558 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 15 



hundred miles, as it was in the morning-. 

 The iron and steel may wear out, but they 

 know no fatigue. 



Just at this wonderful stage of invention 

 there is some clashing between the owners 

 of these machines and people who drive 

 horses, especially the farming community. 

 There is an excellent chance to exemplify 

 Christianity and a Christlike spirit on both 

 sides. While Ernest and I have been ex- 

 ceedingly careful in riding through the 

 country, there has been one or two who 

 condemned us and our machine in pretty se- 

 vere terms. The horses have not yet learn- 

 ed about the new conveyance, but they are 

 fast learning. A great many of their own- 

 ers pleasantly insisted that we go right 

 ahead while they make the horse behave 

 himself and teach him that the machine is 

 all right and not to be feared. Very likely 

 some of the drivers of automobiles are over- 

 bearing. In the first place, the machines 

 cost a lot of money — from $500 to $2000 or 

 even $3100. The man who owns one, quite 

 often (if not always) feels a little proud to 

 display to the world the fact that^^ has 

 money enough to go in company with mil- 

 lionaires and bankers and other men of 

 capital. Then he is apt to feel proud of 

 that wonderful power subject to his control. 

 There is a great temptation to induce the 

 people to rush out from their homes, and 

 stare as he goes flying through the streets 

 or over the country roads. There is a re- 

 sponsibility resting on the person who runs 

 an automobile. If he is a professing Chris- 

 tian, an additional responsibility rests on 

 him. Mrs. Root objects to having one or 

 riding- in one, just because it is likely to 

 provoke ill feeling. Now, this is hardly 

 right. While taking- that ride in Cleveland 

 there were automobiles coming and going 

 all the time. Sometimes half a dozen would 

 he in sight at once. We must have passed 

 forty or fifty in just one hour's ride. They 

 were driven not only by gasoline but by 

 steam, and some by electricity. They were 

 delivering merchandise about the city, and 

 doing business of almost all kinds. It 

 would be foolish for the masses to condemn 

 automobiles just because they are at the 

 present time mostly in the hands of the rich. 

 Dear reader, I have given you a little 

 glimpse of the responsibility that rests on 

 one who owns one of these machines. I 

 have given you a glimpse of the temptations 

 that beset the fortunate possessor of one. I 

 have suggested to you the importance of 

 having calm, sober, clear- headed men — yes, 

 and women too— who have the love of Christ 

 in their hearts — who have kindly feeling 

 toward their fellow-men. who love even their 

 enemies, and rejoice in an opportunity of 

 doing good to those who hate them— that is, 

 if there are any such. We want such peo- 

 ple as these, if they are to be found, to run 

 our automobiles, our electric cars, our loco- 

 motives, steamboats, and all these things. 

 Where shall we find them? Every town 

 and city in this whole wide world is search- 

 ing for honest sober men who have wisdom 



and understanding. The papers are now 

 giving us accounts of the shame and dis- 

 grace that are being revealed in one city 

 after another in the way of public admin- 

 istration. It would almost seem as if hon- 

 est men were not to be had at any price, to 

 be intrusted with responsible positions. 

 The proprietors of great factories are hunt- 

 ing for men who can be trusted. Hundreds 

 apply for places, and the most of them do 

 pretty well; but where can we find men for 

 foremen? Oftentimes we find a boy who 

 seems to be so conscientious and industri- 

 ous that we decide to give him charge of 

 the work in a certain room or department. 

 Sometimes I, the senior member of our firm, 

 shake my head, and say, "The boy is too 

 young. It will hurt him, and hurt those 

 who are under him, to put so much respon- 

 sibility on him all at once. Wait till he is 

 four or five years older." But perhaps the 

 regular foreman is sick, and somebody 

 must take his place at once. This boy 

 knows more about the room than anybody 

 else, and his record is excellent, and we 

 conclude to try him a while. If I am around 

 I usually have a talk with my young friend, 

 and tell him of the dangers. Oh how many 

 mistakes and painful things might be saved 

 if some older person would talk to these 

 boys, and drill them a little when they are 

 suddenly pushed into places of responsibil- 

 ity! 



Now, you can not all have the job of run- 

 ning an automobile or a locomotive or an 

 electric car; but, dear friends, almost every 

 one of you whose eyes rest on these pages 

 is carrying a like responsibility somewhere. 

 You do not know it, and perhaps you would 

 not believe it, but it is true. You are on 

 trial before God and your fellow-men. You 

 say, "O Mr. Root! you do not know how I 

 am fixed. You do not know how I am 

 cramped, and shut off from the big world; 

 you do not know how I have tried loving my 

 enemies and doing good to those who hate 

 me; you do not know how utterly useless 

 such things are with the people who are 

 around me." 



But, my friend, I do know. You are not 

 reading your Bible enough; and you are not 

 patient enough in following its precepts, or 

 you would not find things in that shape. 

 The great wide world is watching and hunt- 

 ing for those who are faithful in few things. 

 The great business world is looking for the 

 boy or girl — yes, for the men and women — 

 even those who are well along in life, who 

 can be trusted with responsible positions. 

 While taking that ride in Cleveland I saw 

 a man who must have been between seventy 

 and eighty years of age, on the street, sweep- 

 ing up the droppings from the horses. If 

 that man does his work faithfully — if he 

 can be trusted out of his employer's sight 

 — if he uses not only his muscle but his 

 brain also in making himself useful, in 

 caring for the streets of that great city, he 

 will be promoted, and get better pay. I do 

 not think there ever was a time before when 

 faithfulness in few things was so sure to 



