Buttothinkthatallthistroublehadcomethroughthebuildingofthenewchurch。
　　Thatwasthebitternessofit。
　　Forthetwenty—fiveyearsthatRuralDeanDronehadpreachedinthelittlestonechurch，ithadbeenhisoneaim，asheoftenputitinhissermons，torearalargerArkinGideon。HisonehopehadbeentosetupagreaterEvidence，or，verysimplystated，tokindleaBrighterBeacon。
　　Aftertwenty—fiveyearsofwaiting，hehadbeenableatlasttokindleit。EverybodyinMariposaremembersthebuildingofthechurch。FirstofalltheyhaddemolishedthelittlestonechurchtomakewayforthenewerEvidence。Itseemedalmostasacrilege，astheDeanhimselfsaid，tolayhandsonit。IndeeditwasatfirstproposedtotakethestoneofitandbuilditintoaSundaySchool，asalessertestimony。Then，whenthatprovidedimpracticable，itwassuggestedthatthestonebereverentlyfashionedintoawallthatshouldstandasatoken。Andwheneventhatcouldnotbemanaged，thestoneofthelittlechurchwaslaidreverentlyintoastonepile;
　　afterwardsitwasdevoutlysoldtoabuildingcontractor，and，likesomuchelseinlife，wasforgotten。
　　Butthebuildingofthechurch，noone，Ithink，willforget。TheDeanthrewhimselfintothework。Withhiscoatoffandhiswhiteshirt—sleevesconspicuousamongthegangthatwereworkingatthefoundations，hesethishandtotheshovel，himselfguidedtheroad—scraper，urgingonthehorses;cheeringandencouragingthemen，tilltheybeggedhimtodesist。Hemingledwiththestone—masons，advising，helping，andgivingcounsel，tilltheypleadedwithhimtorest。Hewasamongthecarpenters，sawing，hammering，enquiring，suggesting，tilltheybesoughthimtolayoff。Andhewasnightanddaywiththearchitect’sassistants，drawing，planning，revising，tillthearchitecttoldhimtocutitout。
　　Sogreatwashisactivity，thatIdoubtwhetherthenewchurchwouldeverhavebeenfinished，hadnotthewardensandthevestrymeninsistedthatMr。Dronemusttakeaholiday，andsenthimontheMackinawtripupthelakes，——theonlyforeigntraveloftheDean’slife。
　　SoinduetimetheNewChurchwasbuiltandittoweredabovethemapletreesofMariposalikeabeacononahill。Itstoodsohighthatfromtheopensteepleofit，wherethebellswere，youcouldseeallthetownlyingatitsfeet，andthefarmsteadstothesouthofit，andtherailwaylikeadoublepencilline，andLakeWissanottispreadoutlikeamap。Youcouldseeandappreciatethingsfromtheheightofthenewchurch，——suchasthesizeandthegrowingwealthofMariposa，——thatyounevercouldhaveseenfromthelittlestonechurchatall。
　　PresentlythechurchwasopenedandtheDeanpreachedhisfirstsermoninit，andhecalleditaGreaterTestimony，andhesaidthatitwasanearnest，orfirstfruitofendeavour，andthatitwasatokenorpledge，andhenameditalsoacovenant。Hesaid，too，thatitwasananchorageandaharbourandalighthouseaswellasbeingacitysetuponahill;andheendedbydeclaringitanArkofRefugeandnotifiedthemthattheBibleClasswouldmeetinthebasementofitonthatandeveryotherthirdWednesday。
　　IntheopeningmonthsofpreachingaboutittheDeanhadcalledthechurchsooftenanearnestandapledgeandaguerdonandatabernacle，thatIthinkheusedtoforgetthatitwasn’tpaidfor。
　　ItwasonlywhentheagentofthebuildingsocietyandarepresentativeoftheHosannaPipeandSteamOrganCo。（Limited），usedtocallforquarterlypaymentsthathewassuddenlyremindedofthefact。AlwaysafterthesemencameroundtheDeanusedtopreachaspecialsermononsin，inthecourseofwhichhewouldmentionthattheancientHebrewsusedtoputunjusttraderstodeath，——athingofwhichhespokewithChristianserenity。
　　Idon’tthinkthatatfirstanybodytroubledmuchaboutthedebtonthechurch。DeanDrone’sfiguresshowedthatitwasonlyamatteroftimebeforeitwouldbeextinguished;onlyalittleeffortwasneeded，alittlegirdingupoftheloinsofthecongregationandtheycouldshoulderthewholedebtandtrampleitundertheirfeet。Letthembutsettheirhandstotheploughandtheycouldsoonguideitintothedeepwater。Thentheymightfurltheirsailsandsiteverymanunderhisownolivetree。
　　Meantime，whilethecongregationwaswaitingtogirdupitsloins，theinterestonthedebtwaspaidsomehow，or，whenitwasn’tpaid，wasaddedtotheprincipal。
　　Idon’tknowwhetheryouhavehadanyexperiencewithGreaterTestimoniesandwithBeaconssetonHills。Ifyouhave，youwillrealizehow，atfirstgradually，andthenrapidly，theirpositionfromyeartoyeargrowsmoredistressing。Whatwiththebuildingloanandtheorganinstalment，andthefireinsurance，——acruelcharge，——
　　andtheheatandlight，therectorbegantorealizeasheaddedupthefiguresthatnothingbutlogarithmscouldsolvethem。Thenthetimecamewhennotonlytherector，butallthewardensknewandthesidesmenknewthatthedebtwasmorethanthechurchcouldcarry;
　　thenthechoirknewandthecongregationknewandatlasteverybodyknew;andtherewerespecialcollectionsatEasterandspecialdaysofgiving，andspecialweeksoftribulation，andspecialarrangementswiththeHosannaPipeandSteamOrganCo。AnditwasnoticedthatwhentheRuralDeanannouncedaserviceofLentenSorrow，——aimedmoreespeciallyatthebusinessmen，——thecongregationhaddiminishedbyfortypercent。
　　Isupposethingsarejustthesameelsewhere，——ImeanthepeculiarkindofdiscontentthatcreptintotheChurchofEnglandcongregationinMariposaafterthesettingupoftheBeacon。Therewerethosewhoclaimedthattheyhadseentheerrorfromthefirst，thoughtheyhadkeptquiet，assuchpeoplealwaysdo，frombreadthofmind。Therewerethosewhohadfeltyearsbeforehowitwouldend，buttheirlipsweresealedfromhumilityofspirit。Whatwasworsewasthattherewereotherswhogrewdissatisfiedwiththewholeconductofthechurch。
