Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-03

You'll let me take you to your hotel
In my Carriage, dear7" I asked
Minerva finally consented to ride to her
inartyrdom in vehicle bought with Blue
bottle dividends. and we left her over
whelmed parents and went out into the
street
AS we drove through unfamiliar streets
IN search of Mincrvas new home, ]
sought gently to get her to come to my
mouse for the night. But alas. my house,
my bed, my breakfast. all we're outlawed
by those dividends, II seemed, and could
not prevail upon my niece.
She rented a room on the top floor for
week. paying n sleek clerk in advance,
and we ascended to Il in an elevator no
larger than the closet where I keep
Erandfa;hers Civil War uniform. II the
elevator was small, the room my niece
proposed to dwell in was inhnitesimal. 1t
held cheap iron cot, cheaper chiffonier,
stand and chair.
Minerva said |, sitting upon the cot
II was as hard as Plymouth Rock-"you
must remember that we of the older gem
GRAFTON do not quite understand the vaga.
ries of the new. | think all this is most
uhklnd and unErateful to your father and
mother, Have you considered that?"
She turned round. and could see that
her chin trembled
u have" she said, "and I'm so sorry.
Butt won't have my father pointed out
as an opprcssor of the poor. 1 want
him to change before 1t is too late. This
hurts me as much as II does him. But
II S for his good" She smiled faIntly
! made no further effort. She told me
she hoped to get work as secretary,
nut that anything honest" would do for
the present. She unpacked her bag and
placed book on the table. IT was en-
titled practical Socialism" or some such
thing. When l saw it little shudder
went down my spine. and | kissed my
poor. mad niece good night
1t was on the following Monday that
| went to call on Arthur Sabotky. Min
erva had visited me daily with detailed
accounts of her ludicrous search for
work. and most OF her talk was of the
young agltator who had inspired her to
take this advanced" step. I realized
that an interview with him was imper-
ativc. Without arOuSing her suspicious
l secured from her his address and in
vited him to tea.
lie replied rudcly that he did not drink
tea. and that II | wished to see him !
must come to the printing shop where he
worked. 1t was n wrench. but went.
| found him amid his shabby surround
ings, dark, foreign, fiery. With eyes like
his | am not sure but that the Back
Bay might have taken him up-had he
been n musician or poet Instead of a
Socialist.
Sir" l said, when I had introduced
myself. II do not know whether or not
YOU realize the influence for evil you
are eXertinE over my niece. Minerva
Bluebottle Upon your advice she has
left her home and caused her family
much unhappIncss. I have come"
"tnhappiress?" he answered. his eyes
glowing. "What should the Bucbottlcs
know of unhappiness? Unhappiness is
for the men and women they force to
live like animals. stealing most of the
profits of the work of their hands. deal
ing them Il pittancc like charity"
II did not come here to debate your
doctrines" said l sharply. "t came to
ask what price you set for removing your
influence from my poor niece"
"a bribe?" he iared.
You state it crudely." l replied But
I do not believe that men such as you
are averse to personal profits"
"Really?' he snecred. you have
known few men such as /, take it. My
price to stop influencing your niece is
the same as hers, a 10 per cent. increase
in wages and"
That" said l, "is out OF the question "
Then you will excuse me, 1 have my
work."
looked him steadily in the eye.
what" asked, do you get Qua Of
all ths-only glory? A bright young
man like you might, by application, rise
high in the world, You waste your time
dreaming impractical Dreams"
impractical, are they" he said, clos
ing his eyes. mo, ! do not think so.
But even If they were-lt is too late
now. | have seen too many dark tene-
mcnts have come into close contact
with too many pitiful struggles for ex-
istence---" He stopped. "By the way"
he inquired, have you seen these
thlngs?"
"Of course not" I replied
"Of course not" He repeated the words
with bitter laugh. You live in luxury
and the unhappy crowd that pays the
bills does not concern you" He stepped
to a closet and took out a coat and
hat. Miss BuebOttle." he said, you
and | are going this minute to SaXton."
Such effrontery! Such sublime pre-
sumption!
NO" / said. ] am not going to Sax
tor today Or"
"You are going now" he replied "or
you stand accused of being too cow
ardly to face the facts of how your
money is made
CONTINUED TOMORROW