IV

As soon as Gadsby's inauguration had put him in a position to do things

with authority, his first act was to start things moving on that big

auditorium plan, for which many capitalists had bought bonds. Again

public opinion had a lot to say as to how such a building should look,

what it should contain; how long, how high, how costly; with a long

string of ifs and buts.

Family upon family put forth claims for rooms for public forums in

which various thoughts upon world affairs could find opportunity for

discussion; Salvation Army officials thought that a big hall for a

public Sunday School class would do a lot of good; and that, lastly,

what I must, from this odd yarn's strict orthography, call a "film

show," should, without doubt occupy a part of such a building. Anyway,

talk or no talk, Gadsby said that it should stand as a building for

man, woman and child; rich or poor; and, barring its "film show,"

without cost to anybody. Branton Hills' folks could thus swim, do

gymnastics, talk on public affairs, or "just sit and gossip", at will.

So it was finally built in a charming park amidst shrubs and blossoms;

an additional honor for Gadsby.

But such buildings as Branton Hills now had could not fulfill all

functions of so rapidly growing a city; for you find, occasionally, a

class of folks who cannot afford a doctor, if ill. This was brought up

by a girl of our Organization, Doris Johnson, who, on Christmas Day, in

taking gifts to a poor family, had found a woman critically ill, and

with no funds for aid or comforts; and instantly, in Doris' quick young

mind a vision of a big city hospital took form; and, on a following day

Gadsby had his Organization at City Hall, to "just talk," (and you know

how that bunch _can_ talk!) to a Councilman or two.

Now, if any kind of a building in all this big world costs good, hard

cash to build, and furnish, it is a hospital; and it is also a building

which a public knows nothing about. So Mayor Gadsby saw that if his

Council would pass an appropriation for it, no such squabbling as had

struck his Municipal Auditorium plan, would occur. But Gadsby forgot

Branton Hills' landlords, all of whom had "a most glorious spot," just

right for a hospital; until, finally, a group of physicians was told to

look around. And did Branton Hills' landlords call upon Branton Hills'

physicians? I'll say so!! Anybody visiting town, not knowing what was

going on, would think that vacant land was as common as raindrops in a

cloudburst. Small plots sprang into public light which couldn't hold a

poultry barn, to say nothing of a big City Hospital. But no grasping

landlord can fool physicians in talking up a hospital location, so it

was finally built, on high land, with a charming vista across Branton

Hills' suburbs and distant hills; amongst which Gadsby's charity auto

and bus trips took so many happy invalids on past hot days.

Now it is only fair that our boys and girls of this famous Organization

of Youth, should walk forward for an introduction to you. So I will

bring forth such bright and loyal girls as Doris Johnson, Dorothy

Fitts, Lucy Donaldson, Marian Hopkins, Priscilla Standish, Abigail

Worthington, Sarah Young, and Virginia Adams. Amongst the boys, cast

a fond look upon Arthur Rankin, Frank Morgan, John Hamilton, Paul

Johnson, Oscar Knott and William Snow; as smart a bunch of Youth as you

could find in a month of Sundays.

As soon as our big hospital was built and functioning, Sarah Young

and Priscilla Standish, in talking with groups of girls, had found

a longing for a night-school, as so many folks had to work all day,

so couldn't go to our Manual Training School. So Mayor Gadsby took

it up with Branton Hills' School Board. Now school boards do not

always think in harmony with Mayors and Councils; in fact, what with

school boards, Councils, taxation boards, paving contractors, Sunday

closing-hour agitations, railway rights of way, and all-round political

"mud-slinging," a Mayor has a tough job.

Two of Gadsby's School Board said "NO!!" A right out-loud, slam-bang

big "NO!!" Two thought that a night school was a good thing; but four,

with a faint glow of financial wisdom, (a rarity in politics, today!)

saw no cash in sight for such an institution.

But Gadsby's famous Organization won again! Branton Hills did not

contain a family in which this Organization wasn't known; and many a

sock was brought out from hiding, and many a sofa pillow cut into, to

aid _any_ plan in which this group had a part.

But, just as funds had grown to what Mayor Gadsby thought would fill

all such wants, a row in Council as to this fund's application got so

hot that "His Honor" got mad; _mighty mad!!_ And said:--

"Why is it that any bill for appropriations coming up in this Council

has to kick up such a rumpus? Why can't you look at such things with a

public mind; for nothing can so aid toward passing bills as harmony.

This city is not holding off an attacking army. Branton Hills is not

a pack of wild animals, snapping and snarling by day; jumping, at a

crackling twig, at night. It is a city of _humans_; animals, if you

wish, but with a gift from On High of a _brain_, so far apart from all

dumb animals as to allow us to talk about our public affairs calmly and

thoughtfully. All this Night School rumpus is foolish. Naturally, what

is taught in such a school is an important factor; so I want to find

out from our Organization----"

At this point, old Bill Simpkins got up, with:

"This Organization of Youth stuff puts a kink in my spinal column!

Almost all of it is through school. So how can you bring such a group

forward as 'pupils?'"

"A child," said Gadsby, "who had such schooling as Branton Hills

affords is, naturally, still a pupil; for many will follow up a study

if an opportunity is at hand. Many adults also carry out a custom

of brushing up on unfamiliar topics; thus, also, ranking as pupils.

Possibly, Bill, if you would look up that word 'pupil,' you wouldn't

find so much fault with insignificant data."