　　Yodel，theauctioneer，forexample，narratedhowhehadbeentothecityandhadgoneintoaserviceoftheRomanCatholicchurch：I
　　believe，tostateitmorefairly，hehad"droppedin，"——theonlyrecognizedmeansofaccesstosuchaservice。Heclaimedthatthemusicthathehadheardtherewasmusic，andthat（outsideofhisprofession）thechantingandintoningcouldnotbetouched。
　　EdMoore，thephotographer，alsorelatedthathehadlistenedtoasermoninthecity，andthatifanyonewouldguaranteehimasermonlikethathewoulddefyyoutokeephimawayfromchurch。Meanwhile，failingtheguarantee，hestayedaway。
　　Theverydoctrineswereimpeached。Someofthecongregationbegantocastdoubtsoneternalpunishment，——doubtssograveastokeepthemabsentfromtheLentenServicesofSorrow。Indeed，LawyerMacartneytookupthewholequestionoftheAthanasianCreedoneafternoonwithJoeMilligan，thedentist，andhardlyleftaclauseofitintact。
　　Allthistime，youwillunderstand，DeanDronekeptonwithhisspecialservices，andleaflets，calls，andappealswentoutfromtheArkofGideonlikerocketsfromasinkingship。Moreandmorewitheverymonththedebtofthechurchlayheavyonhismind。Attimesheforgotit。Atothertimeshewokeupinthenightandthoughtaboutit。SometimesashewentdownthestreetfromthelightedprecinctsoftheGreaterTestimonyandpassedtheSalvationArmy，prayingaroundanaphthalampundertheopensky，itsmotehimtotheheartwithastab。
　　Butthecongregationwerewrong，Ithink，inimputingfaulttothesermonsofDeanDrone。ThereIdothinktheywerewrong。IcanspeakfrompersonalknowledgewhenIsaythattherector’ssermonswerenotonlystimulatinginmattersoffaith，butcontainedvaluablematerialinregardtotheGreeklanguage，tomodernmachineryandtoavarietyofthingsthatshouldhaveprovedofthehighestadvantagetothecongregation。
　　Therewas，Isay，theGreeklanguage。TheDeanalwaysshowedthegreatestdelicacyoffeelinginregardtoanytranslationinoroutofitthathemadefromthepulpit。Hewasneverwillingtoaccepteventhefaintestshadeofrenderingdifferentfromthatcommonlygivenwithoutbeingassuredofthefullconcurrenceofthecongregation。Eitherthetranslationmustbeunanimousandwithoutcontradiction，orhecouldnotpassit。Hewouldpauseinhissermonandwouldsay："TheoriginalGreekis’Hoson，’butperhapsyouwillallowmetotranslateitasequivalentto’Hoyon。’"Andtheydid。Sothatiftherewasanyfaulttobefounditwaspurelyonthesideofthecongregationfornotenteringaprotestatthetime。
　　Itwasthesamewayinregardtomachinery。Afterall，whatbetterillustratesthesupremepurposeoftheAllWisethansuchathingasthedynamoorthereciprocatingmarineengineorthepicturesintheScientificAmerican？
　　Then，too，ifamanhashadtheopportunitytotravelandhasseenthegreatlakesspreadoutbythehandofProvidencefromwhereoneleavesthenewdockattheSoundtowhereonearrivessafeandthankfulwithone’sdearfellow—passengersinthespiritattheconcretelandingstageatMackinaw——isnotthisfitandpropermaterialfortheconstructionofananalogyorillustration？Indeed，evenapartfromananalogy，isitnotmightyinterestingtonarrate，anyway？Inanycase，whyshouldthe。church—wardenshavesenttherectorontheMackinawtrip，iftheyhadnotexpectedhimtomakesomelittlereturnforit？
　　IlaysomestressonthispointbecausethecriticismsdirectedagainsttheMackinawsermonsalwaysseemedsounfair。Iftherectorhaddescribedhisexperiencesinthecrudelanguageoftheordinarynewspaper，theremight，Iadmit，havebeensomethingunfittingaboutit。Buthewasalwayscarefultoexpresshimselfinawaythatshowed，——or，listen，letmeexplainwithanexample。
　　"Ithappenedtobemylotsomeyearsago，"hewouldsay，"tofindmyselfavoyager，justasoneisavoyagerontheseaoflife，onthebroadexpanseofwaterwhichhasbeenspreadouttothenorth—westofusbythehandofProvidence，ataheightoffivehundredandeighty—onefeetabovethelevelofthesea，——Irefer，Imaysay，toLakeHuron。"Now，howdifferentthatisfromsaying："I’llneverforgetthetimeIwentontheMackinawtrip。"Thewholethinghasadifferentsoundentirely。InthesamewaytheDeanwouldgoon：
　　"Iwasvoyagingononeofthosemagnificentleviathansofthewater，——IrefertotheboatsoftheNorthernNavigationCompany，——andwasstandingbesidetheforwardrailtalkingwithadearbrotherinthefaithwhowasjourneyingwestwardalso——Imaysayhewasacommercialtraveller，——andbesideuswasadearsisterinthespiritseatedinadeckchair，whilenearusweretwootherdearsoulsingraceengagedinChristianpastimeonthedeck，——Ialludemoreparticularlytothegameofdeckbilliards。"
　　Ileaveittoanyreasonablemanwhether，withthatcompleteandfair—mindedexplanationoftheenvironment，itwasnotperfectlypropertoclosedowntheanalogy，astherectordid，withthesimplewords："Infact，itwasanextremelyfinemorning。"
　　Yetthereweresomepeople，eveninMariposa，thattookexceptionandspenttheirSundaydinnertimeinmakingoutthattheycouldn’tunderstandwhatDeanDronewastalkingabout，andaskingoneanotheriftheyknew。Once，ashepassedoutfromthedoorsoftheGreaterTestimony，therectorheardsomeonesay："TheChurchwouldbeallrightifthatoldmugwumpwasoutofthepulpit。"Itwenttohisheartlikeabarbedthorn，andstayedthere。
　　Youknow，perhaps，howaremarkofthatsortcanstayandrankle，andmakeyouwishyoucouldhearitagaintomakesureofit，becauseperhapsyoudidn’thearitaright，anditwasamistakeafterall。
