AMATEUR THEATRICALS 167 



come a free lance in the same community that 

 Bill has quit, why then we " break even," to use a 

 sporting phrase, at least so far as number goes ; 

 but in reality we are better off, for we get a citi- 

 zen with advanced ideas, imbued with the hus- 

 tling spirit of city life, which cannot fail to have 

 an influence for good on the small community. 

 To be sure, New York or Seattle or Chicago or 

 Boston has Bill, which we hope is a good thing 

 for them and for Bill. But the effect of Bill's in- 

 vasion is not immediate or in any way disturbing 

 to the urban community. 



But if, instead of the junior partner of the 

 firm, the young and zealous assistant pastor of 

 one of the churches of Seattle or Chicago or Bos- 

 ton or New York becomes pastor of the local 

 Congregational or Baptist or Unitarian or Epis- 

 copal Church, why then we go Chicago or Bos- 

 ton or New York or Seattle " one better," as the 

 moral status of the community is jacked up much 

 more effectively than that of Boston or New 

 York or Seattle or Chicago is on account of Bill's 

 arrival. 



By this means only is the professional, social, 

 financial, and moral balance preserved. 



Now we have had accessions to our neighbor- 

 hood. I disclaim modestly any responsibility 

 for the fact, for the new neighbors would un- 

 doubtedly have come had we not lived there. 



