Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-29

0NCE there was a man named Keen. who
~ owned g. shipyard. His plant covered an
acreage as great as a small town. and his
employees we're in numbers as much as four
times the Inhabitants thereof. An aviator.
whose business 1t was to fly at regular In
tervals over the place, said they resemoled
on paynight countless ants. all moving
toward the central storehouse or treasure
This saying gained currency among the
workmen who. because the plant rested
partly upon a slight eminence, nicknaNed
their place of employment "The Ant HiI
Every person always was moving; every
person always was busy, or seemed 10 De
Keels were laid. bodies ttmbered. decks
fastened, caulkings made and launchings ac-
cmplished-everything with apparent CLOCK
lik, regularity. with one exception
There was lost motion somewhere. NOT
enough for a while to make any apprec!ab!e
difference but sufficient to irr1tate the owner
of the shipyard and his executive staff. IT
constituted the one rift in their lutte OF ef-
fciency.
N that 100 messenger boys were employed
To transmit orders from one department to
another. AS matter OF exped!ence. each
boy was equipped with bicycle. AS gen
eral thing the boys cared for their work.
II enabled them to get to all parts Of the
his plant and see how ships we're being
built But, boylike, they often halted for
nonessentials.
An important letter that demanded lTnne-
d,ate attention lay one morning on the ship
builders desk. He read it. then pressed
hutton When a boy did not Immediately
answer he rang again. Two minutes later
freckle-faced youth entered The ch!ef
looked at him.
bov Rrinned and made evasive answers to
this and several other questions concerning
his slow arrival.
The chief, not wishing to further delay
V.kt % he n00V
"rake that to Building ~ and give 1t to
Mr.. Fox" he said. "A large order depends
on its prompt delivery" he added, as freckle-
face opened the door to go out. Again tie
youth grinned.
"oh. all right" he said. carelessly and
"Pretty fresh kid. that" nuttered Keen,
turning to his desk.
c1oMETIING prompted the man to look
- ont OF a window and observe the prog
ress Of his messenger. What he saw was
NOT to his satisfaction. for the boy made no
attempt at speed and even stopped Tor
few moments to talk with severa! other
messengers, each OF Wnom carried pack
AGAIN the chief pressed a button. "Tell
Mr., Hayden want to see him." he said to
the boy who answered hts summons. Mr..
Hayden was the person who directed the
Having any trouble with the messen-
rers?" Keen asked, after Hayden had seated
himself. His subordinate looked at him
oddly.
intended coming In today for q talk with
YOU about that very thing. am having
trouble, or rather something that eventually
viii mean trouble. and do not know quite
how to deal with IT," He paused.
"Well?' queried the chief Z,
."Thsse boys seem to have no sense Of re-
sponsibility. They're not bad or vicious. you
understand, but they do not seem to feel tire
Importance of the Job. First thing you
know we're going to lose a big contract be-
cause these youngsters do not realize the
need for speed and concentration. They do
not know the value Of service. They mean
well. but lack trustworthiness. believe they
represent the lost motion that has been
"Im afraid We already have lost the con-
tract" said the shipbuilder. recalling what
he had seen from the window. However.
see me about this In the morning I'm Of
for New York at noon"
AN THE way to the metropolis. the owner
- OF s'fhs Ant Hill' read . nswspapsy.
Hts sttsntion vas attracted by .. story on
the Ayst paSe about campaign Ter funds
ths Dey eoeQta thet veek ,vsse brtHgipe