SCHWARMER'S THREATENED ARREST.
Mr. Schwarmer was a man who talked very bluntly, so he admitted, but he
expected to give his hearers the impression that his bluntness was simply
a species of noble frankness. The next day but one after Independence Day,
he informed the few acquaintances whom he happened to meet at the depot,
that he was obliged to return to the city at once for two reasons. The
first was a rise in stocks and the second was to see his family off on the
steamer, but that he would return on the fifteenth of the month and arrest
and punish the chief leaders in the plot which had resulted in the
destruction of his property.
For once or rather for the first time in his dealings with the Killsbury
community, his bluntness was taken literally and turned to good account. A
mass meeting was not called but there was a great deal of calling and
consulting among the women of the town. Ruth Cornwallis Norwood was very
busy during the interval of expectancy. She set her own wits to work and
inspired others to do the same. The result was that rather a novel plan
was proposed--"So novel that it was funny," said the President's wife; but
the more they talked and laughed about it, the more they thought they
would try it. They assumed to begin, with that they instead of their
husbands were the chief leaders or instigators in the destruction of the
Schwarmer property. Ruth was duly charged with and promptly confessed
being at the head of the whole affair. Therefore it was resolved that when
the dread day came and the dread form of Millionaire Schwarmer was
apparent on the Hill, they would not wait to be arrested. They would call
on him in a body and deliver themselves up. They reasoned that it would be
a pity to put him to the trouble of arresting them singly; besides it
would be a great expense to the town. They supposed that the citizens of
the town would have to pay for all the arrests and they felt sure that
they couldn't afford to--or at least that they had a right to cut down
their own expenses wherever they chose. They had other ideas in their
heads also. Some of them could make speeches and delivering themselves up
to Mr. Schwarmer gave them a chance.
In an interview with President Hartling, he said:
"I agree with you. There's many a truth spoken in jest and my opinion is
that women excel in this direction."
Then he stopped and hummed a tune that wound up with the words:
"I believe in all the people
'Tis through them we shall be blest."
"Yes," he added, "I believe especially in the women people and my
impression is that the women of this town can settle this business with
Schwarmer. You know what the town needs and what he has always been
promising it. After the arrests are settled you might extend your wits and
get him to 'fork over' as the boys say. I can't tell you just how to do
it. I don't like the bossing business and I'm sure you will know how to
act better than I can tell you. The work of the Common Council is to get
their ordinance in good working order before the next Independence Day
comes. Father Ferrill's miracle and the appeal brought us through safely
this year. The educational and moral waves which are the only true
preparation for good laws were set in motion; but something more may be
required next year for the scourging of the money-changers. There are
signs in the air that prohibitory measures will have to be resorted to.
"Schwarmer's determination to distribute fireworks in spite of the appeal
is a sign," said Ralph. He repeated the whole story, not even leaving out
Ruth's experience with Mr. Schwarmer in the matter.
"I see," said the President. "Many kinds of effort will have to be made
to squelch this many-headed monster. More and more laws may be called for
but it makes me sad to think of it. I am prejudiced against law--its
autocracy, its insulting enforcements, its perplexing entanglements. As to
celebrations when they grow to be such dangerous nuisances as to require
the interference of law to any great extent, it is a sure sign that they
ought to be done away with."
"How I wish this savage old Fourth which is so full of boasting and
danger, _could_ be done away with!" said Ruth. "It will be so hard to make
it entirely harmless--especially for the children--the little innocent
children who are born into the world so helpless, and have to live in it
so many years before they can learn how to avoid its dangers--the simple
every day dangers, to say nothing of the complex and deadly ones that lie
concealed beneath attractive forms. Who have to be taught, denied,
imprisoned and punished every step of the way almost. O what a task for
loving parents!"
"And what a shame," said Ralph, "that people should go on inventing and
manufacturing more and more of those horrible things and almost forcing
them onto the community and into children's hands! What can we do about
that?"
