agement and training to Miss Durant
He heard great reports OF her sue
cess, he did not wonder when he me-
her daily that she had wound herself
: around the hearts Of the girls. Ther
one day his whole being thrilled as hi
paused in his work to listen to touch
ing ballad she was singing In the worl
room. It was in the rear work room OF
the fourth floor Of the plant. but ever!
note was borne to his wistful hearing
strong and clear.
Suddenly Earring crash shut on
the mellow harmony that so charmed
him. He turned to view great up
heaval of an isolated stone building
where explosive varnishes were stored
There was a blast Of flame. The mali
building had caught. In an instan
dense clouds Of smoke rolled upwards