Merry Christmas to All, I pray you find this interesting.


PREFACE To
THE INFLUENCE of ONE LIFE
By Jack Davis

Some time prior to the 1939 depression Clifford E. Clifton and his
wife Nelda went to Los Angeles,Ca. from San Francisco and opened a
cafeteria.It is still open today at 618 South Olive St. When they
opened it they did so on the principal of the "Golden Rule", no one
ever recieved a check. On each side of the exit doors were placed to
large green urns and as you exited you dropped in the urns any amount
you wished or thought appropriate for your meal. They continued this
method up until World War II, at which time they did give a check, but
it was only for the actual cost of the food due to the shortages at
the time. However you still dropped the amount of your meal in the
urns.
To my knowledge the employees(associates) were paid on a position
level percentage basis of the profits. The dining room waiters with
the tips they recieved are said to have recieved the highest wages in
the country during the depression years, usually above one hundred
dollars per day.
It is said that during the depression and war years that they served
an average of over ten thousand meals a day. As business grew they
eventually opened a second caferteria at 648 S Broadway and it too was
an astounding success.
The Broadway cafeteria was unique in that the entrance was as if you
were entering a cave. Once inside it was decorated in a Hawaiian
Woodland scenes and even had a large waterfall.Much of the flora was
did in neon lighting, spectacular. An organ played soothing dinner
music.
One of the main attractions at the Olive St. place and separate to it
self was "The Garden of Gethsemane" in which the statute of Christ
Praying was protrayed. It was from this statute that "The Praying
Hands" so widely distributed today were molded from. This scene was so
lighted and scaled that to observe it gave you the impression of
lifeness. Along with the exhibit was pamphlets of religious nature,
One was the story "The Influence of One Life" which follows. I am sure
you will enjoy it. If you are ever in Los Angeles I strongly recommend
you take time to visit "The Cliftons cafeterias" downtown and
especially The Garden.
THE INFLUENCE OF ONE Life



Millions have perished in war and terror.

We survive.

Millions are homeless.

We are sheltered.

This night in all the world, for every man well nourished, three are
hungry.

We are fed.

The world's abundance should have blessed mankind with homes,
health, and competence. Instead it has been used to destroy all
these-- to breed pestilence, misery, and poverty.

The finger of the bitter past points to a bloody page...."and we
shall meanly lose or nobly save the last best hope of earth."

Each life is tested by its answer to the question first asked in the
world's beginning:"Am I my brother's keeper?"
One life was lived in answer. By all the formal measurements of
greatness it should of failed. "T'was such a little span of years in
such a far-off lonely little land.

He was born in a village stable. No birth could be lowlier, hence
none need despair because of lowly birth. Possessed of profound
wisdom, He had but meager education. None, therefore need despair for
lack of schooling. No wife, no child--He showed each lonely heart its
deepest need.

For thirty years, near the village of His birth, He grew and learned
His simple trade, shaping, the native wood to serve the wants of home
and craft.

Three Years He wandered, teaching, shaping the native hearts to
service of truth and love. He was never more than a few hundred miles
from His birthplace.

He held no earthly rank or office: wrote no book, no song; painted no
picture, built no monument.

His native land was held by conquerors and foreign legions. While
still in the flush of youth, His own people turned against this Man
who strangely taught that evil can only beovercome by good.

He was denied by His close friend, deserted by most, betrayed for
thirty pieces of silver by one He had befreinded.

One dark hour He knelt in the Garden, His hour of decision.

He gave Himself over to His enemies, was tried and condemned in
mockery, spat upon and lashed, nailed to a cross between two thieves.

He died asking forgivingness for His perscutors while His
executioners gambled for his only earthly possession-His robe.

He was laid in a borrowed tomb.

Nearly two thousand years have passed and none has reigned or
wrought, or served, or dreamed who has so touched and moulded human
life. He is the ideal-the example-who has inspired the noblest and the
humblest lives- the great unalterable, wholesome, growing influence
in a world of blood and tears.

He who was friendless would be Friend of all. Homeless, He dwells in
countless homes. Books on His life fill libraries. His gospels cover
the earth. Song and music in His praise fill the heavens. Pictures,
spires and monuments proclaim His influence. Scholars, illiterates,
rich men, beggars, rulers and slaves... all are measured by His life.

The names of Pharaohs, Caesars, emperors, and kings of all the ages
that have come and gone are but ghost upon a printed page. All their
combined legions and military might are dust upon the land; their
proud sea-borne armadas rust upon an ocean floor.

But this One Solitary Life surpasses all in power. Its influence is
the one remaining and sustaining hope of future years.

By Ernest R. Chamberlain
as suggested by
Clifforf E. Clifton of
Clifton's Cafeteria,
Los Angels , Calif.
_________1945____________


We have committed the GOLDEN RULE to memory: Let us now commit it to
LIFE!
-C.K. Chesterton