AsIwentdownstairsandintothelibrarytoreadthefinancialpageofthemorningnewspaperIaskedmyself,withacertaindisquiet,whether,intheformal,complicated,andluxuriousconditionsinwhichwenowliveditmightbepossibletobuildupnewtiesandcommoninterests.I
reflectedthatthiswouldinvolveconfessionsandconfidencesonmypart,sincetherewasawholesideofmylifeofwhichMaudeknewnothing.I
hadconvincedmyselflongagothataman\'sbusinesscareerwasnoaffairofhiswife\'s:Ihadjustifiedthatcareertomyself:yetIhadalwayshadavaguefeelingthatMaude,hadsheknownthedetails,wouldnothaveapprovedofit.Impossible,indeed,forawomantograsptheseproblems.
Theywereoutsideofherexperience.
Nevertheless,somethingmightbedonetoimproveourrelationship,somethingwhichwouldrelievemeofthatuneasylackofunityIfeltwhenathome,ofthelassitudeandennuiIwaswonttofeelcreepingovermeonSundaysandholidays
XX.
IfindinrelatingthosepartsofmyexperiencethatseemtobeofmostsignificanceIhaveneglectedtotellofmymother\'sdeath,whichoccurredtheyearbeforewemovedtoGrantAvenue.ShehadclungtherestofherdaystothehouseinwhichIhadbeenborn.Oflateyearsshehadlivedinmychildren,andMaude\'sdevotiontoherhadbeenunflagging.Truthcompelsmetosaythatshehadlongceasedtobeafactorinmylife.Ihavethoughtofherinlateryears.
CoincidentwiththeunexpectedfeelingoffruitlessnessthatcametomewiththeGrantAvenuehouse,ofthingsachievedbutnotrealizedorappreciated,wastheappearanceofacloudonthebusinesshorizon;orratheronthepoliticalhorizon,sinceitishardtoseparatethetworealms.Thereweresigns,forthosewhocouldread,ofarisingpopularstorm.Duringtheearliestyearsofthenewcenturythepoliticalatmospherehadchanged,thepublichadshownatendencytogrowrestless;
andeverybodyknowshowimportantitisforfinancialoperations,forprosperity,thatthepeopleshouldmindtheirownbusiness.Inshort,ourcommercial-romanticpilgrimagebegantomeetwithunexpectedresistance.Itwasasthoughthenationwereenteringintoasenselessconspiracytokillprosperity.
Inthefirstplace,inregardtothePresidencyoftheUnitedStates,acoghadunwittinglybeenslipped.Ithadalwaysbeenrecognized——asI
havesaid——byresponsiblefinancialpersonagesthattheimpulsesofthemajorityofAmericanscouldnotbetrusted,thatthese——whohadinheritedillusionsoffreedom——mustbegovernedfirmlyyetwithdelicacy;unknowntothem,theirPresidentsmustbechosenforthem,preciselyasMr.
Watlinghadbeenchosenforthepeopleofourstate,andthepopularenthusiasmmanufacturedlater.TherewereinformalmeetingsinNewYork,inWashington,wherecandidateswerediscussed;notthatsuchandsuchamanwassettledupon,——itwasaprocessofelimination.Usuallytheaffairhadgonesmoothly.Forinstance,awhilebefore,abenevolentcapitalistofthemiddlewest,anintimateofAdolfScherer,hadbecomeobsessedwiththeideathatafriendofhiswasthesafestandsanestmanfortheheadofthenation,hadconvincedhisfellow-capitalistsofthis,whereuponhehadgoneaheadtospendhisenergyandhismoneyfreelytosecurethenominationandelectionofthisgentleman.
TheRepublicanNationalCommittee,theRepublicanNationalConventionwereallowedtosquabbletotheirhearts\'contentastowhetherSmith,JonesorBrownshouldbenominated,butitwasclearlyunderstoodthatifRobinsonorWhitewerechosentherewouldbenocorporationcampaignfunds.ThisappliedalsototheDemocraticparty,ontherareoccasionswhenitseemedtohaveanopportunityofwinning.Now,however,throughanunpardonableblunder,therehadgotintotheWhiteHouseaPresidentwhowasinclinedtoignoreadvice,whoappealedovertheheadsofthe\"advisers\"tothepopulace;whowentabouttiltingattheindustrialstructureswehadsopainfullywrought,andinfrequentblastsofpresidentialmessagesenunciatednewandhereticaldoctrines;whoattackedtherailroads,encouragedthebrazentreasonoflabourunions,inspiredanarmyof\"muck-rakers\"tofillthemagazineswiththewildestandmostviolentoflanguage.Statelegislatureswereemboldenedtopassmischievousandrestrictivelaws,andmuchofmytimebegantobeoccupiedininducing,byvariousmeans,ourcourtstodeclaretheseunconstitutional.HowwesighedforabusinessmanoralawyerintheWhiteHouse!Thecountryhadgonemad,thestock-markettrembled,thecryof\"corporationcontrol\"resoundedeverywhere,andeverywheredemagoguesarosetoinaugurate\"reformcampaigns,\"inanabortiveattemptto\"cleanuppolitics.\"Downwiththebosses,whowerethetoolsofthecorporations!
