Evening star., 1914-10-04
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Continued from page 4

IO"HHHeo JfoW PuSe =
have been spread upon the blotter of some
police court as disorderly person; but in
our great West-well, things seem somehow
very different out there. There are not so
many skyscrapers in that part of the coun-
try, and the horizon of humanity may there
fore be little broader; and perhaps too the
st1ugglers out there are closer to the period
of their own trials and tribulations than we
are here in the East, and become in conse-
quence more instantly sympathetic when
they see the signal of distress.
THE second incident occurred nearer
home. 1t was in Ohio, at the time of
the floods that wrought such havoc in Day.
ton and thereabouts in the spring of 1918.
l had lectured the night before at Ironton,
and on my way to Cleveland was to all in
tents and purposes marooned at Columbus.
Much doubt existed as to whether traffic
out of Columbus was at all possible, so COM
pletely demoralized were all the railroads
centering there. 1t is a osgdinal principle
with lyceum workers, however, to make
every effort possible to get through to their
engagements at whatever inconvenience or
cost. So in spite of the warnings of subordi-
nate officials took my chances and went out
on morning train which passengers took
at their own peril, through scenes of dread
full desolation, and over disquietingly sog-
gy roadbed, until the train reached an Ohio
city which | shall not identify by name here.
While have no hard feelings against it, or
against any of its citizens, cannot bring
myself to speak of it in terms of "endear-
ment,' as should much prefer to do
AT this point our train came to a stand
STILL and the announcement was made that
it would be impossible to get through to
C1eva1op6 hecot1ca oil tho hri5oac bo5 baa,,
washed away. Motoring over for the same
reason was out of the question, and the en-
gagement was lost. Immediately repaired to
the telegraph office and sent off several des-
patches the Cleveland people, announc-
ing my inability to get through; to my
agents, telling them of my plight; and to
my family, assuring them of my safety.
These kilograms broke my financial back; !;
for when l had paid for them found myself
with only forty cents left in my pocket,
marooned possibly for days in wettest Ohio,
hungry as bear, and not friend in sight
l did not worry much over the situation,
however; for on several other occasions
when found myself penniless in the West
and in the South l had not found any trouble
in getting someone to cash my check. So,
after assuring myself that my train would
be held there for at least two or three hours
before returning to Columbus, l set off
Enthusiastically to secure the replenishment
of my pocket. In the heavy rain l walked
up the main thoroughfare of the little city,
and to my great relief espied a national
bank on one of the four corners of its square.
walked boldly in and addressed the cashier,
telling him my story with few 4well chosen
words
a thought possibly said l, as he listened
without too great display of interest, "that
in view of all these circumstances you would
be willing to take chance on me, and cash
my check for twenty-five dollars"
why, my dear Sir, he replied, @this is
bank!"
restrained facetious impulse to tell him
that was surprised to hear it, having come
in under the impression that it was a butcher
shop, where could possibly buy an UNI
brella, or much needed eight-day clock.
u know contented myself with saying,
smiling the while. @That's why l came here
for money!
well, you've come to the wrong place.