The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-20
NEW ROCKS.
the Value or Conscience I'm Business.

Scribner's Sons) we had "a comfortable
feeling that the ruthless business methods
Of Joel Harvey would not be permitted to
continue. We we're satisfied that the senti-
ment Of live and let live. which is older
thar the President and was abroad in the
world before there was any thought OF
investigating Mr.. Rockefeller. would con-
'front.' Harvey more and more powerfully
as time went on and his store grew. and
that il he wished to live happily in the
Connecticut River Valley he would have
to allow his neighbors to DO some OF the
trading. As we read Of the operations
OF this powerful and soquistive merchant
we recalled the fakings OF Hisop and the
disadvantages suffered by the minor animals
in dividing up with the lion. 1t can hardly
be said for the law OF the survival Of the
fttest that il is marked by any considerable
moral element. In its practical applica-
ton among merchants it is not distin-
guished by what it includes Of conscience
and mercy, and no agreeable feeling comes
Of reading how Joel Harvey drove old
George Burroughs out Of the BOO and
shoe business. Il amt askin' ye to give
up the hull idee Of hsvin' a shoe depart
ment." said old Mr.. Burroughs. There's
tOoLi III tuC Nibubc " dtio'hci bihoV psoSN'
likely enough, though I've alters had most
Of whatever trade there was. | don't say
it's overmuch. for l haven't more'n got a
livin' out OF il. But still it amt for me
to say that nobody else shall sell shoes
In Prophets Landin'. All I'm askin' is
for ye not to cut under prices, az they
say ye cal'lste to do" But Harvey did
cut under prices, and he broke up his neigh
boris business; and the story goes on 10
tell OF other things OF the kind that Harvey
did. and Of the consequences Of them.
The tale in places is thoroughly realistic.
When we come to the account OF the musical
and literary entertainment given by the
Presbyterian Young Peoples Union we have
the programme in facsimile and all the
words and some OF the music OF MY Grand
fathers Clock" There is a real prophet in
the story Elder Potter. and a potter by
trade as well as by name. The old man
mixed his own clay and turned his own
wheel and painted and fired his own wares.
az his great great grandfather had done.
Il might be thought that his primitive
methods would long ago have been super
seeded by modern machinery and manu-
facture. But there was a certain strong,
quaint individuality. even a beauty, OF line
and color in his pitchers and jars and bowls
and vases, which gave them always a steady
though restricted SALE One night MIR. and
Mrs. Harvey were being ferried across the
river in a thunderstorm. Elder Potter,
the prophet, was also a passenger in the
boat. Harvey at this time was far along in
his pushing and ruthless career. He had
Just completed an expensive new house-a
house that had ruined the contractor and so.
distraught that unfortunate man that he
was to seek relief presently in suicide.
A iash-a peal Of thunder hat echoed
Until il was drowned out by the shrieking
wind. A dull red glare among the houses
Of Prophets Landing. Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey
peered fearfully through the gloom. The
prophet had risen. regardless OF the i'm
minent danger Of being blown overheard.
and now stood motionlees. still gazing
forward. and seeming TO the strained imagi-
nation Of III Others TO he discerning all
things in the vista ahead. He even APP
peared, as Mr.. Harvey strangely fancied.
TO be commanding the storm. as he thus
faced il. magnincently master Of himself
and of the elements He told Joel Harvey
TO look. Joel. it's our new house," cried
Mrs. Harvey. 1T was true" This excellent
woman. who did not approve at all Of her
husbands INSCRIPTIONS methods in bust
meas. was not mistaken. The imposing
new frame dwelling, az yet unfurnished
and unoccupied. was in the grasp Of the fire,
and the flames we're shooting up more
| iercely with every moment" The tempest
| swept eastward mot that much is signifed
bv It's coursel. but the river was a wild
| chaos Of tossing waves. The prophet
-. u-u;- anoplox,nu dfrttunnof fnnaa "
He said: You have broker up the homes
| Of others, and your own shall be broken in
expiration. The spirit Of the dead is abroad
in the STORM" For a momen Harvey was
overcome by terror; h he recovered
himself and SAT ~"outwardly stony" George
Burroughs was dead, and the contractor
who built the new house. as we have said
was presently TO commit suicide.
Harney's conscience had come TO be
fully az work at the time when he was
running for State Senator. The prophet
again spoke, addressing a great open air
meeting. He denounced Harney's bust
ness methods. In concluding his speech
he said: Look TO the matter, men Of the
county. Shall you secretly admire him?
| Shall you openly indorse him, uplift him,
emulate him. Or shall you stamp on his
acts, and take your stand for business
| equity and kindIiness for which that little
red store once stood?" Harvey was present.
The prophet addressed him. He said:
Joel Harvey, do you wish to make answer
before the people9' Harvey replied that
he did. In clear, deliberate tones he
made answer. He said: AN hour ago,
| on my way here, I sent a telegram to the
Chairman Of the District Committee with
drawing my name as a candidate for State
Senator" We need not dwell upon the
effect indicated in the statement that "A
murmur Of establishment ran through
the assemblase." h matter OF chief i'm
portance and interest is that from that
hour Harvey reformed his business ways
and behaved with generosity toward his
~neishbors. The change meant happiness
for him and for his family, He was a
strong man, able TO concentrate his atten-
ton upon the immediate moment, and we
do not find that after his reformation he
allowed memories TO trouble him
A Vehement and Tale.
Mrs. Lucy Meacham Thruston' 5 story Of