of large constructive ideas that it would be quite hopeless to attempt
to enumerate them in a brief general reference to the subject. We
might for illustration take certain enthusiastic promoters, who, with a
vision of what transportation facilities might produce from some region
with vast undeveloped resources, conceive the idea of the construction
of a railroad. Through their optimism, persistent agitation and
presentation of the commercial possibilities of the project they
finally attract the requisite capital. First the funds are provided for
preliminary surveys to determine the most feasible route. Reports are
made by experts, money is furnished for grading, men in the forests are
cutting timber for ties, cars, bridges, buildings, etc., others are
toiling in distant mines extracting ore that long low steamers take
over the Great Lakes to the steel mills, where it is swung out of the
holds by huge cranes. In glowing furnaces it is metamorphosed into red
streams that cool in the forms required for the infinite fabrications
to follow. It enters into the construction of rails, locomotives, box
cars, passenger coaches, telegraph wires, block signal devices, and
all the countless other things that, in this age of steel and wheels,
go into that great expression of the triumph of mind over matter--the
modern railroad.
Perhaps several years elapse before the road is in running condition.
It may have its vicissitudes, receivership, bankruptcy, and
reorganization, but at last the dream of the promoters comes true.
All of the manifold forces and influences that have had their part in
the growth and realization of the original idea have found fruition.
Cumulative effort has succeeded and a ton of freight is carried a mile
for less than a cent and a quarter. Out of a turmoil of varied fortunes
a virile factor has been born into the economic world that has made
life easier for those within its environment, and figuratively, has
made “two blades of grass grow where but one grew before.” This is one
of the gradual processes of civilization.
Conservation, utility, efficiency and economy are the watchwords of the
day, and, while the cry of Teach’s parrot from the bloody deck of his
pirate ship--“Pieces-of-Eight!--Pieces-of-Eight!”--may be echoed now
and then within the shadow of Trinity’s spire, we who are alive and
in the enjoyment of rational mentality, know that there are a great
many things in that neighborhood that are entitled to our profound
admiration.
I hope that you will not feel that I have intentionally written
anything that may detract from the interest of your story, for
it delights me very much. We may dismiss with smiles many of the
observations of our ghostly friend, for after all--like himself--they
are mere phantoms, and as such we may enjoy them. If I had known of
the wraithy guest in my tower, and his “phantom flagon” I would perhaps
have spent more time up there than I have, for even a phantom flagon
now would have certain attractions that it would be flippant to dwell
upon in this letter.
Next Christmas eve I will go up to the tower, and possibly I may be
favored with a “visitation.” If so I may go over some things I have
mentioned in this letter, but, as I have before intimated, there would
not be much use trying to convince a ghost of anything. There is too
much of that kind of argument in the world already. It will be better
to try and make him feel at home and as comfortable as possible. If he
should fail to appear it might be well to leave another spirit on the
stairway where he might find it. That possibly would change his views
into a rosy glow of optimism, for the world is not nearly as bad as he
painted it to you. He ought to have something to cheer him up, for,
with the amount of time that he has on his hands he will find such a
state of mind very wearisome.
Hoping that you will enjoy next Christmas eve as much as you evidently
did the last one, I remain, with kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
Henry W. Jacobs.
[Illustration]
TOBY RUBOVITS
PRINTER AND BINDER
CHICAGO
End of Project Gutenberg's The Ghost in the Tower, by Earl Howell Reed