The Jewish herald. (Houston, Tex.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-22
A HOUSE OF CARDS.
(By Mrs. B. Lurie.)
CHAPTER v.

Inc Narrative.
eve have in our employ u young man. u
certain Simon Harris. He had been with
in many capacities nearly five years when
opportunity presented itself that he needed
as agent ut n branch office we opened up in
Neosno, Mo. We had been receiving eggs in
carlots from this point and reshippng them
to Chicago. Now Neosho is situated midway
between Kansas City and Chicago. We hit on
the plan that instead of sending the cars to
Kansas City and halfway back again to Chi
cago trusted agent could pay for them right
in Neosho and make shipment direct to Chicago.
The saving in freight alone was no small item.
We were thus enabled to pay n higher price
for the stuff and leave ourselves handsome
margin besides Mr.. Dsbrow, in looking over
our available force, recommended Simon Harris
MS being most fit for the position. This was,
of course, great compliment as the young
man was not yet of age, and the post
tailed the handling of unlimited sums of money.
very responsible position, truly.
But we had no fears. We felt the young
man justified our confidence. We knew very
many complex situations would arise in meet
ing competition, handling the general merchan-
disc store keepers and the individual farmer
where he was worth while, throughout the ter
ritory itself and all that tributary to it. But
the boy had always shown splendid judgments
eyincng the liveliest interest in the affairs of
the firm, and looking out for opportunity to
promote its welfare. So different was he from
the average notwithstanding office man, per-
forming Just enough to keep his position and
draw his salary, that both Mr., Disbrow and
myself could not fail to notice and appre-
point of vantage and were well satisfied He
gave us the impression of being clean orderly
and morally sound in every respect, a type of
employee firm hates to part with. The only
drawback to his promotion was the danger to
the service in our office all the force, nearly
to man, hated this Simon Harris for only one
reason, that he was n jew. Times without
number we received slanderous reports calcu-
lated to injure the reputation of anyone less
well behaved and circumspect than this young
jew. But in nearly every instance the re.
q 10 bo
false at last we paid no heed to them and
thus means of petty revenge fell through when
FOUND futiie. OF course, both Mr.. Dsbrow
and myself never looked him as our own
or the other mems social equal, or that he
ever could be- 1t was not exactly prejudice
that gave us this feeling, but simply Chris
iians natural disposition to look down on n
Jew no matter in how many respects he be
his superior. We knew that there wasn't a
man IN the house who could touch this Simon
IN business Judgment, but to us that didn't
count. His brain power simply one of the
assets OF the firm and no more His powers
were part of the office machinery and for
that reason we felt justified in making the best
use OF them, no matter how strenuously the
men objected. We therefore sent him to Neo-
S SI and opened up permanent station there
When told OF his appointments the boy actually
cried We were deeply touched by this evidence
of feeling especially when he confded to us
that with his increase in salary he would be
struggling to pay for their home. He seemed
to apply all his savings to this laudable pur.
pose. His devotion to his mother of course
rebounded to the benefit and safety of the
firm He limited at some great grief that
was proving on his mothers mind for which
ne vas trying to make amends. What the
trouble Was, was we meyer S deemed i our bust
nm as one not of our faith seemed to max,
his private affairs less our concern than the,
would otherwise have been, Aside from oul
business relations, he was nothing to us. From
this lengthy description you will concede tina
be was rather safe proposition.