　　Perhapsnoonesaidit，anyway。Yououghttohavewrittenitdownatthetime。IhaveseentheDeantakedowntheencyclopaediaintherectory，andmovehisfingerslowlydownthepagesoftheletterM，lookingformugwump。Butitwasn’tthere。Ihaveknownhim，inhislittlestudyupstairs，turnoverthepagesofthe"AnimalsofPalestine，"lookingforamugwump。Buttherewasnonethere。ItmusthavebeenunknowninthegreaterdaysofJudea。
　　Sothingswentonfrommonthtomonth，andfromyeartoyear，andthedebtandthechargesloomedlikeadarkandgatheringcloudonthehorizon。Idon’tmeantosaythateffortswerenotmadetofacethedifficultyandtofightit。Theywere。Timeaftertimetheworkersofthecongregationgottogetherandthoughtoutplansfortheextinctionofthedebt。Butsomehow，aftereverytrial，thedebtgrewlargerwitheachyear，andeverysystemthatcouldbedevisedturnedoutmorehopelessthanthelast。
　　Theybegan，Ithink，withthe"endlesschain"oflettersofappeal。
　　Youmayrememberthedevice，foritwasall—popularinclericalcirclessometenorfifteenyearsago。Yougotanumberofpeopletowriteeachofthemthreelettersaskingfortencentsfromthreeeachoftheirfriendsandaskingeachofthemtosendonthreesimilarletters。Threeeachfromthreeeach，andthreeeachmorefromeach！
　　Doyouobservethewonderfulingenuityofit？Nobody，Ithink，hasforgottenhowtheWillingWorkersoftheChurchofEnglandChurchofMariposasatdowninthevestryroominthebasementwithapileofstationerythreefeethigh，sendingouttheletters。Some，Iknow，willneverforgetit。CertainlynotMr。Pupkin，thetellerintheExchangeBank，foritwasherethathemetZenaPepperleigh，thejudge’sdaughter，forthefirsttime;andtheyworkedsobusilythattheywroteouteversomanyletters——eightornine——inasingleafternoon，andtheydiscoveredthattheirhandwritingswereawfullyalike，whichwasoneofthemostextraordinaryandamazingcoincidences，youwilladmit，inthehistoryofchirography。
　　Buttheschemefailed——failedutterly。Idon’tknowwhy。Theletterswentoutandwerecopiedbroadcastandrecopied，tillyoucouldseetheMariposaendlesschainwindingitswaytowardstheRockyMountains。Buttheynevergotthetencents。TheWillingWorkerswroteforitinthousands，butbysomeoddchancetheyneverstruckthepersonwhohadit。
　　Thenafterthattherecamearegularwinterofeffort。FirstofalltheyhadabazaarthatwasgotupbytheGirls’Auxiliaryandheldinthebasementofthechurch。Allthegirlsworespecialcostumesthatwerebroughtupfromthecity，andtheyhadbooths，wheretherewaseveryimaginablethingforsale——pincushioncovers，andchaircovers，andsofacovers，everythingthatyoucanthinkof。Ifthepeoplehadoncestartedbuyingthem，thedebtwouldhavebeenliftedinnotime。
　　Evenasitwasthebazaaronlylosttwentydollars。
　　Afterthat，Ithink，wasthemagiclanternlecturethatDeanDronegaveon"ItalyandherInvaders。"Theygotthelanternandtheslidesupfromthecity，anditwassimplysplendid。Someoftheslideswereperhapsalittleconfusing，butitwasallthere，——thepicturesofthedenseItalianjungleandthecrocodilesandthenakedinvaderswiththeirinvadingclubs。Itwasapitythatitwassuchabadnight，snowinghard，andacurlingmatchon，ortheywouldhavemadealotofmoneyoutofthelecture。Asitwastheloss，apartfromthebreakingofthelantern，whichwasunavoidable，wasquitetrifling。
　　Icanhardlyrememberallthethingsthattherewereafterthat。I
　　recollectthatitwasalwaysMullinswhoarrangedaboutrentingthehallandprintingtheticketsandallthatsortofthing。Hisfather，youremember，hadbeenattheAnglicancollegewithDeanDrone，andthoughtherectorwasthirty—sevenyearsolderthanMullins，heleaneduponhim，inmattersofbusiness，asuponastaff;andthoughMullinswasthirty—sevenyearsyoungerthantheDean，heleanedagainsthim，inmattersofdoctrine，asagainstarock。
　　Atonetimetheygottheideathatwhatthepublicwantedwasnotanythinginstructivebutsomethinglightandamusing。Mullinssaidthatpeoplelovedtolaugh。Hesaidthatifyougetalotofpeoplealltogetherandgetthemlaughingyoucandoanythingyoulikewiththem。Oncetheystarttolaughtheyarelost。SotheygotMr。Dreery，theEnglishLiteratureteacheratthehighschool，togiveaneveningofreadingsfromtheGreatHumoristsfromChaucertoAdamSmith。Theycamemightyneartomakingabarrelofmoneyoutofthat。Ifthepeoplehadoncestartedlaughingitwouldhavebeenalloverwiththem。AsitwasIheardalotofthemsaythattheysimplywantedtoscreamwithlaughter：theysaidtheyjustfeltlikeburstingintopealsoflaughterallthetime。Evenwhen，inthemoresubtleparts，theydidn’tfeellikeburstingoutlaughing，theysaidtheyhadalltheycoulddotokeepfromsmiling。Theysaidtheyneverhadsuchahardstruggleintheirlivesnottosmile。
　　Infactthechairmansaidwhenheputthevoteofthanksthathewassureifpeoplehadknownwhatthelecturewastobeliketherewouldhavebeenamuchbetter"turn—out。"Butyouseeallthatthepeoplehadtogoonwasjusttheannouncementofthenameofthelecturer，Mr。Dreery，andthathewouldlectureonEnglishHumourAllSeatsTwenty—fiveCents。Asthechairmanexpressedithimself，ifthepeoplehadhadanyidea，anyideaatall，ofwhatthelecturewouldbeliketheywouldhavebeenthereinhundreds。Buthowcouldtheygetanideathatitwouldbesoamusingwithpracticallynothingtogoupon？
　　Afterthatattemptthingsseemedtogofrombadtoworse。Nearlyeverybodywasdisheartenedaboutit。Whatwouldhavehappenedtothedebt，orwhethertheywouldhaveeverpaiditoff，ismorethanIcansay，ifithadn’toccurredthatlightbrokeinonMullinsinthestrangestandmostsurprisingwayyoucanimagine。Ithappenedthathewentawayforhisbankholidays，andwhilehewasawayhehappenedtobepresentinoneofthebigcitiesandsawhowtheywentatittheretoraisemoney。HecamehomeinsuchastateofexcitementthathewentstraightupfromtheMariposastationtotherectory，valiseandall，andheburstinoneAprileveningtowheretheRuralDeanwassittingwiththethreegirlsbesidethelampinthefrontroom，andhecriedout：
