The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-26
MUSIC'S GREAT CHARM
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.

when Rodney Phail inherited the lii
tie Westbrook factory that had beer
the quiet. unassuming property of hi.
deceased uncle for two decades. b.
posted up his one order in all of tn,
four working rooms Of the plant.
1t was: Sing"
what does he mean, ANYHOW p
growied well-meaning but surly JEFF
Dodson, the foreman. is there a bet
Ter system in any shop along the riv
er? 'Swear!' would suit me bette,
when a machine breaks down"
Maybe his advice would be good
Tor you. then" suggested his assistant
1t doesn't do the youD ,sters 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.
rlved-a rather serious-faced young
man, but with a kindly light in his
eyes and a gentle. sympathetic voice
mat 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.
lie 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 happy family. He intended to
build a 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 gymnasium. These faithful
workmen had borne 3ravely the brunt
OF the industrial battle. They should
share in the prosperity of the business.
Each year twenty-five per cent of the
prohts OF the concern should be dis
tributed equally among the employees.
or course there was rare apprecla.
ton evinced at the mention of this lib
eral donation. Then Mr.. Phail said:
i have put up sign reading, Sing
! want to explain about that. For ten
years my life has been spent on a 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
Jay, 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 II
filled the air with rare. beautiful mu.
sic, and my soul with delight. When
1t fiew away to SUMMER chimes with the |
approach OF winter missed 1t great.
ly. Then new idea came to me:
would sing myself. My friends, you
90 not know how his companionshir
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
Of the plant was done at
long tables, the hours could be enliy.
ened by music, the vocal organs exer.
cised and rhythm, poetry and good
cheer engendered.
Ihere was SO much promise to the
plan, the girls especially SO eagerly re.
'ponded to the music suggestion, that
Rodney decided to 60 q step further
he advertised In a near city newspa,
'er for cultured lady to undertake an
'rderly educational superintendent of
group of sixty young factory girls.
One especially neat, terse and com
'rehensive reply from a Miss Mabel
)urant pleased him. A week later the
Dung lady in question arrived upon
he scene with her aged mother. Rod.
ey had a neatly furnished cottage
ear the works all ready for them. For Y
he first time In his life a womans II
ace attracted him In a new way. With II
a week he was ardent In his appro-
alton OF the system pursued by the N
uiet. refined young lady, who entered III
18th zest into taking charge of the girl II
orkers. Il
Rodney left all the details of man. III
cement and training to Miss Durant. III
9 heard great reports Of her sue III
'ss, he did not wonder when he met III
or daily that she had wound herself Z
'ound the hearts Of the girls. Then
le day his Whole being thrilled as he =
FUSED In his work to listen to touch.
g ballad she was singing in the work e
ON. 1t was In the rear work room on nm
9 fourth floor Of the plant, but every VII
tie was borne to his wistful hearing MI
rong and clear. Hi
Suddenly Earring crash shut out Hi
g mellow harmony that 30 charmed Hi
m. He turned to view a great up- iii
avail of an isolated stone building All
lere explosive varnishes were stored. iii
lere was blast Of fame. The main Viii
ilding had caught. In an instant It'll
nse clouds Of smoke rolled upwards. I'LL
'Fire!" Hill
The direful shout, echoed and re- Il
ated, rent the air There was q lllll
'h from the building. A chill struck ll|ll
, heart of the anxious Rodney as he IIII|
'ught of the girls on the fourth floor. It'll
Those narrow stairs!" he gasped, HIN
then, thirty voices strong, there Hill
he to his ears the steady, rising HILL
es of a song accompanying the HILL
tsteps. as clearly timed as though I||ll
company OF trained soldiers was on |||l|
march Hill
nd so. in splendid order, the last II|
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