San Antonio Daily Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 57, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 17, 1907 Page: 23 of 24
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THE GREAT WHITE LORD ®
Copyright 1907 ty Themai H. McKoo.
ON THAT great highway of the foolish and
miserable condemned and defamed for
years we have hunger an'd thirst hope
and despair love and hatred as you have
elsewhere. And there too on the Bow-
ery we have honest men and women strong op the
side ot righteousness as well as those who have
leagued with the devil from earliest to most recent
days.
Do remember that the Bowery is in the heart of
our greatest city and not in the wilds of Tibet and
believe me that human nature and emotions prevail
there as anywhere. • If you doubt me come and see
transfers are all crossings.
If there is anytl ing that will distinguish in one
particular human nature on the Bowery from that
of other parts it is its primitive directness. People
will love hate trust and despise more strongly
more directly where the shellac of civilisation has
not yet entirely veneered the whole surface. And
to you of the higher civilization the humanity of
the Bowery because of its absolute directness
seems grotesque absurd.
It Is claimed that In certain stages of intoxication
men will show their true selves. That’s how it is on
the Bowery. There the potent inebriety of misery
makes men throw all pretense to the winds. If one
"WHY NOW YOU AIN’T GOING OUTt”
Is about to kill or steal love grow good or go
crazy there >s no mistaking his purpose.
We have no kleptomaniacs geniuses or eccen-
trlcs down our way; we have the direct sort
crooks “daffies” and "bugs.”
And of these I will tell you a story as I have seen
it played before me. Should you come to the con-
clusion that the narrator belongs to either of the
two last named categories of the species stick to it
by all means; it will not change conditions even a
trifle.
Nick Bender was of so little account that no one
knew anything about his private history and no
one tried to find out. Not even his landlady Mrs.
Spillane of East Third Street knew any more
about him than that he was about as poor as the
rest of her lodgers and made less of a bluff at pros-
perity.
Old Mary Spillane was not a sociologist and
that Bender never got above the stage of dis-
tributing circulars for spectacular dentists and
flamboyant chiropodists in spite of his youth
and physical well-being was no concern of
hers as long as her weekly stipend of seventy-
five cents was paid on Saturday.
There had been Saturday „ when even this
small amount bad not beet* forthcoming but
old Mother Spillane did not have the heart to
dispossess the poor* inoffensive devil from hie
room which in verity was the merest cubby-
hole on the top floor where trunks unused
furniture and other trash shared the space
with him —in fact Mother Spillane who never
took any interest tn her lodgers came about
as near to liking Bender as it was possible for
her to like anybody.
Whether Bender knew or appreciated this
fact was not apparent. He plodded along his
simple way. sometimes eating sometimes starv-
ing and nothing of importance occurred to him
until he fell Into the gaping meshes of the Salva-
tion Army.
Who shall dare to read men’s souls aright?
Therefore do not let us judge Bender's motives in
joining this horde of jubilant fanatics. Whether
seeking salvation or forgiveness for his sins or
whether seeking self-aggrandizement it was his
personal matter not ours.
On the other hand. Bender was not so far re-
moved from his kind of the day to overlook any
possible accruing benefit. It seemed to htm quite
likely that some "palnlees dentist" would willingly
increase the usual dally wage of fifty cents to. at
least seventy-five cents for the privilege of having
his circulars distributed by a soldier of the Army in
full regimentals.
But that was still In store as Bender had not yet
reached the uniformed stage and In the meantime
fate was to have ”« frolic with him. *
On the day on which the curtain of this little
comedy of errors rolled up Bender was returning
from his dally search for work. He had not met
with any encouragement and made his homeward
journey entertaining himself by noting the many
Incidents which make the streets of the metropolis
an unending panorama.
He made his leisurely way to the Bowery and
before turning into East Third Street Investigated
the progress of the “Hygienic Restaurant” which
for weeks had displayed this sign; “Will Open To-
morrow.”
It was in his Immediate neighborhood and Ben-
der took a personal pride in this improvement of it
via this dazzlingly shining establishment for feed-
ing purposes.