　　"Mr。Drone，I’vegotit，——I’vegotawaythatwillclearthedebtbeforeyou’reafortnightolder。We’llhaveaWhirlwindCampaigninMariposa！"
　　Butstay！Thechangefromthedepthofdepressiontothepinnacleofhopeistooabrupt。ImustpauseandtellyouinanotherchapteroftheWhirlwindCampaigninMariposa。
　　FIVE
　　TheWhirlwindCampaigninMariposaItwasMullins，thebanker，whotoldMariposaallabouttheplanofaWhirlwindCampaignandexplainedhowitwastobedone。He’dhappenedtobeinoneofthebigcitieswhentheywereraisingmoneybyaWhirlwindCampaignforoneoftheuniversities，andhesawitall。
　　Hesaidhewouldneverforgetthesceneonthelastdayofit，whentheannouncementwasmadethatthetotalofthemoneyraisedwasevenmorethanwhatwasneeded。Itwasasplendidsight，——thebusinessmenofthetownallcheeringandlaughingandshakinghands，andtheprofessorswiththetearsstreamingdowntheirfaces，andtheDeansoftheFaculties，whohadgivenmoneythemselves，sobbingaloud。
　　Hesaiditwasthemostmovingthingheeversaw。
　　So，asIsaid，HenryMullins，whohadseenit，explainedtotheothershowitwasdone。Hesaidthatfirstofallafewofthebusinessmengottogetherquietly，——veryquietly，indeedthemorequietlythebetter，——andtalkedthingsover。Perhapsoneofthemwoulddine，——justquietly，——withanotheroneanddiscussthesituation。Thenthesetwowouldinviteathirdman，——possiblyevenafourth，——tohavelunchwiththemandtalkinageneralway，——eventalkofotherthingspartofthetime。Andsooninthiswaythingswouldbediscussedandlookedatindifferentlightsandviewedfromdifferentanglesandthenwheneverythingwasreadytheywouldgoatthingswitharush。Acentralcommitteewouldbeformedandsub—committees，withcaptainsofeachgroupandrecordersandsecretaries，andonastateddaytheWhirlwindCampaignwouldbegin。
　　Eachdaythecrowdwouldallagreetomeetatsomestatedplaceandeachlunchtogether，——sayatarestaurantoratacluboratsomeeatingplace。Thiswouldgooneverydaywiththeinterestgettingkeenerandkeener，andeverybodygettingmoreandmoreexcited，tillpresentlythechairmanwouldannouncethatthecampaignhadsucceededandtherewouldbethekindofscenethatMullinshaddescribed。
　　SothatwastheplanthattheysetinmotioninMariposa。
　　Idon’twishtosaytoomuchabouttheWhirlwindCampaignitself。I
　　don’tmeantosaythatitwasafailure。Onthecontrary，inmanywaysitcouldn’thavebeenagreatersuccess，andyetsomehowitdidn’tseemtoworkoutjustasHenryMullinshadsaiditwould。ItmaybethattherearedifferencesbetweenMariposaandthelargercitiesthatonedoesn’tappreciateatfirstsight。Perhapsitwouldhavebeenbettertotrysomeotherplan。
　　Yettheyfollowedalongtheusuallineofthingscloselyenough。Theybeganwiththeregularsystemofsomeofthebusinessmengettingtogetherinaquietway。
　　Firstofall，forexample，HenryMullinscameoverquietlytoDuff’srooms，overtheCommercialBank，withabottleofryewhiskey，andtheytalkedthingsover。AndthenightafterthatGeorgeDuffcameoverquietlytoMullins’srooms，overtheExchangeBank，withabottleofScotchwhiskey。AfeweveningsafterthatMullinsandDuffwenttogether，inaveryunostentatiousway，withperhapsacoupleofbottlesofrye，toPeteGlover’sroomoverthehardwarestore。AndthenallthreeofthemwentuponenightwithEdMoore，thephotographer，toJudgePepperleigh’shouseunderpretenceofhavingagameofpoker。Theverydayafterthat，MullinsandDuffandEdMoore，andPeteGloverandthejudgegotWillHarrison，theharnessmaker，togooutwithoutanyformalityonthelakeonthepretextoffishing。AndthenextnightafterthatDuffandMullinsandEdMooreandPeteGloverandPepperleighandWillHarrisongotAlfTrelawney，thepostmaster，tocomeover，justinacasualway，totheMariposaHouse，afterthenightmail，andthenextdayMullinsandDuffandBut，pshaw！youseeatoncehowthethingisworked。There’snoneedtofollowthatpartoftheWhirlwindCampaignfurther。Butitjustshowsthepoweroforganization。
　　Andallthistime，mindyou，theyweretalkingthingsover，andlookingatthingsfirstinonelightandtheninanotherlight，——infact，justdoingasthebigcitymendowhenthere’sanimportantthinglikethisunderway。
　　Soafterthingshadbeengotprettywellintoshapeinthisway，DuffaskedMullinsonenight，straightout，ifhewouldbechairmanoftheCentralCommittee。HesprungitonhimandMullinshadnotimetorefuse，butheputittoDuffstraightwhetherhewouldbetreasurer。
　　AndDuffhadnotimetorefuse。
　　Thatgavethingsastart，andwithinaweektheyhadthewholeorganizationonfoot。TherewastheGrandCentralCommitteeandsixgroupsorsub—committeesoftwentymeneach，andacaptainforeverygroup。Theyhaditallarrangedonthelinesmostlikelytobeeffective。
　　Inonegrouptherewereallthebankers，MullinsandDuffandPupkin（withthecameopin），andaboutfourothers。TheyhadtheirphotographstakenatEdMoore’sstudio，takeninalinewithabackgroundoficebergs——awinterscene——andaprettypenetratingcrowdtheylooked，Icantellyou。Afterall，youknow，ifyougetacrowdofrepresentativebankmentogetherinanyfinancialdeal，you’vegotaprettyconsiderableleveragerightaway。
　　Inthesecondgroupwerethelawyers，NivensandMacartneyandtherest——aboutaslevel—headedalotasyou’dseeanywhere。Getthelawyersofatownwithyouonathinglikethisandyou’llfindyou’vegotasortofbrainpowerwithyouthatyou’dnevergetwithoutthem。