Inourowncity,whichwefondlybelievedtobeproofagainsttheprevailingmadness,aslightepidemicoccurred;slight,yetmomentarilyalarming.Accidentswillhappen,eveninthebestregulatedpoliticalorganizations,——andaccidentsinthesedaysappearedtobetherule.A
certainMr.EdgarGreenhalge,amiddle-aged,mild-manneredandinoffensivemanwhohadmadeamoderatefortuneinwholesaledrugs,waselectedtotheSchoolBoard.LateronsomeofushadreasontosuspectthatPerryBlackwood——withmoreastutenessthanhehadbeengivencreditfor——wasresponsibleforMr.Greenhalge\'scandidacy.Atanyrate,hewasnotamantooppose,andinhispreviouslifehadgivennohintthathemightbecomeatroublemaker.Nothinghappenedforseveralmonths.ButonedayonwhichIhadoccasiontointerviewMr.JasononalittlematterofhandingovertotheRailroadapieceoflandbelongingtothecity,whichwasknownasBillings\'Bowl,heinferredthatMr.Greenhaigemightproveadisturberofthatprofoundpeacewithwhichthecityadministrationhadformanyyearsbeenblessed.
\"Whothehellishe?\"wasMr.Jason\'squestion.
ItappearedthatMr.G.\'sprivatelifehadbeeninvestigated,withdisappointinglybarrenresults;hewas,seemingly,ananomalisticbeinginourNietzscheanage,anunaggressiveman;hehadneversoldanydrugstothecity;hewasnotachurchmember;norcoulditbelearnedthathehadeverwanderedintothosebywaysofthetownwhereMr.Jasonmighteasilyhavegottraceofhim:ifhehadanyvices,hekeptthemlockedupinasafe-depositboxthatcouldnotbe\"located.\"Hewasverygenial,andhadawayofconveyingdisturbingfacts——whenhewishedtoconveythem——undercoverofthemostamusingstories.Mr.Jasonwasnotamantogetpanicky.Greenhalgecouldbehandledallright,only——whatwasthereinitforGreenhalge?——anutdifficultforMr.Jasontocrack.ThetwoothermembersoftheSchoolBoardweresolid.Hereagainthewisestofmenwasprovedtoerr,forMr.Greenhalgeturnedouttohavepowersofpersuasion;hemadewhatinreligioustermswouldhavebeencalledaconversioninthecaseofanothermemberoftheboard,anhithertostauncholdreprobatebythenameofMuller,anex-saloon-keeperincomfortablecircumstancestowhomtheideaofpublicofficehadappealed.
Mr.Greenhalge,havinggotwindofcertaintransactionsthatinterestedhimextremely,broughttheminhisgood-naturedwaytotheknowledgeofMr.Gregory,thedistrictattorney,suggestingthatheinvestigate.Mr.
Gregorysmiled;undertook,asdelicatelyaspossible,toconveytoMr.
Greenhalgethewaysoftheworld,andofthepoliticalworldinparticular,wherein,itseemed,everyonewasagoodfellow.Mr.
Greenhalgewasevidentlyagoodfellow,anddidn\'twanttomaketroubleoverlittlethings.No,Mr.Greenhalgedidn\'twanttomaketrouble;heappreciatedacomfortablelifeasmuchasMr.Gregory;hetoldthedistrictattorneyafunnystorywhichmightormightnothavehadanapplicationtotheaffair,andtookhisleavewiththeremarkthathehadbeenhappytomakeMr.Gregory\'sacquaintance.Onhisdeparturethedistrictattorney\'scountenancechanged.Heseverelyrebukedasubordinateforsometrivialmistake,andwalkedasrapidlyashecouldcarryhisconsiderableweighttoMonahan\'ssaloonOneofthethingsMr.GregoryhadpointedoutincidentallywasthatMr.Greenhalge\'sevidencewasvague,andthatagrandjurywantedfacts,whichmightbedifficulttoobtain.Mr.Greenhalge,thinkingoverthesuggestion,sentforKrebs.Inthecourseofamonthortwotheinvestigationwasaccomplished,GreenhalgewentbacktoGregory;whorepeatedhishomilies,whereuponhewashandedahundredorsotypewrittenpagesofevidence.