Charmed by the bold inscriptions on the still
whitened windows reading "Surpassing Coffee”
and "Try Our Home-Made Cooking” Bender
dwelled in dreams of feasting and was not aware
that he. In turn was being scrutinized.
The proprietor of the Hygienic a man of swarthy
mien and decked out in much conspicuous jewelry
who had been directing the hangers of the great
sign bearing the name of the restaurant had for
some time watched the circular distributer.
“Working?” he broke at last the mutual spell
of inspection.
"Me? No. not just now” answered Bender feel-
ing. instinctively that he confronted a crisis.
“Want a job?" *
"YES I’M GOING. PLEASE DON’T DETAIN ME.”
"What at?”
"Giving out handbills and carrying a banner.
The offer partly acceptable and partly objection-
able was duly considered by Bender before re-
plying.
“I’d give out the bills—but carrying the banner
—gee I couldn’t do that.”
"All right. Get somebody else.” The man
closed the incident and turned again to the sign
hangers.
The last Saturday had been one of those on
which the seventy-five cents had not been forthcom-
ing Not a penny was in his pocket of credit he
knew nothing and Bender thought furiously. No
there was no other way than the one of humilia-
tion. but the swarthy man never dreamed what
sacrifice to pride was made when Bender declared
his willingness to carry the banner.
"I guess I might's well take the job banner and
all" Bender spoke at last. “What's in it?”
“Fifty cents a day and three square meals."
“I’ll take it and—when do I start in?”
“To-morrow morning at seven.”
"I’ll be here.”
“All right and don't disappoint me.”
Thus in this land of opportunities fortunes are
made in a twinkling. For years Bender's dally
wage had been fifty cents but never before had
three square meals been thrown In.”
Mrs. Spillane had a right to know about this
turn of the wheel and to her Bender hurried. His
triumphal progress was somewhat retarded by the
“second floor rear” man who sat. staring on the
stoop of the house. Not that the man of the sec-
ond floor was given to Idle talking but bls very
presence alone was enough to Interfere with Ben-
der's pursuit of the moment at any time. There
had been times when that man's step on the stairs
had held Bender spellbound until the slamming
door resounded behind him. And so as he came
through East Third Street his steps drew more
dragging and dragging the nearer he got to the
house. His affairs were forgotten for the Instant
and he thought so deeply of the other's that un-
consciously he halted to ponder with greater con-
centration’ The other's protracted scowl directed
at Bender set the latter again In motion aad sent
him flying up the stoop with an unreplied "Good-
morning."
In the hall Mrs. Spillane was trying to rub some
gloss Into a dilapidated hat-stand when her favor-
ite lodger entered.
“Well any luck to-day?” she inquired listlessly.
Bender reported the events of the day and. point-
ing at the stoop ended with: “And how's his nibs
to-day?”
"Oh about the same's usual” replied the land-
lady and closed the interview.
Long after Mrs. Spillane had retired to her be-
loved basement legions where lodgers were not
SAN ANTONIO DAILY LIGHT.
permitted to intrude Bender still stood In the hall
fairly boring holes with his eyes through the door
behind which the second-floor man was taking his
sullen airing. And again later when Bender at
last had started on his climb he stopped at the
"second floor rear” door and came aa near to
eavesdropping as his conscience would permit him.
Whatever he heard or discovered after a vigil of.
perhaps two minutes. Bender direfully shook his
head and continued on to the top floor.
During his three months In the Army Bender
had carefully absorbed and practised the dogmas
of that remarkable body. Scarcely any of the
small daily tasks were performed by him without
"holding communion.” And so as soon as his
cubby-hole was reached he again resorted to com-
munion in this "travail of his soul.”
These "communions" were not perfunctory mat-
ters but events accompanied by much detail.
First he went to the "sink” In the hall to cleanse
his hands; then he brushed bls hair and spread a
newspaper on the floor before hts cot. After thia
mise en scene had been arranged he again went
to the “sink" and once more washed his hands.
Back in the room he locked the door and sank to
hie knees on the newspaper beside the bed. With
folded hands and unllfted eyes he remained so for
a moment before communing with Him his God
the God of Bender.
