The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-10
MusIc's GREAT CHARM
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

l ~.
Maybe his advice would be goo
for you. then" suggested his assistan
1T doesn't do the youp :sters muc
good to hear you rip it OF when your
riled. Jef."
Before another day, however. a
hands in the plant understood the sitr
alton clearly. The new proprietor al
rived-a rather serious.faced youn
man. but with kindly light in hi
eyes and gentle, sympathetic voic
that attracted the eighty odd employees
The first thing Rodney Phail did wa
70 call all hands into the main res
room and make them a speech.
He told them that he felt somethin,
more than mere enrichment in bein,
the favored owner of the business,
sense of great responsibility. Tn,
same conservative business method,
would be followed. Old and deservin,
employees would be retained. Hi,
great wish, however, was to make Of
them a happy family. He intended te
build a club house for them, where mu
sic, lectures and entertainments could
be held to break the monotony Of thei,
lives. There would be a good library
and 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 apprecla.
ton evinced at the mention of this lib.
eral donation. Then Mr.. Phail said:
i have put up sign reading. Sing.
I want to explain about that. For-ten
years my life has been spent on q lone.
ly ranch. taking care as custodian Of a
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 nnsociable 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
nlled the air with rare, beautiful mu.
sic. and my soul with delight. When
1t new away to SUMMER climes with the
approach of winter missed it great
ly. Then a new idea came to me:
would sing myself. My friends. you
DO 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
assembling Of the plant was done at
long tables, the hours could be enliv-
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
Rodney decided TO go q step further.
He advertised IL near city newspa-
per for a cultured lady to undertake an
orderly educational superintendent Of
. group Of sixty young factory girls.
One especially neat. terse and com
prehensive reply from a 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
lace attracted him in a new way. With I
IN week he was ardent in his appro-
patton of the system pursued by the
luiet, refined young lady, who entered
With zest into taking charge Of the girl
Rodney left all the details of man.
'gement and training to Miss Durant.
De heard great reports Of her sue
less, he did not wonder when he met
Ter daily that she had wound herself
Iround the hearts of the girls. Then
me day his whole being thrilled as he
'aused In his work to listen to touch
ng ballad she was singing in the work
DOM. 1t was In the rear work room on
he fourth floor Of the plant, but every
ote was borne to his wistful hearing
trong and clear
Suddenly Earring crash shut out
he mellow harmony that SO charmed
i'm. He turned to view q great up
eaval Of an isolated stone building
here explosive varnishes were stored.
here was blast of flame. The main
uilding had caught. In an instant
ense clouds Of smoke rolled upwards.
"Fire!"
The direful shout, echoed and re- J
Gated. rent the air. There was q
1sh from the building. A chill struck
,e heart Of the anxious Rodney as he
,ought of the girls on the fourth floor.
Those narrow stairs!" he gasped.
nd then, thirty voices strong. there
anne to his ears the steady, rising
otes Of a song accompanying the
'otsteps. as clearly timed as though
company Of trained soldiers was on
le march.
And so. in splendid order. the last
he Of the girls got safely out Of the
Hiding. The structure was destroyed.
It soon to be rebuilt.
But not until Rodney Phail had won 1
loving bride who had sung her gen
, way into his heart Of hearts.
[oopyraGht. INA hY We q ChapennnA I