Four
THE MILL WHISTLE
February 4, 1946
MILL WHISTLE
Issued Every Two Weeks By and For the Employees of
MARSHALL FIELD & COMPANY
MANUFACTURING DIVISION
SPRAY, NORTH CAROLINA J. U. NEWMAN JR., Editor
YOU HAVE NEVER been convicted of a crime. You have never,
perhaps, been tried in court. But just the same you are on trial right
now, every hour and every minute of the day and night. You are being
tried in the Superior Court of YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE.
And if your conscience is such that you will not abide by the
verdict that it renders you are still on trial. This time you are being
tried in the Supreme Court of PUBLIC OPINION.
You’re no criminal. You’re just an every day person like Tom, Dick
and Harry. You have your home, family and friends. You have your
job, your hobbies, and your faults. If you recognize and admit these
faults you’re doing a lot to acquit yourself in the court of YOUR OWN
CONSCIENCE. If you don’t admit it, but see the faults in others, you’re
convicting yourself in the court of Public Opinion.
Let’s start with your job, for what you do at home is more or less
your own business and only your own conscience can acquit or convict
you there.
Sunday was quite a day. So on Monday morning you wake up sort
of tired out—or think you are. So you step up before the Judge in the
court of YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE. You say: “Good morning. Judge.
I feel rotten this morning. I just don’t feel like going to work.’’ The
Judge replies: “But your wife is going to work today, all day. Your
children are going to school. Surely you don’t think you should absent
yourself from work because you feel tired and sleepy. A dash of cold
W'ater on your face and a little exercise will fix that.” “Well, if the wife
is working and the kids in school what difference does it make if I
hang around the house?”
But the Judge doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to. You’ve already
convicted yourself. You’ve made it plain that you feel little or no re
sponsibility towards your family or your fellow-workers. You think
only of yourself; of the way you feel. Your conscience has denied a
fair trial so now your case goes to the court of PUBLIC OPINION.
The Judge in this court isn’t mild and self-effacing as is the Judge
in the court of YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE. He’s hard-boiled, somewhat
cynical, for this Judge is ALL OF US. He’s everyone whom you know,
friends and foes alike. Often his verdict is tempered with little mercy.
He asks: “Why didn’t you go to work? You’re not sick.”
“But I don’t feel so good. In my present state I might have an
accident.”
“In your present state you ought to have an accident—an inten
tional one! Don’t you realize that your job, however unimportant to
you, is vitally important to many other people? Don’t you realize that
the dollars you are NOT earning today belong to the butcher, the baker,
the doctor? Because you don’t feel so good this morning means that
these men must wait another week for their money. It means that a
machine will stand idle today. It means that this idle machine will cause
another machine to slow up, and this slowed up machine affects still
other machines. That means that perhaps some more people will have
to be sent home to rest.
“YOU are responsible for that—and don’t for a moment think that
these people who w'ork with you don’t know it. When you walk down
town this afternoon to chat with the boys, people will see you. They’ll
pass their verdict on you then and there. Soon others will know and in
the court of PUBLIC OPINION you have been tried, found guilty, and
convicted.” i
You can’t appeal from this verdict. The only way is to work it out.
Fill your obligation to family, friends, fellow workers and employers.
Forget that your first duty is to yourself. Then, and only then, will the
court of PUBLIC OPINION render a verdict in your favor.
BLASTS
From the Draper Office
Carrie Hill and ^elyn Lewis
Lucille Turner Cherry went visiting
her little ole’ husband in Wilmington this
week and she “ain’t” got back. What
happened Lou? Did you miss the bus?
Some girls date sailors on Monday
nights and stay out Tuesdays. But Lucy
said a terrific cold was her reason. Sooo,
we believed her.
Gladys B. Smith has finally purchased
her land. Says all she needs now is some
nice carpenters to lend a “needy” hand
and build her a house.
We’re glad to see “Ginny” Giles Huff
man back after an attack of influenza.
They say milk is wonderful to wash
your lily white face in—makes it smooth
and nice. But, why do some people put
cream from milk on just their nose?
Say, boys and girls, have you had your
chest X-rayed?
We have been missing Hazel Squires
during this week and last. As you all
know Hazel’s husband, Dan, has arrived
home with that “piece of paper in his
hand” and so Hazel is taking a few days
off to be with him. Hurry back. Hazel,
for we all miss you.
Seems there is a bit of secrecy around
the Blanket Card Room Office. We have
heard rumors of things happening i
around those parts, but we don’t know*
anything definite. Guess by the time
this issue is printed, we all will know
the outcome of Vera Belle Francis’s ven
ture.
Harel Powell reports that she is en
joying her work at the Laboratory at
Spray and we are all so happy for her.
We surely did have a good time over at
Vera Bells Francis’ house last Thursday
night at club meeting. Hazel Powell cer
tainly entertained us all during the eve
ning. After all, we hadn’t seen Hazel all
the month long and some of you girls
know how that is. Poor Robert when he
does get home!
Dear Answerer to all Questions:
I am a girl. I have two boy friends—
(Lucky ain’t I?) Both are home. What
am I to do?
TROUBLED
Thought for the Day:
“Give to the world the best you have.
And the best will come back to you.”
—Harry Landon Williams.
There’s just one reason wfiy
safety clothing was invented—•
needless accidents, injuries and
burns made it necessary. Remem
ber this the next time you start
a job that requires protection—^
and wear your safety clothing.