The Parker post., 1914-09-12
MUSICS GREAT CHARM
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB,
. . Q Q 0 0 . . . . . o . o .

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"
growle0 well-meaning but surly Jeff
DOdson, the foreman. Is there a bet
ter system in any shop along the riv-
er? 'Swear!' would suit eme better
when machine breaks down"
Maybe his. advice would be good
for you, them" suggested his assistant.
1T doesn't do the youp ssters much
good to hear you rip it off when you're
riled, Jeff"
Before another day, however, all
hands in the plant understood the situ-
alton clearly The new proprietor ar
rived-a rather serious-faced young
man, but with a kindly light in his
eyes and a 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 a 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 a 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.
tion evinced at the mention of this lib
eral donation. Then Mr.. Phail said:
Il have put up a sign reading, Sing
/ want to explain about that. For ten
years my life has been spent on a lone
B
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 it's home just above my cabin door.
1t sang from morning until night It
filled the air with rare, beautiful mu.
sic, and my soul with delight. When
it flew away to SUMMER climes with the
! approach of winter l missed it great
/ ly. Then a 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, es-
pecially in the work rooms where the
assembling of the plant was done at
! long tables, the hours could be emily
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
| He advertised in a near city neWspa-
| per for a 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 Mabel
Durant pleased him. A week later the
/ young lady in question arrived upon
| the scene with her aged mother. Rod
ney had neatly furnished cottage
near the works all ready for them. For
| the first time in his life a woman's
face attracted him in new way With
in a week he was ardent in his apprO-
! baton Of the system pursued by the
quiet, refined young lady, who entered
with zest into taking charge of the girl
! 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 met
|
around the hearts of the girls. Then
one day his whole being thrilled as he
! paused in his work to listen to touch
| ing ballad she was singing in the work
room. 1t was in the rear work room on
| the fourth floor of the plant, but every
note was borne to his Wistful hearing
! strong and clear.
Suddenly a Earring crash shut out
| the mellow harmony that so charmed
! him. He turned to view a great up
| heaval of an isolated stone building
! where explosive varnishes were stored
| There was blast Of flame. The main
| building had caught In an instant
! dense clouds of smoke rolled upwards
"Fire!"
lis direful shout, echoed and re-
peated, rent the air. There was
! rush from the building. A chill strucl,
! the heart of the anxious Rodney as he