Litchfield enquirer., 1872-10-03
IN BUSINESS HOURS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF THREE YEARS IN MAN TRAP"

Few heads can bear 1t in business hours, was the reply. 50, takea friend s advice, Howard, and let the wine alone. The last speaker was past the meridian of life. He had care-worn face, and deep, thoughtful eyes. If you studied his countenance when In repose, you read l in many of its lines record of disappoint- ment and heartache The other was a handsome young man, with clear, conf dent eyes, and a sef-poised air. You saw that he had faith i'll himself-was hopeful and strong; and meant to win in the race of life.
 Why do you say in business hours, MT. Clarkson?" inquired tbe young man, as he held the wine near his lips. "Because success ill business requires a clear head; and no head is as clear after | glass of wine IS taken as 1t was before" MT. Clarkson said this so gravely and impressively that his companion was struck by his manner, and felt that he had spoke from some painful experience. He stood irresolute for a moment, and then set down the untasted glass of wine Right, my young friend!' There was tone of satisfaction in Mir. Clarksok's voice.
 "But, said Howard, as he moved back from a table covered with the daintiest refreshments and the choicest wines-a table surrounded by beauty and fashion ''Isee many of our successful business men here, and they are taking wine free ly. At 8 bridal reception no one can re- fuse"
 ''The occasion does not lessen the dan ger" Mir. Clarkson answered. "Some men who go from here this morning will be poorer by night-fall than when they came"
 'In the chances of trade and specnla- tiOn JOSS ana gain come to some men every day. It is the natural course of things said Howard
 ''But mean, poorer for the wine drank here, replied MT. Clarkson. ''I see men in this room who have large business in- terests of their own and others to manage; interests that require the coolest judge ment and the most careful thought. They will hurry away from here in a little while, and go back to their offices, their stores and their counting rooms, to take up the work intermitted for brief hour. Do you think they will be as clear-hea,led as before? as well fitted to grapple with the issues that demand their ability? Will the wine they have taken be help or q hindrance?
 ''I could tell you story," MT. Clark son added, after pause, ESQ full of warn- ing, that it's lesson would hardly fail to impress you deeply. But this is neither the time nor the place."
 "Wiil you make the time and place?" asked Howard, whose interest and curios- ity were both awakened.
 "Yes"
 "When and where?"
 'I shall be at home this evening" and will be pleased to see you. I live at No. 4O3 - street"
 ''Thank you. I shall certainly call"
 The two men separated, young Howard wondering why Mir. Clarkson should have manifested any special concern for him. What had been said about the danger of confusing the mind by drink in business hours fingered in his thoughts, and the more he pondered it, the more its signifi- canoe grew upon him. In the evening he called on MT. Clarkson, as he had prom ised.
 "Glad to see you, my young friend" was the kind greeting he received. Iknew your father years ago; and there are many things ln my memory of him that I recall with pleasure. He was true man, Mir, Howard; and the world is better for his having lived In it. It was my thought of him that led me to speak as I did to you this morning. I might almost say that it was voice of warning from your fath- CT through me-"
 "I cannot but feel 8 little surprised at this, Howard said, frankly. "My fath- CT used wine. I have often seen him take glass at his own table when we had com pany. He set it before his guests, and partook of it on social occasions. At my sisters wedding reception, which occurred during his lifetime, wine was served as at the reception this morning."
 A shadow dropped over Mir. Clarkson's face. After little silence he replied: ssI know all this. And your father never used wine to excess-did not care much for it-was only in accord with a social custom. And yet, temperate as he was, you are poorer to-day by many thousands of dollars than you would have been if he had not taken a few glasses of wine at your sisters wedding reception!'
 "You cannot mean what you say, MT. Clarkson!" the young man exclaimed, his face flushing and paling by turns.
 "lt IS true, my young friend, was an- swered. "And l, too, was hurt beyond recovery by the wine drank Tn health to the bride on that occasion. It was in business hours, and robbed my mind of the clear sight needed at time when to b1under was next to ruin.
 "I am more surprised than can ex- press" was the young mans remark. ssMy Are you very sure about this thing, Mir. Clarkson?"
 'I cannot be mistaken. The records of disaster are cut very deep"
 "Win you tell me the whole story?''
 GST4 ;c Ski1 x,o,vx, e~or1~ :~ It seems an event of yesterday. had an engagement to meet your father after the reception. The Lake Superior cooper mining fever was then at it's height. Your father was cool, clear-headed man, and generally kept aloof from schemes of money making not connected with legiti- mate trade. It so happened that one of your restless, over-sanguine men, who are always on the lookout for some scheme by which money can be made more rap- idly than ln competitive mercantile or manufacturing operations, had made visit to the Ontanagon region, and, in company with country surveyor, pros pected for mine. According to his rep resentation, they had discovered one of the richest deposits of ore in the whole Lake Superior region, and held the secret of Its location. He had come east to or ganize company, and had yet only talked to few capitalists, who had arranged to meet him at one o'clock on the day have referred to, in order to get full develop ment of his plans.
 Neither your father or felt much in- terest in the matter We had little faith in mining speculations, having seen more money lost in them than gaineed, by thousand per cent. But we had been so strongly pressed to attend this meeting that we were constrained to be present.
 From the wedding reception, flushed with wine-we had each taken three or four glasses, and our heads were not very strong-we went to this meeting to hear about the marvelously rich deposit of al- most virgin copper discovered somewhere on the range of the great Minnesota con- glomerate belt. Maps and plans were spread before us; specimens of copper ore -1~s sI.s s4o q. .zrk ~G1 - 4z