The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
IDEALS OF HENRY GEORGE

month on the HindOo in April, 1855. His
second experience at sea was on a top
sail schooner ladened with coal bound
from Philadelphia to Boston These
cruises demoraliZed him for life ashore.
He started out 10 learn the trade OF
printer. but quarreled with his boss and
left the shop where ne was employed in
anger. Then he tried 10 write. but failed
TO make a living at it, and finally yield
ed 10 the lure Of the sea again and Sc
cured the position of steward of the
United States lighthouse steamer Shu-
brick. named for Admiral Shubrick. who
had been chairman of the lighthouse
board for a number of years, bound for
San Francisco.
After trying to gain a livelihood in
various ways, Henry George returned to
has trade Of printer and obtained work
as Journeyman printer. Later he be-
came foreman and one OF the publishers
of the Home Journal. 1t was while con-
nected with this paper that he met the
young woman who was to exercise So
great an influence on his life. Annie Cor
slna Fox, who was TO be the wife of
Henry George. the mother of Henry
George, the new member from the Thir-
teenth New York district
The history Of Annie Fox was a ro-
mantle one. Her mother was the daugh-
Ter OF an Irish gentleman and a rigid
Roman Catholic; her father an English
military officer and a Protestant After
the birth of their two daughters. Mai
Fox and his wife differing on account
of their religious beliefs separated. Mrs.
Fox died OF a broken heart because of
this separation. Her daughter Teresa
joined the Order Of st. Vincent de Paul,
while Annie Fox. the other daughter,
went to live with her grandmother and
aunt in San Francisco.
George was poor and a Protestant.
Pretty Annie Fox had plenty OF suitors
who were well-to-do and Catholics Nat
urally, therefore. the young printers
iovenaking did not run smooth, but il
was none the less successful, though the
lovers had finally to resort to clipping.
AT the time of his marriage Henry
George was twenty-one, his bride eight
cen. two children facing the world
with calm courage. They had nothing.
When Henry George asked his sweet
heart to elOpe with him his fortune con-
sisted Of single coin, but he got credit
for two weeks board and borrowed the
money to meet the expense of his we'd
ding. and they did have a hard time of it
III the early days of their marriage. A
baby came to them within a year, was
named for its father, and grew up to
carry on his fathers work and to be
elected TO Congress from New York. The
year following another son came.
Were Almost Starving.
The Georges and their faithful friend
and Henry's business associate. Isaac
Trump. we're starving almost and had
lived for weeks chiefly on milk, potatoes.
bread, and sturgeon when the baby came
1t was then, to my mind. rather than
later in New York. that the iron entered
into Henry Georges soul that made him
do such valiant service, wage such a war
for the poor. Henry Georges diary,
written at this time, is tragic enough.
but courageous. He resolves ito make
every cent l can; to spend nothing I'M
necessarily; to put by something each
week. il it Is only a scent piece bor-
rowed for the purpose: not to run in
debt if It can be avoided" Further on
he writes: Am in a desperate plight.
Courage
Annie George was not idle. She took
care of her two babies and paid the sec
ond months rent of the Perry street
house by sewing for her landlady." And
they loved each other tenderly devoted
~, these two young people through all
these strenuous days and their life to-
gether was so fine and noble. they were
both Of them so unselfish and uncom-
planning. that it should be an inspiration
TO every one who reads it.