Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-21
THE EVENING
STORY
The Speech That Conquered.

| orator The small towns voters
who we're collected there were restless,
| and seemingly disinterested in the
music question, but Jack Stone, young.
awkward man just inside the voting
age, knew what he wanted because ne
was very fond of Betty Trumpet, who
was the music teacher and he also
| loved music. -,
Article. %: To see if the town will
vote to authorize the superintendent
of the school to re-employ a music
| teacher and raise the sum OF $1,000
| for that purpose
| Nothing was said Miss Trumpet was
| a month or two under the voting age,
/ and had to sit silently in the gallery.
| If no one supported the article she
| would lose the position she had looked
! forward to and loved. The job be-
| longed to her if the music fund was
voted Cross lights from late AFTER
noon sun shone in through the SIX
windows. The entire room was a mo-
notony of grimy walls and smoky cell
| ing. Tick, tick, tick, said the OLD
clock in the hush. Ages seemed to be
passing for Betty.
The sleepy moderator shifted his
/ grip on his hammer, and the town
clerk twisted his mustache while ne
| Splattered ink with the stiff END or
his pen.
Inere Is U1OLlOI DSIOIC CAIC 4AVuoS'
the moderator cried
The town meeting presumably was
| a self-governing body; but as matter
of fact it was ruled by handful OF
men.
AT this meeting was one of these
"old Bosses" an old self-centered con-
tractor who was opposed to the article
on music This big-stomached, red
headed giant of contractor. Bill Wig
Uit1 thof the tONTn
spent. Outside of the meeting he had
argued that to put $1,000 into music
for the coming year was all foolish
ness as the town could use 1t in light
ing and Improvement funds. He de-
clared that the school needed some
construction work and that $1,000
year would put it in good shape. At
this critical point he pulled his massive
frame from his seat and pronounced
with much sourness, Il move. Mr..
Moderator, that this article be dis
missed"
Virgins was good for just about
that much thinking on his feet. He
would have been almost helpless If he
had had to add any more of his lazy
sentences to the first.
Betty gasped She sat unsupported
in the gallery. She half arose from her
seat and looked down upon the main
floor into the voting crowd where
young Stone sat. IF only had some
one to speak for mel" Despairingly she
sank down in her chair, as she saw nc
one who would or could make the nee
essary speech for her before the ar
ticle would be dismissed.
Suddenly Rufus Werton, sitting be-
side Jack, poked him in the ribs teas
ingly.
SDon't let Virgins get away with
| hic old et11H hoe hoot1 hOcciYl5
things too much" Rufus whispered
You're a pretty good talker in a
crowd"
Everybody stirred. Even Rufus was
surprised. Jack himself didn't know
how in the world he had got up there,
, towering over the crowd and Bill Wig
; | gins He tired himself with the effort
| to stand straight. But since he was
seemingly dragged to his feet by an I'M
, seen force he must and would say
! something. And he did
| When he started to speak his voice
didn't sound like him. 1t was strong
, and bold
Whats that?" some one cried.
!, Why, it already sounded to him as
. if he were speaking loud enough to
, wake the rocks. He now almost
! shouted. He was getting warm. He
wasn't sure of the progress he was max
kind because he was holding the crowd
| spellbound. Inspiration fell upon him
, and controlled him. He shouted as if
he had his and Miss Trun1pet's enemies
by the throat.
st want music in this town, and you
want music. Why don't you say so?
Are you afraid to say so? People, at
the suggestion of Mr.. WigginS-oh, Mr..
| Virgins we have just voted to put
in some new lights in the school build
ing and on the school ground. OF
course, Mr.. Virgins is the contractor.
But there is still much darkness in our
small city of Arthon that the contractor
wants to prevail. The darkness of the
mind is the great thing we are up
against in this town today. 1t is to
help dispel this darkness that I say a
few words ip, favor of music. 1t should
lawfully, willingly and justly be put
back into the school,"
The red-headed contractor sat Wheel
ing in his seat He had grown many
colorS. The crowd was staring at Wig
gins, the center of Jacks target.
Il know" the daring young Stone
yelled, land have heard it said by a
citizen that should have known better
that there will be no great singers such
as Marion Talley, or Nine. Schumann-
Heink, or Caruso, in this town, whether
not. don't doubt he was right. But
that argument of his Is selfish and mis-
leading! This town may never pro-
duce any billionaires like Henry Ford
However, how silly it would be for us
to quit trying to do business because
the laws of chance are against any of
our citizens becoming billionaires," he
stormed.
There was an angry silence broken
| In q hNy -Tonk xuhn I0NLad Vui1d1v
at Virgins and declared:
Music, whether it be vocal or in
strumental, has wonderful power over
human beings. We all enjoy and are
influenced by 1t for the good of our
selves. Therefore, let us make the best
investment yet and vote for music and
a thousand dollars to carry it on this
year. Why not give the young the
chance We owe them-an opportunity
to play, sing and hear good music?"
There was a great clapping of hands
as he sat down. Virgins was in vex-
atious situation. He didn't know what
to do. He rose slowly, but apparently
not to speak, because he edged his way
out the rear door, which was near.
Well" snickered the surprised mod
orator at the retreating enemy of music
The motion for the dismissal of the
article was lost, and moment later a
motion that music be put back into
the school was carried by the raising
of many more hands than were needed
to vote it back
| Jack looked up to the gallery and
saw Betty smiling at him. There was
a queer amount of color in her cheeks
as she looked proudly down upon the
awkward young man. Suddenly she
| smiled at him, realizing what he had
done for her when she was so help
less. Her whole being was radiant.
With an intoxicating fling of her fin-
gers she threw him down kiss in full
sight of everybody.