"Please excuse me. God for coming to You again
with my troubles but honest I can’t help it. And
it ain’t only my troubles I want to talk to You
about but I want to thank You too for what You
done for me about getting that job at the restaur-
ant. It's no use o' talking. I needed it. and. You
can bet it came in awful handy. But I don’t
know what to do about them two funny people on
the second floor. They’re my neighbors and I got
to do something for them because it is my duty
but I don’t know how or what and I got to put it
up to You and I hope You’ll help me. If You
would only give me a little more nerve so’s I could
apeak to that fellow about coming over to the
Army some night with.me I think It would be all
right. He’s been a sinner all right for Captain
Aggie Haskins says you can read a whole lot In
faces and his face don’t look right to me at all. I
guess that’s about all I can tell You Just now and
I hope You’ll send me some inspiration so’s I can
rescue that fellow from his wickedness. And now
I thank You for Your goodness to me and ask Your
blessing and strength so’s I won't fall by the way-
side. And—and so long. Father. Amen."
And truly that prayer was heard.
They were celebrating a “Hot Time Evening” at
the Salvation Army that night and Bender of
course was present. The trend of his sftnple life
was sadly disturbed by the strange couple on the
second floor rear. The only thing he knew about
them from observation and through Mrs. Spillane
was that they were poorly situated.
Had he known all about them he might have
deemed their fate commonplace but the mystery
surrounding them and the odd appearance of the
man had a strange fascination for Bender. He had
thought about them and how to help them all day
and at the “Hot Time” he found application to
them in every song every speech every testimony
uttered.
It was after the song “We're All Going Home
to Heaven” sung to the air of "We Won’t Go Home
Till Morning” that Bender’s psychological moment
came to him.
Throughout the evening a pale ascetic man. in
officer’s uniform had sat brooding on the platform.
After the last chorus of “We’re All Going Home
to Heaven" the commanding officer of the poet
stepped to the edge of the platform to make the
following announcement:
"Comrades and friends! As you all know we
have with us to-night Colonel Harvey Tlmberall
the silver-tongued orator of the Golden West.
Colonel Tlmberall has been fighting glorious bat-
tles out In the wicked digger-towns of Nevada and
Colorado and Montana and he is going to tell you
how to fight the battle on to victory. And now
let us give three cheers for Colonel Harvey Tlm-
berall!”
The cheers were given and much noise was
made while the Colonel made his way to the cen-
ter of the platform.
How his speech ranked according to Salvation
Army criterions cannot be stated but to the aver-
age listener it was a weird compound of twisted
theological doctrines and bombastic rhetoric. But
—and that was the point—the audience liked it.
Greedily they swallowed the sentences and often
interrupted the orator by tumultuous applause
after some particularly appealing sentiment.
Bender’s attention was so rapt that almost the
entire speech was memorized by him. And when
the speaker came to the practical hints telling
his congregation how they. too. every one of them
could go out into the world and do as much for
their fellow men as he had done then Bender knew
and felt that the sermon had been preached solely
for his benefit.
. And there behold there He stood upon the
mountain facing the multitude proving beyond
peradventure that He was the saviour of the lowly.
What did He say? 'The foxes have holes and the
birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man
hath not where to lay his head.’ And what did he
do? Did he remain facing the multitude? No!
He went right down among them and gave them
the message of the Master. And these are the
commands of the Great White Lord: 'Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares.’ And He also
said: ’Greater love hath no man than this that a
man lay down his life for his friends . . .”
That was the whole thing in a nutshell those
were the commands of the Great White Lord and
Bender heeded them.
Devotional hysteria ran high that evening and
it was midnight before Bender crept up the stoop
on which the man from the second floor rear was
taking his siesta. Ordinarily Bender’s nerve would
have failed him but the Influence of the “Hot
Time” was still potent and he determined to begin
his mission at once.
"We had a poorty good time over at the Army
to-night.”
The man looked up without speaking.
••Yeii I—you see I belong to the Salvation
Army" Bender bravely kept on and not getting
an answer asked: "You don’t belong to the Army?”
"No scarcely” was the harsh reply.
“I think you ought to” declared Bender fer-
vently. “It made a man o’ me all right and you
ought to join them too for ”
"What do you mean?" exclaimed the man an-
grily.
