Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-13

develop a talent FOR work rather than
genteel employment
What would the neighbors say"
was the cornerstone OF Fulson family
life Indeed 1t was the cornerstone Of
/ family life for all OF their three
trains a-day city.
Sister had esta blished the social po-
sition OF the Fulsons by becoming
stenographer for the towns rather
/ permanent mayor. There were only
three careers for women in her envir-
| onment- matrimony sten0grapny and
| school-teach!ng. Father was a law
yer with more professional dignity
than income. Mother was the cred
table daughter of a minister.
! Daniel succeeded IN living up 20
them about as successfully as a duck
/ ling lives up 10 the traditions OF the
maternal hen. The hens tragedy lies
| IN her conviction that all nest!ings
should develop according 70 the eX-
perlences Of her own chickhOOd. The
| tie duck has two tragedies. He has
/ the instinct 20 obey a mother who IS
prejudlced In favor OF dry land. But
| he has also an inborn knowledge that
her warnings about the deadliness OF
the part Of the world known as water
are all blind nonsense.
Dan tried yainly 70 fit his stride
into his fathers pr!m and careful
| footsteps. He wore the things his
n other advised him 70 wear and saiG
! the things TO the towns bellies that
sister told him they would expect him
u say. But while he could shrink his
tulk into = drawing room he could not
pin his mind down TO the top OF q
mahogany-top desk FOR any length Of
time.
lie lost five Jobs In his home town
before the family consented TO let him
try his luck IN a big city.
Then, when he came for week-ends.
he suddenly bloomed out into happi-
ness HIS sister became suspicious.
When Dan is so pleased with him
self he is surely doing something that
We would not like TO have him do"
Was her theory.
I'm working for a large wholesale
house said Dan.
He was
He was driving a truck
During the first three months Of
his emancipation he had two big
| horses. lie loved TO care for them.
| lie loved TO feel his body stretch and
glow as he helped to load boxes He
| liked the unminced jocularity Of the
| fellows who helped him load and un-
load. lie loved the lazy lordliness -
his perch on the drivers seat and
loved TO sway gracefully while
drove like charioteer standing on
his feet. Sometimes he sang out warn
/ ings TO slow pedestrians and his voice
had the ring of sheer joyousness that
few people can carry with them much
| beyond kindergarten years.
Dan forgot all about his manners,
but ne grew. He never had to think
about his nails until he saw some girl
with hands like his sisters hands.
That always reminded him to get a
manicure and an extra shave before
he visited his home.
When motor trucks We're installed
J. the wholesale house Dan fretted
| because ne had to relinqu!sh his
horses Driving n motor had less
thrill than guiding team thru tor
rents OF the city. For a long time his
new work made him nervous. The
truck never had enough to adapt it
self to the vargaries of city crowds
or to pick up It's wheels so that IL
| could avoid hurrying or frightening Il
child But gradually his imagination
endowed his engine with personality.
He found himself taking a doctoring
| interest In its interior. The whole
sale house management noticed this.
They began TO let him consult with
drivers of more bothersOme trucks.
And at the end Of two years, because
OF his knowledge Of deliveries the un-
parlored boy from the little town WAS
put in charge OF the entire delivery
and collection system OF the plant.
When he thot his salary was big
| enough 10 be impressive the eX-truck
driver went home to own up.
The family let him know that he
| must never mention Il again as long
as he lives; neighbors would think
| him queer.
The boy is making five times as
much as father. He never goes out
on a truck now; he is busy command
ing whole battalions Of them. But the
family never encourage the neighbors
to talk about Dams life in the city.
They never have given up hoping he
Will sometime seek more genteel oc-
cupation, something where he won't
wear Il flannel shirt to work.