Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-15
Efficient Foundation Stones
By CARL E. ROSENBERG,
Chairman International Association of Rotary Clubs
Committee ON Education.

+ Once upon time there was Merchants Mer-
ESon, however of the unusual kind. One day the
Son went to his father, and said:
dad, Pm getting tired of this town, and Pm about
Bdisgusted with this business I've been working for you
for time, in fact, since left high school, and
Five to the conclusion that this little old town and
for me, and much too slow, so Pm going to move.
I "Oh, I've thought about this for long time, and
kpretty carefully too and I've decided to leave town. No,
don't know just where I'm going when I'm coming
back, but some day, Dad hope to come back.
/ I'm the meantime, Dad want you to promise me
something-you' promise me-, won't your, I'm going
to be very busyrying to make good-and if it's just
the same to you I'm not going to write to you unless
need you very much And don't you write to me either,
you need me in the Business You understand, don't
1t is needless to go into details. The Son left the
Father in very much surprised and thoughtful state of
mind.
It didn't take long for 10 years to go by, and in the
meantime the Son had gone to the Big City, engaged in
Fall kinds of work, from swamper wagon to high
Eexecutive position, and finally became active member
kof Civic Organizations and Club Work in general.
After he felt that he had accomplished something
Real and Worth While, he decided to go Home and show
Dad the he had for HIMSELF and the first
thing you know he was on Train speeding West, and
n arrived at his Former Home.
The train hadn't stopped before he was off the plat
form, and on dead run to his Fathers store But in
kplace Of running into the DID, musy, unkemptappearng
sort of building 'front.' he amazed to find in its place
sx:story, white,tile modern Class-A building When
he tried to open the door, he surprised to find boy
He was dazed. He couldn't understand It all.
a After Att fond 1v embrace congraulatons and lot Of
ther said, We, let's not talk any about this;
won't tell you thing about it, but let's go Home I'll
have car brought around and tonight after dinner
you and going to talk things over And they did.
The Father said:
+ "You know, my boy, that awful kick in the
shins you gave about 10 years ago. when you said
that you were tired Of my old ramshackle, moheaten,
khole In in n-the-wal that called Business:
II worked hard to build up my business, but you got
H. MI fO in on1T how'd opd %b;pL
tyes know, did some real Constructive Thinking.
kgot to chasing myself around mentally trying to find
"Do you know what it was had to find out first
kof all, Boy? had to learn that engaged in
worthy vocation. In other words had to know that my
kbusiness was Community Benefit also began to ap-
precate that this community looked upon to supply
with the goods that the World had to offer for the
Everyday Needs of the People.
kcame to the conclusion that if Mine Worthy Voca
ton really ought to love my work After found that
and did appreciate that my business was an Opportunity
Ito serve Society," and to be Benefit to the Community.
7 never really noticed that was a 'Celuloid-
Collar Dub that my clothes bit mussed up; in
noticed little bit Of egg the lapel of my coat
felt that wasn't taking quite as good care of myself
haye done any HARM noticed that my shoes weren't
'Another thing found in my Inventory of self-Im-
kprovement-you know, what great fellow I was for
takng politics and finding fault with anybody and every
kbody who tried to do anyhing-well, lacked myself
udy ana IOunu LnaC wasn't voting as often
kshould. Fine American citizen was, wasn't I?
Remember how used to find fault with things
around town because they weren't progressive and we
were not doing things? Well, really did bring
Ethe Message Home to Myself, until one day woke up
and found out that wasn't member of the Chamber
kof Commerce. But am now, you bet!
my boy after got to sprucing up, and looking
really like somebody sudden desire to in the
way of ambition There to me the ambition to sue
ceed. No. not only for the proft-in fact the matter
of profit didn't enter into the feeling at all felt the
responsibility that Ny Business was Community Repre-
sentative, therefore it my duty to make it
kful.'