"Oh nothing only it makes a man much hap-
pier and—well it does a lot o’ things.”
“It can’t make me or mine happy and I’m more
interested in getting food than happiness” growled
the stranger.
"The Army’ll give you food.”
“To be sure they will and then will take a mort-
gage on my manhood. There’s such a thing as
self-esteem; it's the only possession I have and I
will not beg. I have reached the limit of misery am
forsaken by every living soul even she —but I
won't beg."
“But when a man is in your fix" Bender spoke
didactically "only the Great White Lord can help
him."
"The Great White Lord?"
“Yes" replied Bender. "I ain't never been to
•chool but 1 know that the Great Whiter Lord can
help If you only will pray to him."
“And you are crazy enough to believe that?”
sneered the man.
“I know it’s so and all you got to do is to try it.”
“You fool! If there were any truth In that He
would have helped me long ago."
"But did you pray to Him?”
"I prayed to Him and I cursed Him—and all
without avail. And they called me crazy because
of my belief in Him. Now—ah but why waste
time in idle talk."
“Gee but you must have been an awful sinner!"
It slipped involuntarily from Bender's lips.
"I must have been” mocked the other. “I was
one of those fools who tried to satisfy a champagne
appetite on a beer Income. I played the grand
bluff and when it didn't work any longer they
called me irresponsible put me away and dubbed
me “crazy.” But I got away and they shan't get
me again. And If she” —he pointed upward In
the direction of his room—"if she gives me away
then I’ll give them a chance to put me away—and
for good.”
> What to reply to this Bender did know.
"You ought to tell it all to the Great White
Lord” he said hesitatingly. "HeTl help you—•
and I'll pray for you anyway.”
"You and your Great White Lord pshaw!” and
the tenant of the second floor rear went up to his
chamber.
Alone Bender realized that he was facing a
crisis. But what wns he to do? Only one thing
was obvious he must procure some food for them.
But that is no easy matter when one is without a
penny. What was he to do?
They were working all night at the Hygienic
Restaurant to get it ready for the morning's open-
ing. . Several men were bossed about by the
swarthy proprietor and the place was a bedlam of
noise when Bender entered.
What plea Bender made he never knew but
after pledging his next day’s pay he left the res-
taurant loaded with bundles. Careful not to lose
any of the packages he gingerly ascended the
stoop of hfs house and opened the door.
Somebody was in the hall.
There was no possibility of burglars—there was
nothing to steal —still it was strange to find some-
body there at this hour of the night. Bender went
straight to the figure shrinking into the shadows
•—and found the wife of the second floor tenant
dressed for the street.
"Why—how—you ain't going out?” he stam-
mered.
"Yes l'm going. Please don't detain me” she
answered eager to get away.
"I think I know what you’re going out for but
it ain’t necessary. I got it right here.” Bender
smiled slyly displaying his bundles.
The woman’s glowing eyes had been fastened
on Bender but now they saw the packages and the
smiling face above th^m- —and. as people in some
rare momente will she understood a great deal.
“And you—you got this for us?”
"Sure” he said. “It ain’t much but in the
morning I’ll get you some more. Anyway I
wouldn’t have him donbt my Great White Lord.”
"Your Great White Lord?” the woman asked
wonderingly.
“Yes He who says you might entertain an angel
unawares.”
“And you think that he upstairs might be an
angel unawares?”
Bender did not like the sound of her scornful
laugh.
"I don’t know about that but I believe In what
the Great White Lord says and ”
‘"And he should tell you that that man Is a
fiend” .iso the woman. "I have been loyal to
him throWBU-all our stages of degradation I have
stood hls'ulSlnuations and slights but now the end
ot my endurance has been reached. To-night he
told me I was the sole cause of his misery and—-
and I can't stand It any longer. The street is more
welcome than ”
“Oh now you’re talking about as crazy as he
does” Bender declared with a charming frankness.
"All married people have a little row oncet In
awhile and then they make up. All he’s got to dp
is to believe in the Great White Lord and every-
thing will be all right. I know he's laughing at It
now but It's worth while trying anyway. Look
what he’s made o' me!" ।
Gently taking her arm he led the way to the
stairs and helped her retrace her steps. Sobblugly
she went with him and leaned on him until they
entered the room.
