The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-09-18


ment. Griswold saw the growth of
it under his hand; saw the far-reach-
ing possibilities of it; saw also that
1t was departing, despite his most
strenuous efforts, from the course
which he had pricked out on the
chart Of the former endeavor. In
other words, the new book babe fair
to grow into something which the
publishers might accept and the pub
lie might buy and read, but of the
rights Of man there was coming to
be less and less as the work pro-
gressed.
Being first Of all an enthusiast,
Griswold dug deeply for the cause of
all this, and thought he found it in
his new relation as an employer of
labor. At first he had told himself
that he would be silent partner in
the iron works, leaving all the activi-
ties to the practical Raymer; but he
soon found this blankly impossible.
And with personal interest and the
shifting point of view came a change,
gradual and almost insensible, in his
attitude toward mankind in general
and toward the workers in particu-
lar. So it came about that while he
was writing book, designed to over
turn the existing social order, he
was drifting slowly but surely into
the ranks of the oppressors.
The first open confession of this
change of creed came when the
threat of a strike rose storm-cloud
like on the iron works horizon. Ray
mer was for temporizing with the
men, and for yielding something if
need be; but this Griswold fought
stoutly, growing more stubborn as
the threatening cloud Increased in
size. If the men could not see for
themselves what was for their best
interests, they must be made to see
But in reality it was Margery who
was responsible for the major
changes in the book. Caring nothing
at all for the ethical question in
volved, she cared a great deal for
the success of the author, and she
was shrewd enough to arrive quickly
at double conclusion; that Girls
void was we'll able to write a sue
cessful book; and that, left to him.
self, he would assuredly spoil it with
his theories. So she labored faith
fully to keep him in a broader road
and not without a. goodly measure
of success.
"But, Margery, "-(they were well
past the "Mr." and "Miss' by this
time)-"I can't do that" he said
one morning when they had been re-
working the plot through one of the
coy sitting-room talks.
Don't you see it begs the entire
question of labor and capital?"
II see that you can't help doing it
unless you are deliberately false to
your art" retorted the literary ora
Gle.
"You have put these people on the
stage, giving them certain characters,
and they must go on and do the
things that are CONSISTENT
mot if the consistent things are
going to make the entire picture out
of drawing"
She laughed. Elbow impossible
man can be-" she rejoined, sweetly.
"How many times must we go back
to the original question. You must
choose between saying it all anil hav-
ing nobody read it and saying lit
tie and having everybody read it.
I'm not saying anything against
your theory-it's lovely. But unless
you make it good story, first, last
and all the time, you will never get a
hearing"
Then I may as we'll give it up,"
Griswold confessed. IF I may not
preach a little I have no excuse for
saying anything at ALL
"Oh, you may preach little. But
in this particular instance you must
make Rathbone stern and inflexible.
cruel, if need be. You needn't be
afraid of its effect upon the girl.
She will condone anything he may
have to do-it's a way girls have"
He looked at her narrowly and
then the film of abstraction came
between.
II wonder if you really mean that?
Are women so ready to condone?'
Her laugh was mocking You
make me blush for you," she said.
isn't an author supposed to know
more about US than we know about
ourselves?"
II don't know about the SUPPOSE
ton. But the man who knows the
heart of one woman-'
She stopped him with little ges-
ture of impatience.
Tell me what it is you don't know
and I'll turn traitor and betray my
SEX"
At that his gaze went beyond her
again and he said: II wonder if YOU
would?"
TRY me and see.''
He hesitated moment, and then
plunged into the depths of it.
"Then tell me this: If Rathbone
should go on and do all the hard
things you say his character calls
for-things which Priscilla believes
h. l.