The Double Victory

The Double Victory By Carter E. Grant, Principal Jordan L. D. S. Seminary On this particular warm July afternoon of which we are speaking, Salt Lake City lay half resting from the excitement of the big parade, staged by the "United Com- mercial Travelers of America." The much-advertised baseball game was now over and the victorious visitors were hurry- ing jovially back to town with the "U. C. T." colors floating gloriously. Up to one of the largest restaurants thronged the players, followed by an enthusiastic, noisy bunch of rooters, shouting their newest yells, arousing the town in general. Spe- cial tables with a fitting spread were await- ing thi "ball tossers" and their immediate friends. As this big day happened some twenty years ago, there was to be added to the eats, all brands of cigars and cigarettes, as well as a "bit to drink" and then some more if desired. George Standard, the tall, dark-com- plexioned pitcher, stood as the only "Utahn" on the "Travelers" picked team. His famous work of this day, however, had made him more attractive than all the other players combined. Although his tanned face wore a smile of satisfaction, still it held no trace of arrogance or con- ceit. He had recently grown rather fa- miliar with approving applause and com- mendation, for he was fast being recog- nized as the champion twirler of the West; and as he shook hands so freely and un- assumingly ^with all the travelers not one of them failed to praise him for his part in the day's big success. This young man rightly should have been the mound star for the inter-mountain team, but due to his being cleverly tied-up several weeks in advance by the "U. C. T." he was duty bound to do his very best, which had resulted in the decisive victory for the visitors. But now that the game was over, and his check safely tucked away in his pocket, he wished he could break away and go home to his wife and baby. Such a suggestion, however, he knew would quickly be over-ruled at this time, so he fell in with the fellows, and at the earnest request of the manager, took his seat at the head of the table. That George was being led more and more into this sort of company caused Mary, his wife, no little disturbance of mind. Just what would be the outcome of her husband's exceptional successes at pitching, she dared hardly imagine, espe- cially as the papers recently had several times mentioned him as one of the coming "Big Leaguers." Only this very morning, while George decked himself in the "U. C. T." colors, Mary, baby in her arms, had poured out her soul to him. Still she wanted him to win, and knowing the value of an encouraging word she bade him good-bye, and then added feelingly, "Suc- cess to you, dear — remember your prom- ise— Delbert and I'll be waiting and watch- ing for you." As the twelve or fifteen jolly "men of the world" began feasting, Standard's eyes glanced quickly from table to table. There wasn't a person in the room he had known before today. "I am almost glad," he reasoned tojiimself; "for when I mix up with an impulsive, emotional crowd like this, I don't care to have someone jump- ing at conclusions as to what I partake of. I've abstained before, and I guess I'll get through today all right." "Which will you have, tea or coffee?" requested the waiter of the young man who sat at the head of the table. "Well, I don't believe I'll have either," suggested George, quietly; and not until the other fellows were all served and the meal was half over, did the manager notice no "hot drinks" at Standard's plate. "Here, here!" he called to the waiter, "you've dropped out one of our crew on the tea and coffee stunt. What' 11 you have, George?"

