The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-03
ChaPAr IS
SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS

In that way q real transformation
began in Ruth's life, transformation
that affected everything-except the
old heart-hungry feeling that came
when she thought Of Tim.
The day of the phone message, Ruth
locked up the Office early and walked
over to the factory. She was glad for
once that the real estate man paid
so little attention to his affairs. so that
she might give herself this half hour
holiday without any pangs of con-
science about it.
She went, as directed, to Langley
Williams temporary Office. And pres
emily the factory owner himself arriv-
ed and for an hour the three talked
about an indoor playground for the
children. to take the place Of the open
air one in winter. a room to be used
after factory hours as a gymnasium
and meeting places for the factory
workers.
Ruth felt herself too ignorant to
give ideas about this sort of thing, but
Langley Williams told her briefly that
she knew a lot and to use her imag-
ination when her facts ran out, and
to plan the thing as she would want
it. So the girl gave all the ideas she
had read up in books and articles on
social work, and then began planning
the place as she herself would want
it to be.
Everyone here ought to have half
an hour of exercise in the middle of
the day." she said, trying not to be as
timid as she felt. you see, worked
here awhile and 1 know how my back
ached bending over all the time, and
those girls are bent forever over their
tables"
SO the talk went on. and in the end.
the factory owner decided to clear out
a large warehouse and install gymna.
stun apparatus for both the children
and the men and women in his
factory
Ruth went home and thought about
it. and when she next met the man in
Williams office. she had new conf.
dence and many ideas.
Il can't give them drills and such
things, for I'm not a teacher" she
said, when that position was offered
her. But you can get a competent
person from the High school. know
that their gym instructor can come
here for the half hour drill for the
workers during the day, and in the
evenings for those who want to join
regular classes. Basketball courts can
be put in too. without much cost"
And so it went. And in a few weeks
Ruth saw her vague idea blossom ms
into a reality-the children delighted
in the new warm place to play. There
was woman to oversee them and tc
teach them games and give them
simple exercises. The gym" teacher
as Ruth predicted, made an arrange
nent with the school to conduct day
time drills and evening classes. Benz
shoulders were Strengthened, aching
SHINES strengthened and the hollow
chests developed
Meantime the winter was we'll on its
way. And meantime. Ruth and Lang
ley Williams had taken several Ions
tramps on Sundays. and Ruth had de
lighted in his broad outlook upon life
"Of course. the factory people will
pay you for your work on the gym,
be said one day.
But I don't want pay" Ruth was
almost scandalized. II think it was
privilege to be able 10 do it, and ar
honor to be asked"
MY dear girl" Langley said with
slightly ironical infection, the wa,
y, to get along in this world is to d.
4 GOOD work and receive good money
p You've done great thing for tn,
workers in that factory. I'm there t,
put the place On an efficient basis. Tht
first thing did was to improve thei
lighting and their ventilation, so tn