The record-union., 1893-03-10
GRAPES OF FHORNS.

which happened at an early age for the
Briggses were sober race. he resolved
mankind into two unequal parts the
empty and miserable. and the full and
happy. He had been born among the
many of the former; he determined that
he would survive 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 tine sap which courses
through it.
Scion worshiped woman; no one in
deed in particular, but some one gracious,
wel-dressed, refined beautiful woman
such as he read about in romances, such
as he gaped at on the streets of Aber-
deem, reclining in carriages, or sweeping
into shops with the betraying glide of a
goddess. There was no vanity about
Solon. He knew himself to be man of
mean appearance and feeble address, as
dlferent from knight or courtier as a
frog from an OK. There was no danger
of his bursting from fatuous intia-
ton; his hope of love, like his ambi-
tion of life, rested on one condition,
wealth. His commandment was Seek
ye first the Kingdom of Mammon and all
1t he had that faith which removes noun
tans.
Solon left his home with a few hundred
dollars, augmented by youth, health and
enthusiasm, and went to the metropolis.
There he lived narrowly, intensely,
wasting little time in eating or sleeping,
and none in diversion. He gradually
formulated laws for his business guild
ance. One was never to spend as much
as he made. Another is the root of the
cautious policy of the Jew who, on dis
missing his son, thus advised him: "My
son, get money; honestly if thou canst;
but get money!"
Solon's sharp little eyes ferreted out
opportunities which his resources made
available. His employer failed, and he
bought his stock at the bankrupt sale.
His neighbor fell behind i'll the payment
Of his taxes and interest, and he bought
MS home on foreclosure. From such
opportunities came money, and to such
money came opportunities. Oh, il was
very simple! AS he thus prospered, ex-
perlence adduced another rule: "Asso-
clate with the unfortunate. Buy from,
sell to, and barter with them. Fate has
marked them as the prey of the thrifty.
Ihere is something lacking in them
which prevents them from holding that
W hlch 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 blunder, he
who is their opponent must succeed"
AS Solon's view expanded he perceived
that corporations are creatures of men
not only from birth, but throughout eX-
istence; that they, too, are divided into
these two unequal classes, and prosper or
tail, not only on account of events but
In spite OF them. So he sought unfortu-
nate organizations and marked them as
his own. He dealt in stocks and debent-
ures, for he admired their double-faced
-hn,, Ho i
and Necessity peered over the shoulders
OF his adversary and nodded he acted
III accordance. Thus from youth and
poverty he steadily rose, as steadily as the
best of his days, until he reached old age
and opulence-a wearisome climb, for
each rung OF the ladder creaked; but each
creak was the groan of victim, not of
Solon 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 rested on his hand idly bal
ancing the pen. Was it possible, could it
be, that this was his hand, so shriveled,
so tremulous, so very old? 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 lncurable disease gives.
he went TO the mirror and looked at him
self as he had not looked for two-score
years.
Yes, wrinkles, furrows, gray hairs, all
assured him that he must hasten if he
would enjoy that which he had achieved.
He returned to his desk and sat in deep
meditation, unmindful of the prompt ac-
ton that the schemes before him de-
manded. His day at length had come;
he had vast riches, but, alas! life was
nearly gone, he was without friends or
kindred, respect or regard. Up the street
he saw his neighbor, Jacob Worthy, pro-
off
did tho passer-by greet him, and yet
Solon Briggs could buy and sell him q
dozen times without feeling risk. When
ne entered his home there would be ten
der caresses and the joyous prattle of
childish voices, while Solon Briggs might
die in the solitude of his lodgings, unless
he called a servant to him.
All but there was difference. Jacob
Worthy was man of charming person
atty and agreeable character, while he
pshaw If the flesh were scraped away,
would not the same grinning skull be re-
vealed! How did men differ, save in de-
grees of pretensei Come now, had he
not the mightiest talisman in his DOS
session, why should he not rub the lamp
and summon the genius of love to him?
All! how blissful it would be to gaze
into dark, dreamy eyes and know that
their tenderness shone for him! To feel
the embrace of soft arms and know that
their fervor was the strength OF passion
ate regard Oh! the soft aspiration of
youth! Why should it not be realized?
lie had passed one goal-why should he
not tarry at the other? Yes, he would be
respected, happy, beloved. He would
leave his plots and combinations; like
Poins and Nym and Pistol, they were
unworthy to share his kingdom. Instead
of being wrecker, he would be con-
servator. He would leave the street, but
he would sustain the market People
should boast of the defense that his in
vestments gave as they had ragged at the
danger which his speculations caused
He would build himself 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 he would be hers; and thus,
maintained by wifely care and tilial affec-
tion he would live full of honorS and
leave behind him the precious heritage of
an honored namei And yet, as Solon
Briggs closed his desk over his business
career. he sighed as he recalled the dust
OF it's conflict and the thrill of its triumph
1t was two years later, on the evening
after his sons christening, that Solon
Briggs sat within his study and reviewed
the past as one who has gained the ceru-
lean of the summit may look down on
The clouds through which ne has strug-
gled, What a success he had effected:
EVERYTHING had transpired as he had
wished, except a thousandfold better,
This very day had attested his pre-emi-
nent position. The proudest of the me-
tropolis had rejolced with him in the
birth of an heir; the faireSt had gathered
within his mansion, and queen among
these Queenly, as serene as the veSper of
a summer twilight, had shone his wife.
II or love rnnai1 and OhIifaratad