　　Thentherewerethebusinessmen——therewasasolidcrowdforyou，——Harrison，theharnessmaker，andGlover，thehardwareman，andallthatgang，nottalkers，perhaps，butsolidmenwhocantellyoutoanicetyhowmanycentsthereareinadollar。It’sallrighttotalkabouteducationandthatsortofthing，butifyouwantdrivingpowerandefficiency，getbusinessmen。They’reseeingiteverydayinthecity，andit’sjustthesameinMariposa。Why，inthebigconcernsinthecity，iftheyfoundoutamanwaseducated，theywouldn’thavehim，——wouldn’tkeephimthereaminute。That’swhythebusinessmenhavetoconcealitsomuch。
　　ThenintheotherteamstherewerethedoctorsandthenewspapermenandtheprofessionalmenlikeJudgePepperleighandYodeltheauctioneer。
　　Itwasallorganizedsothateveryteamhaditsheadquarters，twoofthemineachofthethreehotels——oneupstairsandonedown。Anditwasarrangedthattherewouldbeabigluncheveryday，tobeheldinSmith’scaff，roundthecornerofSmith’sNorthernHealthResortandHomeoftheWissanottiAngler，——youknowtheplace。Thelunchwasdividedupintotables，withacaptainforeachtabletoseeaboutthingstodrink，andofcourseallthetableswereincompetitionwithoneanother。Infactthecompetitionwastheverylifeofthewholething。
　　It’sjustwonderfulhowthesethingsrunwhenthey’reorganized。Takethefirstluncheon，forexample。Theretheyallwere，everymaninhisplace，everycaptainathispostatthetopofthetable。Itwashard，perhaps，forsomeofthemtogetthere。Theyhadverylikelytobeintheirstoresandbanksandofficestillthelastminuteandthenmakeadashforit。Itwasthecleanestpieceofteamworkyoueversaw。
　　Youhavenoticedalready，Iamsure，thatagoodmanyofthecaptainsandcommitteemendidn’tbelongtotheChurchofEnglandChurch。
　　Glover，forinstance，wasaPresbyterian，tilltheyranthepicketfenceofthemansetwofeetontohisproperty，andafterthathebecameafree—thinker。ButinMariposa，asIhavesaid，everybodylikestobeineverythingandnaturallyaWhirlwindCampaignwasanovelty。Anywayitwouldhavebeenapoorbusinesstokeepamanoutofthelunchesmerelyonaccountofhisreligion。Itrustthatthedayforthatkindofreligiousbigotryispast。
　　OfcoursetheexcitementwaswhenHenryMullinsattheheadofthetablebeganreadingoutthetelegramsandlettersandmessages。FirstofalltherewasatelegramofgoodwishesfromtheAnglicanLordBishopoftheDiocesetoHenryMullinsandcallinghimDearBrotherinGracetheMariposatelegraphofficeisalittleunreliableanditread："DearBrotheringrease，"butthatwasgoodenough。TheBishopsaidthathismostearnestwisheswerewiththem。
　　ThenMullinsreadaletterfromtheMayorofMariposaPeteGloverwasmayorthatyear——statingthathiskeenestdesireswerewiththem：andthenonefromtheCarriageCompanysayingthatitsheartiestgoodwillwasalltheirs;andthenonefromtheMeatWorkssayingthatitsnearestthoughtswerenexttothem。Thenhereadonefromhimself，asheadoftheExchangeBank，youunderstand，informinghimthathehadheardofhisprojectandassuringhimofhisliveliestinterestinwhatheproposed。
　　Ateachofthesetelegramsandmessagestherewasroundafterroundofapplause，sothatyoucouldhardlyhearyourselfspeakorgiveanorder。ButthatwasnothingtowhenMullinsgotupagain，andbeatonthetableforsilenceandmadeoneofthosecracklingspeeches——justthewaybusinessmenspeak——thekindofspeechthatacollegemansimplycan’tmake。IwishIcouldrepeatitall。Irememberthatitbegan："Nowboys，youknowwhatwe’reherefor，gentlemen，"anditwentonjustasgoodasthatallthrough。WhenMullinshaddonehetookoutafountainpenandwroteoutachequeforahundreddollars，conditionalonthefundreachingfiftythousand。Andtherewasaburstofcheersallovertheroom。
　　Justthemomenthehaddoneit，upsprangGeorgeDuff，——youknowthekeencompetitionthereis，asastraightmatterofbusiness，betweenthebanksinMariposa，——upsprangGeorgeDuff，Isay，andwroteoutachequeforanotherhundredconditionalonthefundreachingseventythousand。Youneverheardsuchcheeringinyourlife。
　　AndthenwhenNetleywalkeduptotheheadofthetableandlaiddownachequeforahundreddollarsconditionalonthefundreachingonehundredthousandtheroomwasinanuproar。Ahundredthousanddollars！Justthinkofit！Thefiguresfairlystaggerone。TothinkofahundredthousanddollarsraisedinfiveminutesinalittleplacelikeMariposa！
　　Andeventhatwasnothing！InlessthannotimetherewassuchacrowdroundMullinstryingtoborrowhispenallatoncethathiswaistcoatwasallstainedwithink。Finallywhentheygotorderatlast，andMullinsstoodupandannouncedthattheconditionalfundhadreachedaquarterofamillion，thewholeplacewasaperfectbabelofcheering。Oh，theseWhirlwindCampaignsarewonderfulthings！
　　IcantellyoutheCommitteefeltprettyproudthatfirstday。TherewasHenryMullinslookingalittlebitflushedandexcited，withhiswhitewaistcoatandanAmericanBeautyrose，andwithinkmarksalloverhimfromthechequesigning;andhekepttellingthemthathe’dknownallalongthatallthatwasneededwastogetthethingstartedandtellingagainaboutwhathe’dseenattheUniversityCampaignandabouttheprofessorscrying，andwonderingifthehighschoolteacherswouldcomedownforthelastdayofthemeetings。
　　LookingbackontheMariposaWhirlwind，Icanneverfeelthatitwasafailure。Afterall，thereisasympathyandabrotherhoodinthesethingswhenmenworkshouldertoshoulder。IfyouhadseenthecanvassersoftheCommitteegoingroundthetownthateveningshouldertoshoulderfromtheMariposaHousetotheContinentalanduptoMullins’sroomsandovertoDuffs，shouldertoshoulder，you’dhaveunderstoodit。
