The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-16

crisis, with slaves Of Bolshevtsn. and
red waves OF anarchy. and yellow
waves Of peril and disease. 1t IL re-
assuring to- note the fine fabric. the
integrity and the untarnished history
Of the railroad brotherhoods a. q
whole in their activities. 1t has been
observed that this class Of men Is a
rough set. II this Is so. doubt 1t
as doubt that other malignity about
preachers children being bad--if
they are rough, they are 30 only on
the surface. For when you know
them. AS one has said: After you
have become one Of them, you will
find boys who will stick to you to all
ENDS" The engineers and conductors
have each their brotherhoods and the
others theirs. but it is not a thing Of
ceremony and red tape. but only
loving arm thrown around bowed
shoulders, q Arm hand clasp, a piece OF
money or a pie-ticket shared with
some poor brokea. shivering wreck-a
fragrant bouquet. with a CHEEKY, The
boys send you this" casting a living
the black hell OF crutches and band
ages, and the smell Of chloroform.'
There has never been another lot OF
men in the world who have been
welded together like the boys of the
road shanties. For the dangers the way
holds to life and limb and loved ones,
for the uncertain shadows that lie
about them always, there is nothing
in the world that compares with their
sympathy.
Say not this is Of God. who maketh
OF one blood all men to dwell together
who giveth friend who sticketh closer
than a brother, who would inspire
faith, hope and love in all men, and
the greatest of these is love in the
breast of a big hardy fellow Of heavy
toll and nerve-racking tension.
Let US give this man q place IN
front ranks OF his country and among
his fellows. He works in God's eood
spiri. OF compunction to duty. OF hign
responsibility, Of readiness for the call
at whatever hour 1t comes.
For promptness, for going on re-
lentless schedule, we must yield them
the crown. What losses in time and
energy we suffer, or perpetrate in our
individual engagements. Down IN
Texas where meeting called for eight
always means it will begin at nine.
they have a saying that "Punctuah:J
is the thief of time" This has Al
WAYS been a bane with me. I really
suffer with the man who habitually
! lies TO his watch and filches the time
from the other fellows pocket
promptness is the diamond point OF
| honor. and accuracy Is the steel
barbed shaft with which one unerr-
| ingly hits center. These two are .
| team which can't be beaten. They
all conditions
+, When we add to these valor. which
| the knight OF the rail must have. or
! his nerves will unfit him soon: ana
we have a character combination
worthy OF emulation and commend
! able Of men and angels. Who will i'm
| rnorta1ize these sons OF the Red Rose
| A Haunting Memory.
| The soldier who rides to his death
| in a hopeless battle line, the sailor
fiattened on lofty yard-arm swing
night, the white-maned, hungry waves
/ coaxinr their prey; the quiet-eyed
scout riding alone through the perils
| of the Indian country: the fireman on
! his mission of mercy. high on the Icy
| ladder against the tottering wall-a'l
| through the magic OF pen and brush
| attain a place OF glory in the gallert 3
! of art--but the bright young lives tina.
| have been crushed out beneath the
the race of life and of livelihood. these
leave only haunting memory in the
hearts OF their comrades.
| IL the result has been to develop
| a class that is bit clannish. bit
distinct and remote in their ways and
manners of speech, we have others to
blame for II. The prejudice ie not
original with them. bit clannish
they may be. but all the while holding
in deep and abiding respect. all who
are sturdy and brave in their toll,
! smiling indifference to the ever
present perils which the determined
| must face and all who will be
thoughtful enough to see in the htg
dirty fellow on the deck. alongside.
or underneath, just a common hero OF
the every day with heart OF gold.
And what is Gods mercy to him
at the LAST
big blue denimed form Is brought
| into the room-face cut and Fashed
and blood covered. thick hair full OF
mud and cinders. and ever the hands
wander over the broad chest.
The lips begin to move. i tell you.
boys, l have fred my last trip for old
Buck hate TO leave the old man
hut he is getting my hide, his bar
1