Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 272, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1914 — When Play Really Became More Serious Than Work [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

When Play Really Became More Serious Than Work

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. —As the street car banged along, the men working on the tracks crawled away from in front of it somewhat mord leisurely and more good-naturedly than a tribe ot ants retreating before the assault of a

stream of water from the hose. They were not indifferent to the small amount of pleasure their work afforded them. Some of them enjoyed keeping one leg on the track until even the motorman was a bit worried, and then jumping away and grinning at the nervous passengers. ■ Many of them waved or laughed, but all of them took their pleasure lightly and went back to work seriously. It was not that way with the boy

in the gang. He was much younger than the others. He worked hard and fast to keep up*but he laughed as he worked. He was taking the place of his father, who was ill, and felt proud and rather pleased, although he was a little tired and it was not yet noon. He talked about everything he did and seemed to consider it a new and interesting game. It was when the car approached that he grew serious. . 1 He climbed from between the tracks, frowning and searching his pockets. As the car passed he drew out a small piece of a broken mirror, manipulated it skillfully in his hands and flashed a terrifying bolt of sunshine in the eyes of everybody on {hat side of the car. Then, the serious business of. the moment finished, he began whistling and chopping cement. He was a good-for-nothing scamp, as everybody on the car agreed, but you see he was so young that play was a serious matter to him, all the more serious because he had to make » much of such small opportunities. • B •