At the table sat the man staring into emptiness
By
OWEN KILDARE
and not turning when he heard them She wav-
ered for an Instant but then went to him ‘and
placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Edward" she whispered “I have come lack;
I couldn’t go.”
The husband stood up and. without a glance at
Bender who hovered In the background he folded
his wife in his arms. The humble intermediary
thought this a good opportunity to absent himself
end stepped to the table to leave his bundles. But
before he had reached the door the wife had him
bj the arm.
"Oh. don’t go yet” she pleaded looking also at
the husband. "We must thank you first and ”
“Yes. [ suppose we have to thank you but I shall
re—well. 1 shall make It all right in a day or two”
mumbled the husband graedily eying the packages.
The wife not at all satisfied with the husband’s
manner. Insisted on Bender's remaining.
The packages were quickly opened and the two
fairly gorged themselves. The food disappeared
rapidly. This unexpected feast seemed to intoxi-
cate the husband.
"The Great White Lord isn't such a bad fellow
after all” he mumbled between mouthfuls. “But
say you’re a mighty queer looking cuss to be so
intimate with such a great personage.”
The last few hours had taught Bender a great
many things and he did not propose to stand any
more flings.
"You can sneer all you like at my Great White
Lord but I think it would become you much bet-
ter to thank Him. You can kid all you like but
it's only the Great White Lord that can save fel-
lows like you."
“And I suppose as the next part of the service
our brother here will lead in prayer?" the stranger
still mocked.
It was what Bender wanted. He did not know
how to expound or argue but he had Implicit faith
in the power of prayer. So for once dispensing
with his preparations he knelt in the center of the
floor and spoke to his God the God of Bender.
"Please. God. excuse me for coming to You with
my troubles so late at night but this fellow here
that I have been telling you about he’s in a bad
way and his heart Is getting more and more stub-
born. Now what am I going to do? I done
everything I could and prayed for him but it
don't seem to do much good. How can he refuse
to believe In You? He ought to know that only
for You he wouldn't maybe be alive and wouldn’t
have gotten his little lady back again. It was You
that made me meet her and steer her back again.
And. honest. You know how square and loyal she
is and that she's all to the good.”
Whether it was a laugh or a sob behind him
Bender never .knew or cared. He just kept on.
"This Is the first time I ever tried to do what the
Great White Lord tells us for to do and now
please. God. don't disappoint me. Let me make
good this once anyway. This fellow here he ain’t
so bad after all and he's educated but he got a lit-
tle daffy from being on the bum and can't see that
he's the cause of the whole trouble. So
God. open his eyes and make him go out and hus-
tle for a job—and let him find one— so's the little
woman won't have to be ashamed o' him no more.
And You. who knows everything knows that then
the little woman's cheeks will be rosy again and
that a fellow has been saved from going completely
to—down and out. And that's all. God and I base
You’ll do It for me. Amen."
A sudden quiet had come Into the room and
Bender not wishing to disturb it. went through
the door with a whispered "Good-night.”
Insomnia never troubled Bender. His slumbers
were always Sound In spite of hard pillow and
thanks to a clear conscience. It was toward morn-
ing just as the dawn was strenuously fighting the
stubborn night for supremacy when Bonder was
awakened from his dreams.
"Bender." whispered the figure beside the bed.
I want to thank you -—”
"Oh. gee. that wcaild have kept until morntng.
growled Bender sleepily. “I’m good and drowsy."
"But 1 must tell you this that the little woman
has forgiven me and that I’m going to look for a
job in the morning. And I also want to tell you
that you did this or "
"Ah stop your kidding” retorted Bender. now
a little more awake "Don’t you know yet who
done It? ’Twas the Great White Lord- Go and.
thank Him—and let me go to sleep. Good night”
Moral?
Is there one?
“AND THAT’S ALL. GOD. AND
I HOPE YOU’LL DO IT “
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San Antonio Daily Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 57, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 17, 1907, newspaper, March 17, 1907; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1691353/m1/23/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .