The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-20

les, the gardeners from the lawns. and
everything came TO a standstill. The ex-
ira farm hands were discharged, and much
OF the work was left unfinished.
What MAS I'd be done?
The mother and daughter wept in secret.
Their careers had been interrupted. Desc
latlon was ous-of-doors, and desoiation was
IN their hearts. The earth lay in ragged
heaps; beams and tiTnbers leaned haif
erect; barns were party-colored with the
old paint and the new, and the shrubbery
was bare 10 the frosts. joys which mad
smiled had tied into the far distance. and
now looked surly enough; all pleasures
were endorsed. and hope was down.
IL was Under these circumstances that
Fields wrote second time 10 the honora-
bic board of directors TO ask them TO pay
him better wages.
Friday came. There was meeting, and
Fields knew that his case must now be re-
celvIng consideration
At Ii o'clock the directors emerged from
their parlor, and passed by his desk IN
tWos and threes, chatting and telling
Watery Jokes, as most great men do.
THEY look as if they had entirely for
gotten me-" said Fields 20 himself.
Pretty soon the cashier came and placed
letter upon his counter.
'Ahi" thought the teller, 81 was mis-
taken. l wonder if / can read il here with
out changing countenance ?"
lie could but try it He tore of the en-
velope. IL went thus:
Mr.. - Fields, Paying TelIer-DeGr Sir: The
president anu directors, TO whom you addressed
critieise the arguments advanced in your poIiIe
note.
They do no. understand why you should place
new value upon your honesty because IL olAer
people there happens 10 be sometimes sueh q
thing al dishonesty. IL is popular notion that
honesty among men lie rare, but the ldea Is
mistaken one Honesty OF the purest klno, as
honesty Is usually understood Is very common.
They cannot help feeling, also that you some
wnat oyerestimate the value OF your Work,
which TO them seems TO be only niger sort OF
routine, calling for no intellectual eDGeayor,
ana requiring but little more than ordinary
bOokkeeper's care for its perfect performance.
But for the differences that do exist between
your tasks and those OF the bookkeeper you will
remember that you are already compensated by
salary a fourth larger.
Briefly, they consider their bank piece of
money-making mechanism, of which you are an
aole and respected part but they cannot under
stand how YOU could hope TO raise their fear OF
regulations and YiliaiIies when their system of
checks and eounter-ehecks is so perfect. They
have never lost dollar by the immortality OF
any OF their employees, ana they are sure that
matters arranged that any such immoral
ity, even of the rankest Kind, could occasion
them no inconvenience.
Nor do they comprehend why your idea that
increase OF business justlfies request for an in
crease of salary may not De met with the sugges-
ton that your hours OF labor are the same as
your former hours, and that all you were able
to perform in those hours, TO the best OF your
pacity, was purchased at the beginning OF your
connection with them.
In regard TO the pure question OF the suffi-
cheney of your salary, they hint in the kindest
manner that all expenditures are contraeuble as
well as extensble.
They hasten to take this opportunity to ex-
press TO you their appreciation OF your perfect
exhibits; and, complimenting you upon the
with which you have fulhiled the duties OF
your post, they remain your obedient servants.
The teller felt that a more maddening
letter could not have been written. Its
civility seemed to him to be disagreeable
suavity; its failure to particulariZe the
points ne made to be di3graceful evasion;
and the liberty 1t took in generaliZing his
case TO be an enormous insult.
The very first sentence on honesty put
him in the light OF a blackmailer-onet that
threatened mischief if his demands were
not complied with. The next sentence
went 10 show that he was an egotist, be-
cause he thought his labOrs required wear
and tear of brain. The third called him a
sound cog-wheeI. The latter part of the
same said that villain could do no evil if
he wished to, for they (the directors) had
protected themselves against villains.
Then it went on to say that the writer's did
not understand how anxiety and caution
could be involved in the pursuit of his du-
ties; and then it was thrown out that his
LndrrldSt was DIS SethlIlS-IlOt theirs. IN
ally, they patted him in the head.
The devili
Fields passed a sleepless night. He felt
that he had been belittled to the EXTREMIST
point, and that there was not a foothold
left for his dignity. His soul was messed
and chafed, and he lay awake thinking
that degradation of himself and his office
could have proceeded no further.
Toward morning he hit upon plan to
establish himself in what he believed TO be
the proper light. at will require nerve"
reflected he, doubtingly. land not only
nerve in itself, but q certain exact guam
tity of it. Too much nerve would destroy
me, and too little nerve would do the same
thing. | think, however, that L can man
age it: l feel able to do anything. Even
paying teller will turn if" ETC., etc.
III.
On the following Monday there was a