Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-01-06


Enlistment Of the Messrs. Harper, bro't
out much that was creditablc TO them
to the clty-to human nature. What
we admire most, was the instantaneous
energy with which tho worthy Brothers
set about repairing the great disaster,
which had swept away In four hours the
accumulated resources and appliances
Of twenty-five years. No murmuriug
or repnlng escaped their lips. Before
tho alarm had reached the street, they
comprehended the fulness and certainty
oi the catastrophe. Tho camphcne on
hrein said one OF them, who was nearest
the scene, "theu we are lostj save tho
hands" The safety OF the girls and tho
workmen was soon assured, and before
the fury OF the flames had begun to SUBJ
side, an outline Of the plan OF operations
TO be pursued had sketched ltself In their
minds, and by Monday morning was
completed. The January number OF tho
Magazine, which the FIRE had destroyed,
was engaged Tor In nclghboring Office,
and was In n state OF great forwardness
before the end OF the week. Arrange
ments for having printing executed In
cities as distant as Cincinnati, were
made forthwith. Floods Of water were
poured upon the smouldering ruins, aud
the bricks, hot and Kissing, began TO be
carried away and piled In tho street. A
large building near by was hired for the
transaction OF business. In three diys
after the fire, the Harper Brothers were
quietly working out the scheme which
was formed while the fire was raging,
and will continue quietly working Il out,
I'LL, In few months, they find them
selves In new and improved buildings,
with new aud improved machinery, with
their old and tried assistants about them,
going on In the old, triumphant way,
as though nothing had happened. They
might, II they had chosen, have embra-
ced the opportunity 10 retire from busl-
ness. Their insur ancc would have suili-
ced TO pay every outstanding notes.
The stereotype plates saved In the vaults
were worth half million; their private
fortunes are largci but no--at work they
went, "a though their daily bread depsn.
dod upon the Reconstruction OF their
business. This IL the genuine Ameri-
can sryLE, and we glory In III
Only once, aud only Tor moment
did the frmness of James Harper give
way. II was on the Monday afternoon
after the fire. All day long, offers oil
assistance from banks, insurance com.
panles, capitalists, and friends had come
pouring In. I'LL u seemed as II the whole
ofthe floating resources OF this metrop-
oils had nothing clso 10 do or desire
than to help the brothers Harper In their
time OF calamity. The heart OF James
Harper was full. The man OF business
had become the man OF feeling. An
old friend Of thirty years standlng CAME
In, took his hand, and said. "Is there AM
thing that | can dol" This was the
drop that made the cup overflow. III
can't stand this" said James, "lt humans
c,'--and burst into tears. This was
not weakness--lt was strength; and We
glory In that, too.
These offers OF help were all the more
proper, because they were not needed
This may seem hard saying. but II II Q
true one. II II M much the Instinct o
human nature NJ II proyerblally ID the
way OF "Ileayen," 20 help those whC
help themselves, and 10 Withhold hell
from those who do not--.need II as they
may. Aud all the instincts Of human
nature and oil ways Of Heaven are right
The Harpera. forty years ago, were jour
neymen prlnters. by industry, prudence
economy, and good management, they
have become the leaders In tho mos
difficult branch Of business known among
men, aud built up an establishment un
approached by any In the world, for ex
tent, resources, celebrity, or prosperity
Thus they acquired the right TO and Ger
talnty Of every kind Of assistance, BY
placing themselves at an immense dis
lance from the want OF Il. The princi
ple and the moral Of this apply as wei
to the apprentice boy who Patronlze'
the sixpenny savings bank, as to thu
kings Of the book trade.
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