THE DOUBLE VICTORY 875 "I'm not drinking cither today, thank you. This cold milk just touches the right spot." "Well." inquired the first baseman from toward the other end of the table, "do you never indulge — never?" "Not very often," replied George with- out a falter. "Say," exclaimed another with a bit of irony in his voice, "I'll bet Standard's a 'Mormon.' " Although it was said mote as a joke than for any other reason, still George felt that the eyes of the entire crowd were upon him, and for a moment he tried hard to busy himself with eating so that no one would force an answer. The silence continued, however, until he felt himself duty bound to say something. Finally he remarked as calmly as possible, "Yes, sir, I'm a 'Mormon.' My grand- father was one of the first pioneers into this valley. Since you've brought up the subject of religion, I am just wondering which church each of you fellows belong to. Let's hear how many sects helped win that victory today?" and he sent his dark eyes quickly but interrogatively down the line of men on either side of the table. There was complete silence. Everyone knew it was not George's turn to speak, but none seemed anxious to announce his church. Finally to break the silence, which was becoming embarrassing, the manager half shouted, "Great Scott, can't some of you folks speak up and say which church, if any, you belong to? Now if Standard is a 'Mormon' and don't like te3 or coffee, or beans or carrots or anything else, it seems he knows what's best for that arm of his, and we shouldn't care!" The crowd laughed whole-heartedly and soon the incident seemed to be forgotten. As the hot drinks disappeared, cold foaming beer with wine and other liquors, took their place. George's glass stood at his plate filled to the brim, but untouched. Now followed a regular deluge of cigarettes and cigars. Something within George kept saying, "Oh, just take one cigar, light it, fuss around a bit, be one with your group; it will save you further questions. No one will know it. It won't hurt this once, take one!" Several of the very best brands of cigars were lying near his plate, but as his hand rested upon one. his wife and baby boy came floating in vision before his eyes. There they were, standing in the doorway looking down the street toward him. How anxious Mary appeared as she hugged the baby boy and then turned half downcast from his view. Immediately her last words rang loudly in his ears. "Success to you, dear — remem- ber your promise — Delbert and I'll be waiting and watching for you." With a start George dropped the tobacco. As he looked about him, he felt stronger and wondered how the liquor, tobacco, and these other things could be so attractive, yes, fairly captivating, to all these hard- headed men. Just then the manager, who was be- coming rather jovial, exclaimed, "Now, gentlemen, I've been taking notes on things, and I want our friend, Standard here, to tell us how on earth he succeeds in turning down all this 'forbidden fruit.' No tea, no coffee nor tobacco, and not a drop to drink stronger than milk. George, you're a puzzle! Come, tell us about it." As all the men voiced assent to this suggestion, George had to give some ex- planation, at least. Just how to start be- fore these men, he hardly knew, but he finally commenced, "Well, you see I was born a 'Mormon.' I guess that's had the most to do with it. Mother and father at home never drank tea nor coffee, neither did father ever use tobacco or liquor, and they always told me not to. They believed in what we call the 'Word of Wisdom.' " "That's the 'Mormon' law I've been trying to think of," put in one salesman. "Don't you know, I've sold cigars to a merchant up in Ogden now these eight or ten years, and do you think I can ever get him to taste one of my very best cigars? No, he wouldn't do it for my whole trunk full! One day when we were talking, he explained to me his 'Word of Widsom.' And I've been trying and trying to think of the name of it ever since George said he was a 'Mormon.' This man up there swore on a stack of Bibles that every good member of his Church lived this law strict- ly. I've taken him out to dinners, and he

876 IMPROVEMENT ERA was just like Standard here, he'd never touch any of the 'forbidden fruit,' no, not a thing. And now what I've seen today almost makes me believe that the 'Mormons' are going to run us tobacco fellows plum out of business!" And then they all laughed. "Just the moment I saw George cut out the tea, etc., I said to myself, 'I'll just watch him, for I'll bet he belongs to the same order as my Ogden friend.' " All eyes were now turned toward George again as he continued, "I lived home for more than twenty years and I never saw a cup of tea or coffee upon my mother's table, as a result I have never even so much as tasted it, and as for tobacco and liquor, they don't bother me at all." "Well, what do you know about that!" echoed several voices at once. "No won- der," exclaimed the manager, "you pitched that ninth innings today as if you were just getting a good start!" And then he turned and faced the group, "Say fellows, if I had ten men that would live like Standard here, I could beat anything in this whole country!" and he swung his fat fist down on the table with emphatic energy. "I'm surely interested," came a nasal voice, that as yet had not been heard, "I can't forget how Standard simply domesti- cated his Western friends today." "Domesticated 'em!" laughed another, "that's putting it too mildly. Our even- ing paper back in Chicago would say something like this, 'Because Standard per- formed so marvelously for the Travelers the Inter-Mountain Bush Leaguers were swept completely off their feet. The young Wizard of the Rockies wholly sub- dued his old comrades. With his whirling curves and spinning shoots, Standard kept his opponents at his mercy constantly. He worried 'em with his bursting speed and then teased 'em with his slow faders until the crowd roared with amusement.' " "This game today," began another, "reminds me of what happened once over in St. Louis." And when he had finished, several other men were ready with their favorite stories. As the time flew by, George, feeling that he now had the good will of the crowd, arose with, "Well fellows, I've an appointment with the wife and baby. I'd better be going." A moment later, after a final hand- shake, he walked swiftly toward his street car, and whispered gratefully to himself, "I guess I've played a 'double-header' to- day! Who would have imagined that any of that bunch knew anything about our 'Word of Wisdom?' I wonder how a fellow is to know when he is being watched?" Mesa. Arizona Added On Amid the Maytime splendor of Thy Garden, 0 Father, thou hast sometime cared for me, Mid fairer than the lily fields of Arden, Lo! I have walked and I have talked with Thee. The May is past, the world is bleak December, Amid the tares and tanglewood I stray, 1 have forgotten. Wilt Thou still remember, And lead me back along the narrow way? I know, O Father, in Thy matchless Garden, That Thou must mourn the absent ones who roam, And seven-fold I know that Thou wilt pardon And take my hand to lead me safely home; Thy glory waits its fullest consummation Till I retrace the by-ways I have gone. 'Tis thus, O Father, in my exaltation, Thy Godliness and might are added on! Bertha a.