　　Idon’tsaythateverylunchwasquitesuchasuccessasthefirst。
　　It’snotalwayseasytogetoutofthestoreifyou’reabusyman，andagoodmanyoftheWhirlwindCommitteefoundthattheyhadjusttimetohurrydownandsnatchtheirlunchandgetbackagain。Still，theycame，andsnatchedit。Aslongastheluncheslasted，theycame。
　　Eveniftheyhadsimplytorushitandgrabsomethingtoeatanddrinkwithouttimetotalktoanybody，theycame。
　　No，no，itwasnotlackofenthusiasmthatkilledtheWhirlwindCampaigninMariposa。Itmusthavebeensomethingelse。Idon’tjustknowwhatitwasbutIthinkithadsomethingtodowiththefinancial，thebook—keepingsideofthething。
　　Itmayhavebeen，too，thattheorganizationwasnotquitecorrectlyplanned。Yousee，ifpracticallyeverybodyisonthecommittees，itisawfullyhardtotrytofindmentocanvass，anditisnotallowableforthecaptainsandthecommitteementocanvassoneanother，becausetheirgiftsarespontaneous。Sotheonlythingthatthedifferentgroupscoulddowastowaitroundinsomelikelyplace——saythebarparlourofSmith’sHotel——inthehopethatsomebodymightcomeinwhocouldbecanvassed。
　　Youmightaskwhytheydidn’tcanvassMr。Smithhimself，butofcoursetheyhaddonethatattheverystart，asIshouldhavesaid。
　　Mr。Smithhadgiventhemtwohundreddollarsincashconditionalonthelunchesbeingheldinthecaffofhishotel;andit’sawfullyhardtogetaproperlunchImeanthekindtowhichaBishopcanexpressregretatnotbeingthere——underadollartwenty—five。SoMr。Smithgotbackhisownmoney，andthecrowdbeganeatingintothebenefactions，anditgotmoreandmorecomplicatedwhethertoholdanotherlunchinthehopeofbreakingeven，ortostopthecampaign。
　　Itwasdisappointing，yes。Inspiteofallthesuccessandthesympathy，itwasdisappointing。Idon’tsayitdidn’tdogood。Nodoubtalotofthemengottoknowoneanotherbetterthanevertheyhadbefore。IhavemyselfheardJudgePepperleighsaythatafterthecampaignheknewallofPeteGloverthathewantedto。Therewasalotofthatkindofcompletesatiety。TherealtroubleabouttheWhirlwindCampaignwasthattheyneverclearlyunderstoodwhichofthemwerethewhirlwindandwhoweretobethecampaign。
　　Someofthem，Ibelieve，tookitprettymuchtoheart。IknowthatHenryMullinsdid。Youcouldseeit。Thefirstdayhecamedowntothelunch，alldressedupwiththeAmericanBeautyandthewhitewaistcoat。Theseconddayheonlyworeapinkcarnationandagreywaistcoat。Thethirddayhehadonadeaddaffodilandacardiganundervest，andonthelastday，whenthehighschoolteachersshouldhavebeenthere，heonlyworehisofficesuitandhehadn’tevenshaved。Helookedbeaten。
　　ItwasthatnightthathewentuptotherectorytotellthenewstoDeanDrone。Ithadbeenarranged，youknow，thattherectorshouldnotattendthelunches，soastoletthewholethingcomeasasurprise;sothatallheknewaboutitwasjustscrapsofinformationaboutthecrowdsatthelunchandhowtheycheeredandallthat。
　　Once，Ibelieve，hecaughtsightoftheNewspacketwithatwo—inchheadline：AQUARTEROFAMILLION，buthewouldn’tlethimselfreadfurtherbecauseitwouldhavespoiltthesurprise。
　　IsawMullins，asIsay，goupthestreetonhiswaytoDeanDrone’s。
　　ItwasmiddleAprilandtherewasraggedsnowonthestreets，andthenightsweredarkstill，andcold。IsawMullinsgrithisteethashewalked，andIknowthatheheldinhiscoatpockethisownchequeforthehundred，withtheconditiontakenoffit，andhesaidthatthereweresomanyskunksinMariposathatamanmightaswellbeintheHeadOfficeinthecity。
　　TheDeancameouttothelittlegateinthedark，——youcouldseethelamplightbehindhimfromtheopendooroftherectory，——andheshookhandswithMullinsandtheywentintogether。
　　SIX
　　TheBeaconontheHillMullinssaidafterwardthatitwaseversomucheasierthanhethoughtitwouldhavebeen。TheDean，hesaid，wassoquiet。OfcourseifMr。DronehadstartedtoswearatMullins，ortriedtostrikehim，itwouldhavebeenmuchharder。ButasitwashewassoquietthatpartofthetimehehardlyseemedtofollowwhatMullinswassaying。SoMullinswasgladofthat，becauseitprovedthattheDeanwasn’tfeelingdisappointedas，inaway，hemighthave。
　　Indeed，theonlytimewhentherectorseemedanimatedandexcitedinthewholeinterviewwaswhenMullinssaidthatthecampaignhadbeenruinedbyalotofconfoundedmugwumps。StraightawaytheDeanaskedifthosemugwumpshadreallyprejudicedtheoutcomeofthecampaign。
　　Mullinssaidtherewasnodoubtofit，andtheDeanenquiredifthepresenceofmugwumpswasfatalinmattersofendeavour，andMullinssaidthatitwas。Thentherectoraskedifevenonemugwumpwas，intheChristiansense，deleterious。Mullinssaidthatonemugwumpwouldkillanything。AfterthattheDeanhardlyspokeatall。
　　Infact，therectorpresentlysaidthathemustn’tdetainMullinstoolongandthathehaddetainedhimtoolongalreadyandthatMullinsmustbewearyfromhistrainjourneyandthatincasesofextremewearinessnothingbutasoundsleepwasofanyavail;hehimself，unfortunately，wouldnotbeabletoavailhimselfofthepricelessboonofslumberuntilhehadfirstretiredtohisstudytowritesomeletters;sothatMullins，whohadacertainkindofsocialquicknessofintuition，sawthatitwastimetoleave，andwentaway。
　　Itwasmidnightashewentdownthestreet，andadark，stillnight。
　　Thatcanbestatedpositivelybecauseitcameoutincourtafterwards。Mullinssworethatitwasadarknight;headmitted，underexamination，thattheremayhavebeenthestars，oratleastsomeofthelessimportantofthem，thoughhehadmadenoattempt，asbroughtoutoncross—examination，tocountthem：theremayhavebeen，too，theelectriclights，andMullinswasnotwillingtodenythatitwasquitepossiblethattherewasmoreorlessmoonlight。Butthattherewasnolightthatnightintheformofsunlight，Mullinswasabsolutelycertain。Allthat，Isay，cameoutincourt。
