The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-09

ings. ugly factories, brazen straight up anddown buildings, with 100 windows, which glare at you like square-eyed montrosities. And that is true of architecture is true in almost every line of business and endeavor. Our children are not taught hcw kind and noble a life they may enjoy. They are taught to figure how much money they can get
 Had Gone Far
 Bob suddenly paused. trifle abashed at how far he had gone. He got to his feet.
 I'm sorry. Mir. Elberton. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time with something that may seem a whim to you-and to you" he ad- dressed the local man.
 But the spell of Boh's conviction was not lightly to be shaken off. Instead of rising, as the natural order of things would have suggested, the two men sat still. Bob turned and looked from the window. Strangely enough, it was the local man who spoke first.
 How many men do you figure we have in this town who actually hope to make anything but a fine com- mercial center of it?"
 I'm sorry, but I couldn't answer that question:" said Fob. However. many We have, the number is too few
 By George. that's what I think, too-that's what I've often told my wife, said the man, who up to the point of having been inducted into Boo's office, had really never had any more worthy ambition for Blr- iningham than to make his money ana then go to Paris, France, and spend the rest of life increasing the proceeds of leading hotels. His daily program now was to get from local cltizens every possible nickel. His IaVorlte expression was: I'm not Ill business for my health."
 Afternoon Session
 IL was nearing nightfall, finally. when the interview supposedly to be snort came to an end.
 The local man, who had never dreamed anything except money. stood really ashamed-much like a man caught in a criminal act For ms thoughts dragged before him. poyhood ideals which were so high ana fine. no one of which he had ever pursued in his life. He had trampled them everyone.
 All I've been is a machine-and God did give me better inspiration than have Followed" And across his mind kept Hitting the story in the Bible about the talents God had given.
 Of course Bob could know nothing of such self accusation.
 So interested had the men become that the lights had not been turned on, and MT Elberton, sitting in the shadow, spoke as he felt. weighing his words.
 I think I'd like to come to your town, Landon-though l could not come IS someone who would set the town by the ears. I could come as a citizen, willing to add a voice and shoulder toward a good and substan- -uaI program-and would be. willing 10 do 1t. There are many ways, pos sibly, the citizenship might use me-"
 The Direct Test
 But will you eome?" Bobs voice was low, but the pause was broken into by the other local man:
 certainly add by voice to that invitation" he urged heartily, and there was the tone of a brotherliness that in all his long, cold, hard busi- ness career no one had ever heard.
 Mir. Elberton arose.
 I'll promise you to consider the question. Sometimes men get 'calr CuN VA o CAtdE Shy JndL they QiQ not expect. l had often thought my use- fulness was at an end. 1 think 1t would be wonderful to live in a city that is growing up, and where the ideals of it's youthful days must naturally be continued into it's in- definite future. l want you to know that l thank you for asking me to come. IL Is an unusual experience"
 When the three had shaken hands and the two other men had vanished down the street, Bob sat for long time with his heels upon his desk and his hands clasped behind his 1 head. Finally he arose. picked up the drawing of the ghost house and i tackled it back upon the wall
 T could never sell you for pay" | he stated, that would be like sell l in my soul. You're sort of ideal | from somewhere. and unless you go | for something worth while, you don't | go at all.
 And he went home.
 (TO be Continued Next Week.