Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-26
She paused a moment, smiling int

| GOOD might, Jlm-pleaSdnt uTedNhS:
Through all the riot of emotions
with which that night ended and
through the years of bitter struggle
which followed, that picture was the
one ray of sunlight which never faded.
well, my boy, I've just done thing
which know was inevitable, but now
that it's done I'm afraid l may have
made a tragic mistake. Tell me If it's
so. There may be time to retract."
"Bivens has threatened to ruin your
business?"
ION the other hand, he has just Of
fered to buy it at my own price"
And you refused?"
"To sell. at any price-but it's not
too late to change my mind. I can
call him back now and apologize for
my rudeness. Tell me. should I do
| it?"
DO you doubt that you're right In
the position you've taken?"
Not for a moment. But the old
| question of expediency always bobs
up. I'm getting older. I'm not as old
as this white hair would make me.
but I feel it. Perhaps 1 am out-of-
date. Your eyes are young, boy; your
soul fresh from Gods heart. I'm just
a little lonely and afraid tonight. See
things for me-sit down a moment
The doctor drew Stuart into'a seat
and rushed on impatiently.
Listen, and then tell me II !
should follow that little weasel and
apologize. I'll do it If you say so-at
least l think would, for I'm afraid OF
myself" He paused, and look OF
pain clouded his fine face as his eye
rested on portrait of Harriet on the
table before him.
There are several reasons why you
couldn't have a more sympathetic lis
tener tonight, doctor-go on"
Grant all their claims" he began
impatiently, for the Trust-its econo-
my, its efficiency, its power, its sue
cess-this Is a free country, isn't it?"
Theoretically"
We'll, / wish to do business In my
own way-not so big and successful a
way perhaps as theirs, tut my own. 1
express myself thus. When I hint at
such a thing to your modern organ
izing friend, that these enormous pro-
fits for the few must be paid out OF
the poverty of the many-against
whom the strong and cunning are thus
combining-a simple answer Is always
ready, Business Is business, which
translated is the old cry that the first
murderer shrieked into the face of his
questioner: Am l my brothers
keeper
That's why I'm afraid Of these fel-
lows. The unrestrained lust for mon
ey Is always the essence Of murder,
and the man or woman who surren-
ders to It's spell will kill when put
to the test. The law which holds
burglary constructive murder is found
ed on an elemental truth. The man
who puts on a mask, arms himself
with revolvers, knife, and dark Ian
tern and enters my house to rob me
of my goods will not hesitate to kill If
human life stands in the way OF his
success"
Il should not put it quite so strong
~ of these men"
II do. And I know I'm right. I
saw murder in those black bead eyes
of Bivens's tonight. Do you think he
ala 70 n N
crease a dividend if he knew that act
would result in the death Of its en-
ployes from weakness and hunger?
Not for minute. He hesitates only at
violation of the letter of the criminal
code. What, then, is the difference
between a burglar and a modern or
ganizer of industry? Absolutely none"
Stuart laughed.
Understand me, boy, I'm not
preaching any patent remedy for So
cial ills. I'm not in a hurry. I can
wait as God waits. But this question
is with me a personal one. l simply
hold the biggest thing on earth is not
pile of gold, stolen or honestly earn
ed. The biggest thing on this earth is
man. Our nation is not rich by rea-
son of it's houses and lands, its gold
or silver or copper or iron-but be-
cause of it's mer.. believe in improv-
ing this breed of men, not trying to
destroy them. For that reason | re-
fuse success that is not built on the
success and happiness of others. l re-
fuse to share in prosperity that is not
| the growth of prosperity"
But if you sell your business to
these men and retire, will you neces-
sarily share in their wrongdoing?"
In a very real and tragic sense,
yes I'm a coward l give up the fight.
| I've been both a soldier and a mer-
chant. Why does the world honor
soldier and despise a merchant? Be-
| cause soldiers business is to die
for his country, and merchants hab-
| 1t is to lie for profit. Isn't old Ruskin
right? Why should not trade have its
heroes as we'll as war? Why shouldn't
be just as ready to die as a mer-
chant for my people as I was on the
| field of battle?"
The doctor paused, and his eyes
grew dim while Stuart bent closer and
| watched and listened as if i'm a SPELL
He realized that his old friend was not
really asking advice, but that a great
soul in a moment of utter loneliness
was laid bare and crying for sympa-
thy.
The doctors voice took a tone of
| dreamy tenderness.
Il am just passing through this
world once. can't live a single day
of it over again. There are some
things l simply must do as l pass.
They can't wait, and the thing that
has begun to strangle me is this mod
ern craze for money, money, money,
at all hazards, by fair or foul means!
In every walk of life l find this cancer
/ ,f