Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-10
CHAPTER XVII.
trust,

Antcng the many tragic experiences
which befell John Burton, tenth mar
quis OF Castleton, in his quest for
the good in the world, with its I'M
happy knack Of revealing only the
evil, his acquaintance with the Hamer
family fills definite niche in his
memory if only because OF its clc-
ments of surprise.
He had long ceased to exact high
standard from human nature. He had
learned, too, to classify men and wo-
men in broad categories, and was
bitterly aware that real self-sacrifice
could be found but seldom in either
the crowded market place or the
green fields Of the country.
But Burton was patient and open
minded. He refused steadily to con-
denim his fellow creatures unheard.
Any man or woman who came to
him with a hard-luck story had his
or her case fully tested before the
young millionaire decided with sigh
that this latest inquiry was leading
him once more into that quagmire
OF deceit and sin which spreads its
treacherous depths in every COM
munity.
Thus, his friendship with George
Hamer promised well at the outset.
In the first place, Hamer was an
idealist like himself, and deserved
even more credit for his philanthropic
impulses because he had been born in
the purple and had never undergone
the hard and grinding test Of manual
labor, whereas Burton's earlier days
were passed in a mill, and sheer physi-
cal effort alone had elevated him
above his fellows long before wond-
rous fortune gave him riches and a
British pecrage.
Hamer was the eldest son of his
father, Elwood Hamer, head of the
Cardboard Box trust. His mother
and sister were charming and we'll
bred ladies, women unspoiled by fash
ion and wealth, who regarded person
al comfort and luxury as their pre-
scriptive rights, and, given these es-
sentiais. were willing to help the
poorer classes in strictly ladylikc
way.
On the other hand, therefore, young
Hamer owned a hardheaded and sue
cessful father, whose gods were bound
up in ledgcrs carrying, fat columns
OF figures; on the other, he came
under influences at home which were
at once refining and enervating. Like
many another young man. fresh from
college and Astounding with enthusi-
asm, he was greatly shocked on find
IL himself face to face with the stern
realities Of life. Perhaps he would
never have met them in grim earnest
had not Janet Perkins, girl en-
ployed in one Of the many factories
owned by the trust, been endowed
with lovely face and figure which
was the envy Of every girl among her
friends.
Hamer, senior, held firmly to the
sound business principle that the son,
who would one day take his fathers
place at the head Of. the board OF
directors, should be familiar with
every branch Of the industry, so the
president-to-be began work among
! the crude fellows who drove delivery
vans, passed through the various de-
partments in the main faGtory, and
ultimately found himself on stool
in the cashiers office.
By this means George obtained q
knowledge Of labor conditions which
the older man had never acquired. He
knew the truth He knew that men
and women were rated as machines,
and, just as the 20-horse- power en-
ginc should do double the work OF a
ten, so the employee who earned $50
week had to give in brain or muscle
twice the service OF one rated at hall
the price Worst OF all, the human
machine finally became Anticipated
4 or worm like It's congcncr of iron and
leather betting. But the smile ended
there. The antiquated or worn me-
ehsnical device could at least be
\ melted down and fashioned anew
into thing OF utility; the WORKOUT
human being simply sank into the
grave by the wcll-trodden paths oi
poverty, disease, or crime.
The mere callousness OF this sys.
tenn Mortified the youngthful philoso.
pher. He dreamed Of a Utopia where
workers might lead pleasant and we'll.
ordered lives during their years OIL
toll, and at their close spend perioc
OF well-earncd rest under conditions
which would free both them and theil
children from humanitarian cares
Moreover, in the course Of his hu
manitarian studies, George coniyes
to fall in love with Janet Perkins.
That was tragedy, of course. Hi,
father could have told him so in loud
fnouthed protest, his mother and sis
ter could have warned him fearful,
against q mesalliance. Though hi.
male and female relatives reached thi,
conclusion along widely differing
lines OF reasoning, their logic pointed
to the same clear goal, Each ,woulc
have said;
You must not marry out Of you
set"
A young man in love. Of course
scorns such theory. For him Their
Is but one woman in the world, an,
for George Hamer that pedestal o
romance was occupied by Janet Perk
ms. and by her alone.
His troubles really began on TIL
day when he vertured TO ask hi
father to modify certain condition
in the factory. He was quite in earn
est. He did not venture to tackl
the subject without being thorough
versed in the facts. He was arme'
not only with fist OF crying evil.
but had for each really satisfactor,
solution,
The older man listened with an al
tention which gave his son confidenc,
He did not interrupt until the en-
thusiast had made an end. Mr.,
Hamer and her daughter Mabel HAP
nened IN he nrreenf ne the chat foo