The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-04
A GREAT CONTEST.
Waged Between the Man in Business

Waged Between the Man IN BUSINESS
and the Man on Salary.
Now it comes to pass that in a
certain city there lived a man of the
name of Smith and another of the
name of Jones, and 10! they were mar
ried each after his own fashion.
And behold, Jones was in business for
himself, but Smith worked for salary,
and it was so that Mrs; Smith longed
to be able to live asthe4 Joneses did,
and in order to better his condition
Smith worked hard and got himself
promoted. H.
Wherefor Mrs: Smith at once said:
eve must have a better house, John.
In this world all depends upon appear
ances. If we do not live in fine style,
we shall be ignored by our neighbors.
And so they moved into better
house. and Mrs. Smith put on dog to
beat the band. Smith found that the
raise in his salary brought him no per-
sonal benefit. Truth to tell, he was
worse off than before. His wife's wants
had more than Kept pace with their
income. She had to dress better in or
der to keep the public from suspecting
that they were spending all their mon
ey for rent, and they required addition
al help in the new quarters.
Thus 1t came to pass that Smith wore
a 25-cent necktie and ate cheap lunch
es, and seldom had more than dollar
in his pocket.
Now the Joneses were filled with con-
sternation when they saw the manner
in which the Smiths were rising toward
the top. They had been straining near
ly every nerve before in keeping up
appearances, for Jones business was not
spreading as he could have wished, and
he was sore perplexed.
What salary Smith must be get
ting" Mrs. Jones sadly said. ST wish
that you, Josiah had never gone into
this business. A good salary is more
certain. You are sure Of it at the end
Of every week, whether trade is good
or bad. The weather does not affect
it. 1t is neither nipped by early frosts
nor injured by heavy rains. Woe is
me-"
But she was brave, and therefore cut
down Josiah's allowance, and they en-
larged their houses and took on addi-
tional expenses for the purpose of keep
ing in front of the Smiths. When these
things came to pass, Mrs. Smith said
sadly unto Smith:
Behold, we are up against it, Way,
oh why, did you not go into business
while you were yet a young man and
opportunities were open? He that
works on a salary must be a drudge
through all his life. There is no hope
for him. The profits from his work go
unto others, and the innocent suffer-
Yet she did not succumb. She rose
above her despair and cast about en-
deavoring to think Of extra work that
John could do, thereby increasing his
income. If they mad remained in the
old house they might lived comfort
ably on this present salary and been at
once were glad to gain admittance. All
this John Smith sadly made clear to his
wife, wherefore she chided him and ac-
cused him Of being incapable by nature
of approaching nobler and better
things.
Hence there was shame in his heart,
and he went to work with renewed de-
termination. By doing. two mems
labor he succeeded in getting another
small increase of salary, and his wife
thus found it possible to employ high
er-priced dressmaker and show other
evidences of prosperity.
When Mrs. Jones noticed these things
sadness crept into her heart, insomuch
that she did back her lord and master
into a corner and lecture him and be-
wall his incapacity as captain of in
dustry, saying that it would be dis
to permit the Smiths to get
ahead Of them, and demanding that
should be done to enable
them to at least keep up appearances.
Now, therefore, Jones went back to
his establishment and sadly considered
the situation. He envied Smith, saying
to himself
ooh, If I had his, steady income and
his lack of responsibility, what care