The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-08-17
CHAPTER xxiv.-continued.

Perturbed and distressed, Bibbs rose
instinctively; he felt himself at every
possible disadvantage. He was a
sleeper clinging to a dream-a rough
hand stretched to shake him and wax
en- him. He went to a table and made
vague drawings upon 1t with a finger.
and MS he spoke he kept his eyes low
cred. "You weren't altogether right
about the shop-that Is. In one way
you weren't, father" He glanced up
apprehensively. Sheridan stood facing
him. exp~ressionless, and made no at
tempt to interrupt. That's difficult to
explain" Bibbs continued. lowering
nis yes again, to follow the tracings
Of his finger. IL believe the shop
might have done for me this time IL
| hadn't-if something hadn't helped
me to-oh, not only to bear 1t, but to
be happy in 1t. Well, I am happy in
1t. I want to 60 on just as l Inn. And
Of all things on earth that l don't want,
l don't want to live a business life
/ don't want to be drawn into II. l
don't think 1t Is living-and now l am
living. l have the heaithful teil-and
/ can think. In business as important
as yours I couldn't think anything but
business. I DON'T don't think max
ing money Is worth while"
"Go on" said Sheridan, CURLY. as
Bibbs paused timidly.
at hasn't seemed to get anywhere,
that I a see." said Bibbs. "You think
this city Is rich and p~owerful-but
what's the S OF It's being rich and
powerful? They don't teach the chill
dren any more In the schools because
the city is rich and powerful. They
teach them more than they used to be-
cause some people-not rich and pow
erful people - have thought the
thoughts to teach the children. And
yet when you've been reading the pa
per I've heard you objecting to the
children being taught anything except
what would help them to make money.
You said 1t was wasting the taxes.
You want them taught TO make q Nv
ing, but not to live. When was a
little boy this wasn't an ugly town;
now It's hideous. What's the use Of
being big just to be hideous? I mean
] don't think all this has meant really
going ahead--it's just been getting
bigger and dirtier and nolsier. Wasn't
the whole country happier and in many
ways wiser when 1t was smaller and
cleaner and quieter and kinder? I
know you think I'm an utter fool, ia
ther. but, after all. though. aren't bust
ness and politics just the housekeeping
part OF life? And wouldn't you despise
. woman that not only made her
housekeeping her ambition, but did 1t
90 noisily and dirtily that the whole
neighborhood was In a continual tur-
mol over 1t? And suppose she talked
and thought about her housekeeping
all the time, and was always having
additions built to her house when she
couldn't keep clean what she already
had: and suppose. with 1t all, she made
the house altogether u~npeaceful and
unllvable1"
lust one minuter' Sheridan inter-
rupted, adding, with terrible courtesy.
III you viii permit me? Have you
ever been right about anythingy'
Il don't quite"
II ask the simple question: Have
you ever been right about anything
whatever In the course Of your life?
Have you ever been right upon any
subject o r question you've thought
about or talked about? Can you men
w 49, 49, --- $3.50