Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-05-26
A SOCIAL CONTRAST.

We lubllHn III uibilltI ibluIllll
pleasing account Of the busines,
liberality Of Mr. John Wanamaker
Of Philadelphia. This man is q
Napoleon Of trade. His business
block in the city Of Brotherly Love
strikes the beholder with amaze
ment at the immense space it oc-
cupies, the vastness Of its stock, and
the many hundreds of clerks
employed in It's various branches.
The business Is constantly growing
on his hands, more room is taken i'm
from time 10 time to meet the re-
quircment, and 1t is probable that at
no distant day the limit will be
reached beyond which a business
enterprise cannot be prOfitably con
Quoted.
The late a. r. Stewart, of New
York, possessed the same control
ling talent for business. His manu-
featuring and mercantile enterprises
developed and extended, i'm this
country and in Europe until he had
an army Of 10000 pcrsons-men,
women and children-in his employ.
With such immense means under
his control, he naturally accumu-
lated wealth, the surplus profits of
his business amounting TO S2,0OO,OOO.
This immense sum was added to his
fortune, until at the time of his
death, his possessions amounted to
$4,000 600, according TO the state
meuts Of some, and To double that
enormous accrc;ion, rs others figure
Il up
Aud what good did this labor |
iously hivcd treasure do? 1t was
gained by starving the thousands of |
fellow creatures hc employed, and |
bankrupting every merchant who
came into competition with him;
system of social war wherein the
captivcs are sacrificed without quar-
ter, and the worst passions wage re-
lcutlcss control. lie lived without
enjoyment, a mere slave To the
routine of money accumulation; and
when hc died unblcssed 10y child or
friend, his immense estate went to
his lone and aged widow. n
But such a responsibility crushed
the feeble energies of thiso woman,
and she sought release from the bur
den 10y bcstowiug IL ON "a kinsmau.
Is this wise employment Of sur
passing endowment? This selfish /
pursuit of wealth, at the cost of suf-
icriug to Others, and with mo- other ,
object hut just 10 heap up? The ,
wise man torc,aw this evil, aud his |
modest prayer, was "Givc me
neither poverty nor riches, feed
nae with food convenient for me-"
\ fpnch atirist observing the
lnAmahle qualities of those most
successful Ia the pursuit of gain, re-
1--WE may judge what storc
fortune sets 10y riches in studying
he character of those upon whom [
she hcstows them" Aud II all
Ncrc of the selfish type that We have
ust depicted, it would justify Doug ,
as Jerrolds c,ustic fiction that
gold shrivels up the soul, and the
man devoted Jo its acquisition has
'isimmorlal part induced 10 the size |
mi color ot British guinea,
Hut nov and then man like this
Philadelphia merchant relieves
monetary SUCCESS of the odium that I
would attach, were Il the rcsult OF
ncro solIlshncss, IL is AN accepted
ruth that the Interest of capital and
ahor Is idvutlal II dos, not work
hat way la the practical school of
.tc but hcrc and them "A man, with
,rgvT perceptions than his fellows. |
, lmprassed With this law Ia s,,cial
ciono,, and his conduct Is ruled by
nuul duty live had mon Wana-
makers thrrt would te fewer lahor /.
tri6cs When men arv fairly 3
naicd they harhor mo- rissnmtnL b
.nd the affairs ~ life am not NJ
arlcd with Friction.
A dvudc og ~ agO, thc yarlmtn, y
WitchmenandloWcr class operatives
u the haltimorc and Ohio mad,
waited ON tbs pnsidcut of the cou- /,
ony hy delegation, 10 rcprsont
hat their pNr,nt rate OF Iay, sO
ynts a day, would no, support life.