　　Butmeanwhiletherectorhadgoneupstairstohisstudyandhadseatedhimselfinfrontofhistabletowritehisletters。Itwasherealwaysthathewrotehissermons。Fromthewindowoftheroomyoulookedthroughthebarewhitemapletreestothesweepingoutlineofthechurchshadowedagainstthenightsky，andbeyondthat，thoughfaroff，wasthenewcemeterywheretherectorwalkedofaSunday（I
　　thinkItoldyouwhy）：beyondthatagain，forthewindowfacedtheeast，therelay，atnoverygreatdistance，theNewJerusalem。Therewerenobetterthingsthatamanmightlooktowardsfromhisstudywindow，noranythingthatcouldserveasabetteraidtowriting。
　　ButthisnighttheDean’slettersmusthavebeendifficultindeedtowrite。Forhesatbesidethetableholdinghispenandwithhisheadbentuponhisotherhand，andthoughhesometimesputalineortwoonthepaper，forthemostparthesatmotionless。ThefactisthatDeanDronewasnottryingtowriteletters，butonlyoneletter。Hewaswritingaletterofresignation。Ifyouhavenotdonethatforfortyyearsitisextremelydifficulttogetthewords。
　　SoatleasttheDeanfoundit。Firsthewroteonesetofwordsandthenhesatandthoughtandwrotesomethingelse。Butnothingseemedtosuit。
　　TherealtruthwasthatDeanDrone，perhapsmorethanheknewhimself，hadafinetasteforwordsandeffects，andwhenyoufeelthatasituationisentirelyoutofthecommon，younaturallytry，ifyouhavethatinstinct，togiveittherightsortofexpression。
　　IbelievethatatthetimewhenRupertDronehadtakenthemedalinGreekoverfiftyyearsago，itwasonlyatwistoffatethathadpreventedhimfrombecomingagreatwriter。TherewasaburiedauthorinhimjustastherewasaburiedfinancierinJeffersonThorpe。Infact，thereweremanypeopleinMariposalikethat，andforallI
　　knowyoumayyourselfhaveseensuchelsewhere。Forinstance，IamcertainthatBillyRawson，thetelegraphoperatoratMariposa，couldeasilyhaveinventedradium。InthesamewayonehasonlytoreadtheadvertisementsofMr。Gingham，theundertaker，toknowthatthereisstillinhimapoet，whocouldhavewrittenondeathfarmoreattractiveversesthantheThanatopsisofCullenBryant，andunderatitlelesslikelytooffendthepublicanddriveawaycustom。Hehastoldmethishimself。
　　SotheDeantriedfirstthisandthenthatandnothingwouldseemtosuit。Firstofallhewrote：
　　"ItisnowfortyyearssinceIcameamongyou，ayouthfulloflifeandhopeandardentintheworkbeforeme——"Thenhepaused，doubtfuloftheaccuracyandclearnessoftheexpression，readitoveragainandagainindeepthoughtandthenbeganagain：
　　"ItisnowfortyyearssinceIcameamongyou，abrokenandmelancholyboy，withoutlifeorhope，desiringonlytodevotetotheserviceofthisparishsuchfewyearsasmightremainofanexistenceblightedbeforeithadtrulybegun——"AndthenagaintheDeanstopped。Hereadwhathehadwritten;hefrowned;hecrosseditthroughwithhispen。Thiswasnowaytowrite，thisthinegotisticalstrainofcomplaint。Oncemorehestarted：
　　"ItisnowfortyyearssinceIcameamongyou，amanalreadytemperedandtrained，exceptpossiblyinmathematics——"AndthenagaintherectorpausedandhisminddriftedawaytothememoryoftheAnglicanprofessorthatIspokeof，whohadhadsolittlesenseofhishighermissionastoomittheteachingoflogarithms。Andtherectormusedsolongthatwhenhebeganagainitseemedtohimthatitwassimplerandbettertodiscardthepersonalnotealtogether，andhewrote：
　　"Therearetimes，gentlemen，inthelifeofaparish，whenitcomestoanepochwhichbringsittoamomentwhenitreachesapoint——"
　　TheDeanstuckfastagain，butrefusingthistimetobebeatenwentresolutelyon：
　　"——reachesapointwherethecircumstancesofthemomentmaketheepochsuchastofocusthelifeoftheparishinthattime。"
　　ThentheDeansawthathewasbeaten，andheknewthathenotonlycouldn’tmanagetheparishbutcouldn’tsaysoinproperEnglish，andofthetwothelastwasthebittererdiscovery。
　　Heraisedhishead，andlookedforamomentthroughthewindowattheshadowofthechurchagainstthenight，sooutlinedthatyoucouldalmostfancythatthelightoftheNewJerusalemwasbeyondit。Thenhewrote，andthistimenottotheworldatlargebutonlytoMullins：
　　"MydearHarry，Iwanttoresignmycharge。Willyoucomeoverandhelpme？"
　　WhentheDeanatlastrosefromwritingthat，Ithinkitwasfaroninthenight。Asherosehelookedagainthroughthewindow，lookedonceandthenoncemore，andsostoodwithwideningeyes，andhisfacesettowardswhathesaw。
　　Whatwasthat？Thatlightintheskythere，eastward？——nearorfarhecouldnotsay。WasitalreadythedawnoftheNewJerusalembrighteningintheeast，orwasit——look——inthechurchitself，——whatisthat？——thatdullredglowthatshinesbehindthestained—glasswindows，turningthemtocrimson？thatforkofflamethatbreaksnowfromthecasementandflashesupward，alongthewood——andsee——thatsuddensheetoffirethatspringsthewindowsofthechurchwiththeroarofsplinteredglassandsurgesupwardintothesky，tillthedarknightandthebaretreesandsleepingstreetofMariposaareallilluminedwithitsglow！
　　Fire！Fire！andthesuddensoundofthebellnow，breakinguponthenight。
　　SostoodtheDeanerect，withonehandpressedagainstthetableforsupport，whiletheMariposafirebellstruckoutitswarningtothesleepingtown，——stoodtherewhilethestreetgrewloudwiththetumultofvoices，——withtheroaringgallopofthefirebrigade，——withtheharshnoteofthegong——andoverallothersounds，thegreatseethingoftheflamesthattoretheirwayintothebeamsandraftersofthepointedchurchandflaredaboveitlikeatorchintothemidnightsky。
