The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-29
On. NATIONS FIRST
INTERVIEW
(From The SPECTATOR

interview with the well known "Dr.
Walton official director Of the laun-
dry department at NJ. S. C. W., ! hope
that my readers viii allow me to con-
graduate myself upon my clever
method Of procedure. ''Dr. Walton
like many other celebrities Of our day
is averse to notoriety, and / fOresaw
that an interview with him was inn
possible. But to be a good reporter
one must surmount the impossible,
must originate the most unheard OF
schemes, and accomplish ones pur-
J pose in spite of all obstacles This !
proceeded to do.
Vi Armed with a serge blouse, pick
ed my way through the rows OF dirty
clothes to the east end of the laundry
where / discovered the victim OF my
clever scheming oiling an engine. Per-
haps, Thought, his scientific mind is
\ deep in some problem regarding the
\ mechanism of the engine or his
\ thoughts are soaring to the lofty
n realm Of the poets, and ! hesitated to
n bring him earthward. Finally | spoke,
n "Dr. Walton, may | wash my blouse
n over there?'
NJ For second he lifted his face.
\, noted the keen eyes, the square jaw
2 and the determined twist Of the gray
: moustache. A good natured mouth
: was all that saved the face from q
! look Of hostility. @Yes," he answered
shortly, ''that'll be all right"
turned toward the sink with {
feeling Of disappointment. tEvidentl.
| the doctor was not in a talkativ'
/, mood. / began to lose confidence il
: the cleverness Of my scheme. But
was not to be so soon defeated
walked over to the sink, sneezed loud
!. ly to attract his attention, and thel
d stood gazing helplessly at the faucets
"Dr. Walton was at my side in
n, moment. "Don't you know how t
Us work it" he asked. My mind regis
tered pictures of the numerous time
that had washed skirts at that YER
y. sink, but shook my head, and h
turned the faucets for me.
~ ~ "Thank you, Mr.. Walton, there
he something that ! would like to as
N, you. Can you really tell to whic
a. church people belong by just lookin
! at them? What am, II"
"Dr. Walton" tilted his head to on
y side and gazed at me, searchingly fc
=. a moment Evidently he was yer
IL. proud Of his skill. "Well,' he sal
of finally, Il should say that you are
~ Baptist"
x "But" !. gasped,. astonished, "Ho'
do you know?"
to You We just got the look he il
he formed me, as he prepared to 90 bac
ne to his engine. II saw you at churc'
ol Sunday" said hurriedly, He pause
"Do you still teach class?" He turl
ed and came toward me; |. had /hi
OF interested again.
'r- "No'm," he said, II thought la
- - year-little girls about nine, years oil
but couldn't get 'em to join Il
church, so | quit
ed "But," / protested, "do you belle,
that children should join so young
"Yes'm, just as soon as they kno
right from wrong. When they g
older they'll grow away from Go
'ur they'll git to love money too we
md The scripture says a rich man has !
ou- more chance to enter into the kingdo
no of God than camel to get throul
'us the eye of needle. ! used to THU
= that it would be mighty nice to
GER rich, but | just ask the Lord to gi
me enough to make me comfortable
r He paused for breath, and realizil
"a that he had been shaking his fling
II in my face, dropped his hand to /
Il side. / was very busy washing :
N blouse and appeared not to notice.
M Il suppose you enjoyed the re'
- val?p / said Don't you think tn
n they just get folks stirred up for t
4 time being?"
. DR.. Walton gazed at me a nome
Il in manner that seemed to doubt n
IL sanity and then replied emphaticall
IN "Yes maam, they do a great deal
good. Christ tells the story of t
II fisherman who cast his net and broug
Il in fish, and divided the good from t
~ bad. That is what revival does
n casts the net and brings in both t
& good and the bad" The great nj
~ tugged at his suspenders in mann
u that showed me that he fully apr
= ciated the aptitude of his illustrate
d so, although did not quite grasp
"a meaning, | urged the subject no fl