"There's a place for strong prohibitory laws and a call for the
enforcement of those we have. Appeals are all right for sensible grown-up
American citizens; but the young and innocent should not be permitted to
walk into the fire, the idiotic and mercenary should not be allowed to
furnish the fire for them to walk into, and the devil's imps should be
prohibited from pushing them into it. Yes this is a good place for
prohibition. Prohibition that _does_ prohibit--not as it now stands. I
believe that the whole system will have to be overhauled to make it
largely effective. That the general government will have to take it in
hand and appoint earnest ununiformed watchers for all perilous times and
places."
"O that would be splendid," cried Ruth--"like having guardian angels,
invisible but earthly, for the young and innocent!"
"They are not here yet, dear," laughed Ralph, "except for the President of
the United States and others in authority, but I'm sure they are needed.
It's a sorry spectacle to see the small boy dodging the policeman and the
hoodlum intimidating him with stones. I am glad we did not have a
prohibitive notice on that account, besides Schwarmer's hand would not
have shown up so plainly."
"And so am I," said Ruth. Then she thought of the hand that had tried to
pat her shoulder and blushed while Ralph grated his teeth and the
President said in a serious voice:
"And I was just beginning to be sorry that we did not accept Dr.
Normander's wise prohibition to back the appeal since I perceive that lack
of it has caused you needless trouble, insult and expense."
"O we did not care about that, our hearts and souls were in it," said Ruth
and Ralph in chorus.
"But I care about it. It was not right. I perceive it would grow to be a
grievous burden, _it_ must not go on," he added in a pre-occupied way as
though speaking to himself. "Providence has helped me through this time
but I almost know He would not do it again. He has shown me the way. I
will strive to walk in it. There are many lights by the way. I believe
they are all essential and will be suffused at last into the one great
light--the eternal verity."
A moment later Dr. Normander came in.
"You are just in time, Doctor. I was going over to confess that your way
was better than mine; or that my appeal needed your prohibitive crutch.
Why didn't you argue me down--down to the practical level at least? They
call me a Golden Rule Man, but I am only a President--a figure-head, a
blundering mortal and too much afraid of having more laws than are
necessary, or than will be obeyed without hatred and strife."
"Because I am prejudiced in favor of the loving appeal--the higher way, I
suppose," laughed Dr. Normander.
"But you did not propose it, Doctor. Did you think that the higher
way--the way of appeal, was too high to be largely operative?"
"Yes, I could hardly help thinking that, for I have been preaching it for
years; but I had a glimpse of the immediate good that a wise prohibition
might do."
"And the one you proposed covered Schwarmer very neatly, I noticed,"
laughed the President, "but I don't remember the exact wording."
"It was not reduced to legal form but the idea was to prohibit the sale
and giving away of all the dangerous Independence Day Fireworks," said Dr.
Normander.
"That will help, and we will have it put in legal phrase and made ready
for use without delay; for I begin to think that Schwarmer is not to be
trusted in this matter. He may need as many as two or three chains to hold
him, that is, unless some sort of miraculous conversion overtakes him. You
know miracles do happen now and then, Doctor, and I am rather expecting
one from The Woman's Educational or Missionary Department before the next
Independence Day begins," laughed the President. "There is no greater pest
to society than a millionaire idiot, and there is no better way to get him
to use his money rightly than to hand him over to the best women of
society."
"One more question before we are arrested, or arrest ourselves," laughed
Ruth.
"Can a law be made to prohibit Schwarmer or his guests from showering
rockets on the town?"
"After he is through with the arresting business, we will see about the
showering," replied the President. "I fancy he will not be so much
enamored after that, with fiery showers as with those of a gentler kind,
and really I don't know as any laws could be made to prevent a man from
having fireworks on his own premises, but he could be arrested for damages
to the property or persons of others."
"But we want him arrested from _doing_ damages and burning up money," said
Ruth.
"Then I believe you women will have to do it," laughed the President. "The
law isn't premature enough. However if you fail I will study it up and see
what it will do. I think the way is being prepared on the banks of the
Hudson, by the Yale graduate who is dying at the house of a millionaire,
from an injury received by a flying rocket."