The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-10

turned than we almost quarrel. a thing
we never did till my brother came
here. Has not that man caused mis-
chief enough-to me. to your grand
rather, to your cousin. and I know
not who else besides-but he must need
destroy all sympathy between you and
me:"
Not your brother nor any man
could do that" asserted stoutly. i
am your son, and honor you as q good
father to whom owe everything. but
u Die the less do I profoundly believe
t,,at you are the victim Of disastrous
r,istake, and I don't despair Of day
to come when you will be thankful
that my opinion in the matter OF the
sequins differed 80 widely from yours.
What II I were to establish beyond
question that your brother never had
anything to do with those sequins"
II should be immensely relieved and
most devoutly thankful. But l have
no such hope: common sense forb!ds
me to entertain It."
"And my common sense will not per-
NIT me to reject It." replied.
"That being So. 1t Is useless for us
to talk any more Of the matter until
you have something tangible to show
In support Of your views" said my
father. turning away.
"Quite so," agreed: "let Us speak
no more on this wretched subject until
I have"
The gong In the hall was sounding
for luncheon. but could only be heard
imperfectly amid the din Of the storm.
which still ragged furiously. My father
led the way to the dining room. where
luncheon was laid for three. There.
nervously fussing about the sideboard
and appearing older and more decrepit
than ever. was the man who had occa.
stoned my hasty return from America.
John Adams regarded me with puz'
zled look, and with that familiarity
which is not unfrequently permitted
In Old servants congratulated me on
my safe return from abroad.
We were no sooner seated at table
than Mr.. Wolsey. with the laudable
desire, as thought, Of preventing the
conversation from running upon disa-
greeable topics. inquired how I liked
New York, to which answered that
thought it was a very fine city sener-
ally, but that its harbor and chief
river were magnificent.
"New York did not impress me so IA.
vorably," remarked Mr.. Wolsey:."it Is
evident that you have seen only the
better part Of that city. was there
for two months. and ! never want to
see the place again"
s"I was In New York for only five
days, and I hope to see that city again
very soon. Indeed I am not sure but
that I would like to live there entire
ly."
"The absence Of q middle class cor
responding to what We in England un-
derstand by that term" pursued Mr..
Wolsey, ignoring my remark. STRIKES
me as very bad for the whole Of So
ciety there. Perhaps you did not OBJ
serve that 1t Is only rich persons who
can afford to keep house entirely for
their own use. and that the smaller
traders, artisans and laborers are
herded together in tenement houses
huge, unsightly barracks Of great
height. each accommodating scores OF
families. What can be said for such
a system In a climate where In summer
the thermometer commonly stands
ninety in the shade. and for weeks to-
gether there Is not 80 much breeze as
would flutter leaf?'
I noticed none Of those things"
"They are to be seen by whoever
looks for them" continued Mr.. VOL
sey. "And then again. the conditions
Of life are every bit as hard as in Lon.
don or any other great city. Work In
New York Is fully as difficult to obtain
and Is no better paid for. prices consid!
cred. than in any city Of the Old
World. No intelligent American who
has travelled denies this"
~ am afraid Ernest takes but little
interest in public questions" remarked
my father.
"They will force themselves upon
his attention as he grows older" Mr..
Wolsey went on. with but little mod
ifration my remarks apply with equal
truth to Melbourne and Sydney, or in
deed any city Of modern creation. In
all Of them the old.fashioned qualities
Of patient perseverance. abstinence
and thrift are as necessary to the
amassing Of a fortune as in England
to-day. though they afford greater op-
portunities for the willy and unscrupu.
lous to grow rich speedily In the man.
ipulatIon of monopolies and public
funds. and the practice Of rascalities
not possible in older communities"
TO be continued.