V
Babbitt let Dr. Drew know that he was responsible for
this tribute. Dr. Drew called him "brother,'' and shook his
hand a great many times.
During the meetings of the Advisory Committee, Babbitt
had hinted that he would be charmed to invite Eathorne to
dinner, but Eathorne had murmured, "So nice of you—old
man, now—almost never go out.'' Surely Eathorne would not
refuse his own pastor. Babbitt said boyishly to Drew:
"Say, doctor, now we've put this thing over, strikes me it's
up to the dominie to blow the three of us to a dinner!''
"Bully! You bet! Delighted!'' cried Dr. Drew, in his
manliest way. (Some one had once told him that he talked
like the late President Roosevelt.)
"And, uh, say, doctor, be sure and get Mr. Eathorne to come.
Insist on it. It's, uh— I think he sticks around home too
much for his own health.''
Eathorne came.
It was a friendly dinner. Babbitt spoke gracefully of the
stabilizing and educational value of bankers to the community.
They were, he said, the pastors of the fold of commerce. For
the first time Eathorne departed from the topic of Sunday
Schools, and asked Babbitt about the progress of his business.
Babbitt answered modestly, almost filially.
A few months later, when he had a chance to take part in the
Street Traction Company's terminal deal, Babbitt did not care
to go to his own bank for a loan. It was rather a quiet sort
of deal and, if it had come out, the Public might not have
understood. He went to his friend Mr. Eathorne; he was
welcomed, and received the loan as a private venture; and they
both profited in their pleasant new association.
After that, Babbitt went to church regularly, except on
spring Sunday mornings which were obviously meant for motoring.
He announced to Ted, "I tell you, boy, there's no stronger
bulwark of sound conservatism than the evangelical church,
and no better place to make friends who'll help you to gain your
rightful place in the community than in your own church-home!''