The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-26
GRAPES OF THORNS.
FROM the NeD Tors Times.


and miserable, and the full aud happy. He
had been born among the many OF the
former; he determined that be would sur
vive among the few of the latter. His
mind was practical; its single emotion,
which might have proved weakness, through
this quality Of his mentality added strength; ;
for an oak is more durable for the sap
which courses through it.
Scion Vgorshiped a woman; no one in
deed in particular, but some one gracious,
well-dressed, refined, beautiful woman, such
as be read about in romances, such as he
Raped st on the streets of Aberdeen. re-
clining IN carriages or sweeping into shops
with the betrayiuE glide OF goddess. There
was no vanity about Scion. He knew him
SELF TO be Of mean appearance and feeble
address, as different from knight or oourtier
Is a frog from al OK. There was no dan
ger OF his bursting from fatuous initiation;
his hope Of love, Ike his ambition Of life,
rested on one condition, wealth. His COM
mandmeut was seek ye first the kingdom
of Mammon and all these things shall be
added 20 it, and in it be had that faith
which removes mountains.
Scion left his home with a few hundred
dollars, augmented by youth, health and en-
thusiasm, aud went to the metropolis. There
he lived narrowly, intensely, wasting little
time In eating or sleeping, and none in d.
version. be gradually formulated laws for
his business guidance. One was never to
spend as much ns he made. Another is the
root of the cautious policy of the Jew who,
on Diminishing bis son thus advised him
"My son, get money honestly if thou canst !;
but get money"
Solon's shape little eyes ferreted out op-
portunities which his resources made avail
able. His employe failed, and he bought
his stock at the bankrupt sale. His neigh
bors fell behind ia the payment of his taxes
and interest, and he bought his home III
foreclosures. From such opportunities
came money, and to such money came OPP
portunitIes. o. 1t was very simple! AS he
thus prospered experience Rdduced another
rule: Associate with the unfortunate.
Buy from, sell to, and barter with them.
Fate has marked them as the prey of the
thrifty. There is something lacking in
them which prevents them from holding
that which they acquire, from acquiring
that which they seek, from seeking that
which they need. They always act at the
wrong time, and, since they must thus
blunder. he who is their opponent must sue
coed.
AS Solon's view expanded be perceived
that corporations are creatures Of men not
only from birth, but throughout existence /:
unequal CLASSES. and prosper or fail, not only
on account Of events, but in spite of them.
So he sought unfortunate organizations and
marked them as his own. He dealt in
stocks and debentures, for he admired their
double-faced qualities, and whenever he was
dealing and Necessity peered over the
shoulders of his adversary and nodded he
acted in accordance. Thus from youth and
poverty he steadily rose, as steadily as the
best Of bis days, until he reached old age
and opulence-A wsarisome climb, for each
rung of the ladder creaked; but each creak
was the groau of a victim, not of Scion
Briggs.
One day the reflections Of Solon's boy
hood returned. He had been writing at his
desk, but for the moment paused, and his
glance restsd on his hand idly balancing the
pen. Was it possible, could 1t be, that this
was his hand, 80 shriveled, so tremulous so
very, very oldl His physical sensations had
been so constant that he had not recognized
the flight of time, but now, with somewhat
of that shock which knowledge of an in
durable disease gives, he went to the mirror
and looked at himself as be had not looked
for two-scors years.
Yes, wrinkles burrows, gray hairs, all as
sured him that he must hasten if he would
enjoy that which he had achieved. He re-
turned to his desk and sat In deep medita-
tion, unmindful Of the prompt action that
the schemes before him demanded. His day
at length had come; he had vast riches, but
alas life was nearly gone. he was without
friends on kindred respect or regard. Up
the street be saw his neighbor, Jacob
Worthy, proceeding. With what evident
affection did the passer-by greet him, and
yet Scion Briggs could buy and sell him a
dozen times without feeling a risk When
be entered his home there would be tender
oaresses and the Joyous prattle OF childish
NIB 10 prT ,{vh 49,
solitude OF his lodgings, unless he called a
servant to him
Ali but there was q difference. Jacob
Worthy was man OF charming person
atty and agreeable character, while he
pshawi If the flesh were scraped away =,
would not the same grinning skull be re-
vealedf How did men differ, save in de-
grees OF pretensei Come now, had he not
the talisman in his possession, why should
he not rub the lamp and summon the genius
of love 60 hint
Ali how blissful it would be TO gaze into
dark, dreamy eyes and know that their
tenderness shone for him To feel the ems
brace Of soft arms and know that their fer
vor was the strength Of passionate re-
gard OF the aspiration OF YOUTH Why
should IL not be realized? He had
passed one goal-why should he not tarry
at the otherl Yes, he would be respected,
happy, beloved. He would leave his plots
and combinations; like Poins and Nom and
Pistol, they were unworthy to share his
kingdom. Instead OF being wrecker, he
would be a conServator. He would leave
the street, but he would sustain the market.
People should boast of the defense that his
Investments gave as they had ragged at the
danger which his speculations caused. lie
would build himself a palace. He would
gather within it the cultured, the great, the
noble.
From the ranks of the fairest he would
choose the most fair, and she should be his
love, as be would be hers; and thus, main
tatned by wifely care and filial affection,
he would live full of honors and leave be-
hind him the precious heritage of an hon.
ored nams And yet, as Scion Briggs
closed his desk over his business career, he
sighed as be recalled the dust Of its conflict
and the thrill Of its triumph.
Ii was two years later on the evening
after his sons christening, that Scion Briggs
sat within his study and reviewed the past
as one who has gained the cerulean OF the
summit may look down on the clouds
through which he has struggled. What a
success be had effected; everything had
trenspired as he had wished, EXCEPT a
thousandfold better. This very day mad
sttested bis pre-eminent position. The
proudest OF the metropolis had reioiced
with him in the birth Of an heir: the fairest
had gathered within his mansion, and a
queen among these queenlY, as serene as "a
vesper Of summer twilight, had shone his