River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-12-11

opening, as if to express her innocence
of some conspiracy, she exclaimed to
the others: Hes never said one word
to us about Lucy's planning to go
away"
Probably afraid to- the Major sug-
gested. Didn't know but he might
break down and cry if he tried to
speak of it," He clapped his grandson
on the shoulder, inquiring jocularly:
"That it, Georgie?'
George made no reply, but he was
red enough to justify the Majors de-
veloping a chuckle into laughter;
though Miss Fanny, observing her
nephew keenly, got an impression that
his fiery blush was in truth more fiery
than tender
After the arrival of coffee the Ma
jor was rallying Eugene upon some
rival automobile shops lately built in
a suburb, and already promising to
flourish.
Il suppose they'll either drive you
out Of the business" said the old gen.
tleman, 'S0r else the two Of you'll drive
all the rest of us off the Streets
IF we do we'll even things up by
making the streets five or ten times
as long as they are now" Eugene re
turned.
:HOw do you propose to do that ?"
1T isn't the distance from the CEN
ter of a town that counts" said Eu-
gene; tits the time it takes to get
there. This towns already spreading;
bicycles and trolleys have been doing
their share, but the automobile is
going to carry city streets clear out to
the county line.''
The Major was skeptical. Dream
on, fair son!" he said. Its lucky for
us that you're only dreaming; because
if people go to moving that far, real
estate values in the old residence part
of town are going to be stretched pref
ty thin"
I'm afraid So" Eugene assented.
Unless you keep things so bright and
clean that the old section will stay
more attractive than the new ones"
Not very likely! How are things
going to be kept bright and clean
with soft coal and our kind of city
governments
"They aren't" Eugene replied quick
~. There's no hope of it, and al
ready the boarding house is marching
up National avenue. My relatives, the
Sharons have sold their house and are
building in the country-at least, they
call it the country 1t will be city
in two or three years.
Good gracious!" the Major ex-
claimed, affecting dismay. $50 your
little shops are going to ruin all your
old friends, Eugene !"
Unless my old friends take warn
Ing in time, or abolish smoke and get
new kind of city government
'Well, Welt" the Major laughed.
You have enough faith in miracles.
granting that trolleys and biz
cycles and automobiles are miracles.
So you think they're to change the
face OF the land, do your"
They're already doing it, Major;
and it can't be stopped. Automo-
biles-"
AT this point he was interrupted.
George was the interrupter. He had
said nothing since entering the dining
room, but now he spoke in lond and
peremptory voice, using the tone Of
one in authority who checks idle pratt
tie and settles matter forever.
Automobiles are useless nuis-
ance," he said.
There fell moments silence.
Isabel gaZed incredulOusly at
George, color slowly frightening upon
her cheeks and temples, while Fanny
watched him with quick eagerness,
her eyes alert and bright. But Eugene
seemed merely quizzical, as If not TAX
ing this brusquerie to himself. The
Major was seriously disturbed.
What did you say, George?" he
asked, though George had spoken but
too distinctly.
Il said all automobiles were q
nuisance" George answered, repeating
not only the words but the tone in
which he had uttered them. And he
added: They'll never amount to any
thing but nuisance. They had no
business to be invented"
The Major frowned. "Of course you
forget that Mr.. Morgan makes them,
and also did his share in inventing
them. II you weren't so thoughtless
he might think you rather offensive"
That would be too bad" said
George cOolly. II don't think / could
survive it."
Again there was silence, while the
Major stared at his grandson, aghast.
But Eugene began to laugh cheerfully.
I'm not sure he's wrong about au-
! tomobiles," he said. with all their
speed forward they may be step
backward in civilization-that is, in
spiritual civilization. But automobiles
have come, and they bring a greater
change in our life than most of us
suspect. They are going to alter war,
and they are going to alter peace. I
think mems minds are going to be