"All right!" was Simpkins' snap-back; "but what I want to know is,

what our big Public Library is for. Your 'pupils' can find all sorts

of information in that big building. So why build a night school? It's

nothing but a duplication!"

"A library," said Gadsby, "is not a school. It has no instructors; you

cannot talk in its rooms. You may find a book or two on your study, or

you may not. You would find it a big handicap if you think that you can

accomplish much with no aid but that of a Public Library. Young folks

know what young folks want to study. It is foolish, say, to install a

class in Astronomy, for although it _is_ a 'Night School,' its pupils'

thoughts might not turn toward Mars, Saturn or shooting stars; but

shorthand, including training for typists amongst adults who, naturally

don't go to day schools, is most important, today; also History and

Corporation Law; and I know that a study of Music would attract many.

Any man or woman who works all day, but still wants to study at night,

should find an opportunity for doing so."

This put a stop to Councilman Simpkins' criticisms, and approval was

put upon Gadsby's plan; and it was but shortly that this school's

popularity was shown in a most amusing way. Branton Hills folks, in

passing it on going out for a show or social call, caught most savory

whiffs, as its cooking class was producing doughnuts and biscuits;

for a Miss Chapman, long famous as a cook for Branton Hills' Woman's

Club, had about forty girls finding out about that magic art. So, too,

occasionally a cranky old Councilman, who had fought against "this

foolish night school proposition," would pass by; and, oh, hum!! A

Councilman is only an animal, you know; and, on cooking class nights,

such an animal, unavoidably drawn by that wafting aroma, would go in,

just a bit humiliatingly, and, in praising Miss Chapman for doing "such

important work for our young girls," would avidly munch a piping hot

biscuit or a sizzling doughnut from a young girl's hand, who, a month

ago, couldn't fry a slab of bacon without burning it.

V

Just as Gadsby was thinking nothing was now lacking in Branton Hills, a

child in a poor family got typhoid symptoms from drinking from a small

brook at a picnic and, without any aid from our famous Organization,

a public clamor was forthcoming for Municipal District Nursing, as

so many folks look with horror at going to a hospital. Now District

Nursing calls for no big appropriation; just salary, a first-aid

outfit, a supply of drugs and so forth; and, now-a-days, a car. And,

to Branton Hills' honor four girls who had had nursing training soon

brought, not only small comforts, but important ministrations to a

goodly part of our population. In districts without this important

municipal function, common colds may run into long-drawn-out attacks;

and contagion can not only shut up a school or two but badly handicap

all forms of public activity.

"Too many small towns," said Gadsby, "try to go without public nursing;

calling it foolish, and claiming that a family ought to look out for

its own sick. BUT! Should a high mortality, such as this Nation HAS

known, occur again, such towns will frantically broadcast a call for

girls with nursing training; and wish that a silly, cash-saving custom

hadn't brought such critical conditions."

At this point I want to bring forward an individual who has had a big

part in Branton Hills' growth; but who, up to now, has not shown up in

this history. You know that Gadsby had a family, naturally including a

woman; and that woman was fondly and popularly known throughout town

as Lady Gadsby; a rank fittingly matching Gadsby's "His Honor," upon

his inauguration as Mayor. Lady Gadsby was strongly in favor of all

kinds of clubs or associations; organizing a most worthy Charity Club,

a Book Club and a Political Auxiliary. It was but a natural growth from

Woman's part in politics, both municipal and National; and which, in

many a city, has had much to say toward nominations of good officials,

and running many a crook out of town; for no crook, nor "gang boss" can

hold out long if up against a strong Woman's Club. Though it was long

thought that woman's brain was minor in comparison with man's, woman,

as a class, now-a-day shows an all-round activity; and has brought

staid control to official actions which had had a long run through

domination by man;--that proud, cocky, strutting animal who thinks that

this gigantic world should hop, skip and jump at his commands. So,

from, or through just such clubs as Lady Gadsby's, Branton Hills was

soon attracting folks from surrounding districts; in fact, it was known

as a sort of Fairyland in which all things turn out satisfactorily.

This was, plainly, a condition which would call for much additional

building; which also brings additional tax inflow; so Branton Hills was

rapidly growing into a most important community. So, at a School Board

lunch, His Honor said:--

"I trust that now you will admit that what I said long ago about making

a city an attraction to tourists, is bringing daily confirmation. Oh,

what a lot of politically blind city and town officials I could point

out within a day's auto trip from Branton Hills! Many such an official,

upon winning a foothold in City Hall, thinks only of his own cohorts,

and his own gain. So it is not surprising that public affairs grow

stagnant. Truly, I cannot fathom such minds! I can think of nothing so

satisfying as doing public good in as many ways as an official can.

Think, for an instant, as to just what a city is. As I said long ago,

it is _not_ an array of buildings, parks and fountains. No. A city is a

living thing! It is, actually, _human_; for it is a group of humanity

growing up in daily contact; and if officials adopt as a slogan, "all

I can do," and not "all I can grab," only its suburban boundary can

limit its growth. Branton Hills attracts thousands, annually. All

of that influx looks for comforts, an opportunity to work, and good

schools. Branton Hills has all that; and I want to say that all who

visit us, with thoughts of joining us, will find us holding out a glad

hand; promising that all such fond outlooks will find confirmation at

any spot within cannon-shot of City Hall."