Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-02

Elves one t1Ille ~ LIlnh,
he replied.
Then you enjoy it"
His answer is worth recording Ii
may cause some men to stop in their
feverish daily struggling long enough
to let down plummet into their souls
and take their bearings
'Well-it-it---''
There was an uneasy pause, a mo-
ment of doubt and hesitation. Would
he lay bare tho secret that was press
ing on his mind? Or would he pass
the question off with a brief. evasive
remark?
He decided to tell
ITS like this: Our rule was TO take
as much as we could get-all we
could get off within every case. If
we could get more than our share for
handling shipment we took it. 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 look out for number one meth
DDS ali right
But since | have had lots of
leisure to think things over, when
look back upon our policy, have been
wondering a well--well, I've been
wondering whether it was just-well
whether it was just right, you
know"
I 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,
hnu iyN thn lat f,f nF
his life raised disturbing question
| iugs.
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
case that l had often meant to tell
you about, TO: it always struck me as
a beacon Of warning to others who
| might be tempted to tread similar
path
In this case young man, humble
of origin, but consumed with ambi
ton. seized opportunities to work
himself in with set of saloon-rai
scheming, grating politicians and
franchise mongers. He had fair
dowry of brains, and a moderate
amount of education. At first he car
ried a fair cargo of conscience. but in
order to do the bidding of his elders
he 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
his ambition. elevated" him to the
bench.
Then he found time for mental
stock taking Here was he, a rank
CRATER. the creature of despicable
politicians. a 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,
morose ana religious" then tyrant
toward his own and other people.
None carried a higher head or OBJ
served the outward forms of religion
more rigidly.
But all the while the memory of his
early misdeeds gnawed at the very
vitals of his soul. And it is so gnaw-
ing at this moment.
Now, these two cases-real not i'm
aginary ones-carrv, 1t seems to me.
lesson that il might be worth while
bordering. When we are Young,
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 a moment TO ask
ourselves whittier we are going and
the whyfor of it all?
Then one cav the mad race ends.
Nature cries. Halt" We are called |
to give an accounting. We seek to
put it off. We would fain flee from |
ourselves. We rebel against letting |
memory dwell upon the record We
refuse to answer the inner question
ings: WHITTIER" "Whv?" 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 |
Army's preserves? Maybe
But ] nave lived long enough to
stand sneers and scorn 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. to stay
my pen if by using it ! MAJ happily |
lead even but a few men neck deep |
in the struggle for existence to stop |
and plumb heir 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 ALI else Is worse |
than dross.
it Is. believe me, sound business