Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-06-24
A Letter from St. Louis.

last year were not such that one could
live and meet necessary expenses, at
present condition of things. But not
knowing definitely what success should
have in finding employment which would
pay me living wages, nor how long l
could hold down my job after getting
one, took the necessary precaution to
look around before leaving home and
sign up contract for school for tn e
ensuing year, for term of nine months,
beginning in September, at $Ioo per
month. | was successful in finding en-
ployment the next day after arrived in
the city, with the Rock Island Railroad
Company, where | worked two year S
ago. They started me at S95 month,
but am now getting $9S.So, and if l
work one Sunday out of four the salary
would be SIo6.5o. Every employe is ex-
pected to work at least one Sunday out
OF each month, but there is no coercion
along that line. That is strictly business,
too.
But am sure do not know how long
I'll stay here, for really never was much
stuck on the city, particularly during the
summer time. | often think Of the clas-
sic shades of Arcadia Valley, where we
can breathe pure air aud drink the cold
crystal waters that flow SO freely from
the surrounding hills and mountains
two of the greatest gifts that God, in His
infinite wisdom, ever gave to man.
Before leaving home, however, spent
few, minutes very pleasantly visiting
Prof w. A. Brookshire. He and his
very estimabie wife are both graduates
of the same College (the Drury | be-
lieve) and are very plain people, not
at all stuck up, as great many educated
people pride themselves in being. Such
people as they will be quite an acquisi-
ton TO any town or community, and we
hope they may make their home in Iron
ten
The Mississippi River all the way from
Riverside to Broadway furnish food
for thought. 1t is said to be navigable
for more than 5000 miles, not including
its various tributaries. thought OF old
De Soto and his murderous band of 600
followers, whose eyes long ago looked at
this river, and how they wandered
through the forests of the southern states,
seeking riches which they failed to find,
and how De Soto's career SO suddenly
ended with his death, and was finally
buried in the turbulent waters, of the
river he discovered, in I54l, if my
memory serves me right. Then, again,
I thought OF Evangeline, whose eyes SO
often looked on the waters of this mighty
river and some of its tributaries, as she
sought for her long-lost lover, Gabriel.
Then l thought of the import Of the river,
as its waters flow onward to the great
ocean. In fact, it appeared to me to
represent miniature picture OF the life
of man, as he goes on his journey
through life, finally passing into the
great ocean OF Eternity, from which no
man returneth.
St. Louis is certainly a great manufac-
turing center. The Rock Island Freight
House ships out daily from So to I27 car
loads OF freight, consisting of nearly
every conceivable kind of manufactured
articles, and this station is only one Of
the great number of shipping stations.
I should judge, from what | see and
know, that there are at least $500 car
loads of manufactured articles shipped
daily from St. Louis to all parts of the
country. 1t is not at all strange that a
few days R. r. strike so seriously
handicaps business men in their CON-
mercial transactions.
We notice in the paper that High
School teachers, who for several months
had been unionized through the national
affiliation of their association with the
American Federation of Labor, yester.
day voted to dissolve their connection
with labor, in accordance with rule
adopted by the Board Of Education last
Tuesday, forbidding teachers from be-
coming members of labor organization
and threatening those who held such
membership with immediate dismissal.
Now, while it is fact that teachers
wages have been raised from twenty tc
twenty-five per cent in most localities, il
is nevertheless true that they must abide
by the dictum Of school board But the
poor devil teacher stands as an exponent
Of The highest type Of American democ
racy. Truly We are living in land O
liberty
Well, Brother AXE, have written thi:
letter somewhat hurriedly, and doub
whether it is worthy Of space in the
REGISTER. But several Of my friend.
at home asked me to LEI them hear from
me through the columns ofyour valuable
paper, and as write today Sunday tht
church bellsare calling for worshipers