　　SostoodtheDean，andasthechurchbrokethusintoaverybeaconkindleduponahill，——sankforwardwithoutasign，hisfaceagainstthetable，stricken。
　　YouneedtoseeafireinaplacesuchasMariposa，atownstillhalfofwood，toknowwhatfiremeans。Inthecityitisalldifferent。Totheonlooker，atanyrate，afireisonlyaspectacle，nothingmore。
　　Everythingisarranged，organized，certain。ItisonlyonceperhapsinacenturythatfirecomestoalargecityasitcomestothelittlewoodentownlikeMariposaasagreatTerroroftheNight。
　　That，atanyrate，iswhatitmeantinMariposathatnightinApril，thenighttheChurchofEnglandChurchburntdown。Hadthefiregainedbutahundredfeet，orless，itcouldhavereachedfromthedrivingshedbehindthechurchtothebacksofthewoodenshopsoftheMainStreet，andoncetherenotallthewatersofLakeWissanotticouldstaythecourseofitsdestruction。Itwasforthathundredfeetthattheyfought，themenofMariposa，fromthemidnightcallofthebelltilltheslowcomingoftheday。Theyfoughtthefire，nottosavethechurch，forthatwasdoomedfromthefirstoutbreakoftheflames，buttostopthespreadofitandsavethetown。Theyfoughtitatthewindows，andattheblazingdoors，andthroughtheyawningfurnaceoftheopenbelfry;foughtit，withtheMariposaenginethumpingandpantinginthestreet，itselfaglowwithfirelikeaservantdemonfightingitsownkind，withtallladdersreachingtotheveryroof，andwithhosethatpouredtheirstreamsoftossingwaterfoamingintotheflames。
　　MostofalltheyfoughttosavethewoodendrivingshedbehindthechurchfromwhichthefirecouldleapintotheheartofMariposa。
　　Thatwaswheretherealfightwas，forthelifeofthetown。Iwishyoucouldhaveseenhowtheyturnedthehoseagainsttheshingles，rippingandtearingthemfromtheirplaceswiththeforceofthedrivenwater：howtheymountedontheroof，axeinhand，andcutmadlyattherafterstobringthebuildingdown，whiletheblackcloudsofsmokerolledinvolumesaboutthemenastheyworked。Youcouldseethefirehorsesharnessedwithloggingchainstotheuprightsoftheshedtotearthebuildingfromitsplace。
　　MostofallIwishyoucouldhaveseenMr。Smith，proprietor，asI
　　thinkyouknow，ofSmith’sHotel，thereontheroofwithafireman’shelmeton，cuttingthroughthemainbeamofsolidcedar，twelvebytwelve，thatheldtightstillwhentheraftersandtherooftreeweredownalready，theshedonfireinadozenplaces，andtheothermendrivenfromtheworkbytheflamingsparks，andbythestrangleofthesmoke。NotsoMr。Smith！Seehimthereasheplantshimselffirmattheangleofthebeams，andwiththefullimpactofhistwohundredandeightypoundsdriveshisaxeintothewood！Itellyouittakesamanfromthepinecountryofthenorthtohandleanaxe！
　　Right，left，left，right，downitcomes，withneverapauseorstay，nevermissingbyafractionofaninchthelineofthestroke！Atit，Smith！Downwithit！Tillwithashoutfromthecrowdthebeamgapesasunder，andMr。Smithisonthegroundagain，roaringhisdirectionstothemenandhorsesastheyhauldowntheshed，inavoicethatdominatesthefireitself。
　　WhomadeMr。SmiththeheadandchiefoftheMariposafirebrigadethatnight，Icannotsay。Idonotknowevenwherehegotthehugeredhelmetthathewore，norhadIeverheardtillthenightthechurchburntdownthatMr。Smithwasamemberofthefirebrigadeatall。Butit’salwaysthatway。Yourlittlenarrow—chestedmenmayplanandorganize，butwhenthereissomethingtobedone，somethingreal，thenit’sthemanofsizeandweightthatstepstothefronteverytime。LookatBismarckandMr。GladstoneandPresidentTaftandMr。Smith，——thesamethingineachcase。
　　IsupposeitwasperfectlynaturalthatjustassoonasMr。Smithcameonthesceneheputonsomebody’shelmetandshoutedhisdirectionstothemenandbossedtheMariposafirebrigadelikeBismarckwiththeGermanparliament。
　　Thefirehadbrokenoutlate，lateatnight，andtheyfoughtittilltheday。Theflameofitlitupthetownandthebaregreymapletrees，andyoucouldseeinthelightofitthebroadsheetofthefrozenlake，snowcoveredstill。Itkindledsuchabeaconasitburnedthatfromtheothersideofthelakethepeopleonthenightexpressfromthenorthcouldseeittwentymilesaway。ItlitupsuchatestimonyofflamethatMariposahasneverseenthelikeofitbeforeorsince。Thenwhentheroofcrashedinandthetallsteepletotteredandfell，soswiftadarknessseemedtocomethatthegreytreesandthefrozenlakevanishedinamomentasifblottedoutofexistence。
　　WhenthemorningcamethegreatchurchofMariposawasnothingbutaraggedgroupofwallswithasoddenheapofbricksandblackenedwood，stillhissinghereandtherebeneaththehosewiththesullenangerofaconqueredfire。RoundtheruinsofthefirewalkedthepeopleofMariposanextmorning，andtheypointedoutwherethewreckofthesteeplehadfallen，andwherethebellsofthechurchlayinamoltenheapamongthebricks，andtheytalkedofthelossthatitwasandhowmanydollarsitwouldtaketorebuildthechurch，andwhetheritwasinsuredandforhowmuch。Andtherewereatleastfourteenpeoplewhohadseenthefirefirst，andmorethanthatwhohadgiventhefirstalarm，andeversomanywhoknewhowfiresofthissortcouldbeprevented。
　　MostnoticeableofallyoucouldseethesidesmenandthewardensandMullins，thechairmanofthevestry，talkinginlittlegroupsaboutthefire。Laterinthedaytherecamefromthecitytheinsurancemenandthefireappraisers，andtheytoowalkedabouttheruins，andtalkedwiththewardensandthevestrymen。Therewassuchaluxuryofexcitementinthetownthatdaythatitwasjustasgoodasapublicholiday。