The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-06-17
oHAPTER EleHT-contInued.

oAihS luSIedSeb lnB DuTuenS u lAlc
people. Every day your idleness lifts
the price Of their necessities. Idle
ness is just another form Of destruc-
ton. Why could you not have
listened to the counsel of Reason in
June instead of in September and
thus have saved these long months
of hardship and bitter vlolence3 1t
was because the spirit Of Tyranny
had entered your heart and put your
judgment In chains, Il had blinded
you to honor also, for you men were
working under contract. If the union
is to command the support Of honest
men, It must be honest. 1t was
Tyranny that turned the treaty with
Belgium into a scrap of paper. That
kind Of thing will not do here. Let
me assure you that Tyranny has no
right to be In this land of ours. You
remind me of the Prodigal Son who
had to know the taste of husks and
the companionship of swine before ne
came to himself. Do you not know
that Tyranny is swine and the fodder
OF swine2 1t is simply human hog
glshness.
Il have one thing moro to say and
/ am finished. Mr.. Bing some time
ago you threw up your religion with
out realizing the effect that such an
act would be likely to produce on this
community. You are, no doubt, aware
that many followed your example.
I've got no preaching to do. I'm just
going to quote you a few words from
an authority no less responsible than
George Washington himself. Our his
tory has made one fact very clear,
namely, that he was a wise and far
seeing man."
Judge Croker took from a shelf,
John Marshall's Life of Washing
ton" and read:
" 1T Is substantially true that virtue
or morality Is a necessary spring of
popular government and let us, with
caution, indulge the supposltion that
morality can be maintained without
religion.
Let 1t simply be asked where is
the security for property, for reputa-
ton, for life, If a sense Of religious
obligation desert the oaths which are
the instruments Of Investigation In
courts Of IustieeT
Let me add, on my own account,
that the treatment you received from
your men will vary according to their
respect for morality and religion.
"They could manage very well with
an irreHgious master, for you are only
one, But an irrellgious mob is a diff
ferent and highly serious matter, be-
lieve me. Away back in the seven
teenth century, John Dryden wrote
a wise sentence. 1t was this:
al have heard, indeed, Of some very
Vlrtuous persons who have ended un-
fortunately but never Of a vlrtuous
nation; Providence Is engaged too
deeply when the cause becomes gen.
eral.
IF virtue is the price of ma
tion's life, let us try to keep our own
nation Virtuous.'
Mr.. Bling and his men left the
judges Office in a thoughtful mood.
The next day, Judge Crooker met the
mill owner on the street.
"Judge, accept your verdict" said
the latter. 81 fear that l. have been
rather careless. It didn't occur to
me that my example would be taken
so seriously. ! have been a prodigal
and have resolved to return to my
fathers house."
"Ho, servants !" said the Judge, with
a smile. "Bring forth the best robe
and put It on him and put a ring on
his finger and shoes on his feet and
bring hithcr the fatted calf and kill
ii and let us eat and be merry"
ave shall have to postpone the
celebration" said Mr.. Bling. II have
to go TO New York tonight and |
sail for England tomorrow. But l
shall return before Christmas"
A little farther on Mr.. Bling met
Hiram Blenkinsop. The latter had
plank on his shoulder.
I'D like to have a word with YOU"
said the mill owner as he took hold
of the plank and helped Hiram to ease
It down. II hear many good things
about you, Mr.. BlehlIinsop. fear
that we have all misjudged you, If /
have ever said or done anything to
hurt your feelings, ! am sorry for t."
Hiram Blenklnsop looked with as
tonlshment into the eyes Of the mill
lionaire.
I'll guess / amt got you placed
right-not eggzae'ly," said he. "Some
folks aln't as good as they look an
some amt as bad as they look. !
wouldn't wonder If we was mostly
purity much alike, come to shake us
down."
LET'S he friends, anyhow" said Mr..