Itwasadramaticmoment.
Mr.Gregoryresortedtopleading.HewassurethatMr.Greenhalgedidn\'twanttobedisagreeable,itwastrueandunfortunatethatsuchthingswereso,buttheywouldbeamended:hepromisedallhisinfluencetoamendthem.Thepublicconscience,saidMr.Gregory,wasbeingaroused.
Nowhowmuchbetterfortheparty,forthereputation,thefairnameofthecityifthesethingscouldbecorrectedquietly,andnobodyindictedortried!Betweensensibleandhumanemen,wasn\'tthattheobviousway?
Aftertheelection,suitcouldbebroughttorecoverthemoney.ButMr.
Greenhalgeappearedtobeoneofthosehopelessindividualswithoutasparkofpartyloyalty;hemerelycontinuedtosmile,andtosuggestthatthedistrictattorneyprosecute.Mr.Gregorytemporized,andpresentlyleftthecityonavacation.Adayortwoafterhissecondvisittothedistrictattorney\'sofficeMr.Greenhalgehadacallfromthecityauditorandthepurchasingagent,whotalkedabouttheirfamilies,——whichwasverypainful.ItwasalsointimatedtoMr.Greenhalgebyotherswhoaccostedhimthathewasjustthemanformayor.Hesmiled,andmodestlybelittledhisqualifications
Suddenly,onefinemorning,apartoftheevidenceKrebshadgatheredappearedinthecolumnsoftheMailandState,anewandenterprisingnewspaperforwhichthegrowthandprosperityofourcitywereresponsible;thesortof\"revelations\"thatstirredtoamazementandwrathinnocentcitizensofnearlyeverycityinourcountry:politicsand\"graft\"infestingourentireeducationalsystem,teachersandjanitorsleviedupon,pricesthattookthebreathawaypaidtofavouredfirmsforsupplies,specificationssowordedthatreasonablebidswerebarred.TherespectablefirmofElleryandKnowleswasinvolved.Inspiteofourhorror,wewereAmericansandsawthehumourofthesituation,andlaughedatthecaricatureintheMailandStaterepresentingascholarholdingupapencilandalegendunderit,\"No,it\'snotgold,butitoughttobe.\"
HereImustenterintoalittlesecrethistory.AnyaffairthatthreatenedtheintegrityofMr.Jason\'sorganizationwasofseriousmomenttothegentlemenofthefinancialworldwhofoundthatorganizationinvaluableandwhowerealsoconcernedaboutthefairnameoftheircommunity;aconferenceintheBoyneClubdecidedthatthecityofficialswerebeingpersecuted,andentitledthereforeto\"theverybestofcounsel,\"——inthisinstance,Mr.HughParet.ItwasalsothoughtwisebyMr.Dickinson,Mr.Gorse,andMr.Grierson,andbyMr.Parethimselfthatheshouldnotappearinthematter;anaspiringyoungattorney,Mr.
Arbuthnot,wasretainedtoconductthecaseinpublic.ThuscapitalcametotheassistanceofMr.Jason,afundwasraised,andIwasgivencarteblanchetodefendthemiserablecityauditorandpurchasingagent,bothofwhomelicitedmysympathy;fortheywerestoutmen,andrapidlylosingweight.Ourfirstcarewastocreateadelayinthetrialofthecaseinordertogivethepublicexcitementachancetodiedown.Forthepublicisproverbiallyunabletofixitsattentionforlongononeobject,continuallydemandingthedistractionthatournewspapersmakeittheirbusinesstosupply.Fortunately,amurderwascommittedinoneofoursuburbs,creatingamysterythatfilledthe\"extras\"forsomeweeks,andthiswasopportunelyfollowedbytheembezzlementofaconsiderablesumbythecashierofoneofourstatebanks.PublicinterestwasdividedbetweenbaseballandthetrackingofthiscriminaltoNewZealand.
Ourresentmentwasdirected,notsomuchagainstCommissionerGreenhalgeasagainstKrebs.ItiscurioushowkeenistheinstinctofmenlikeGrierson,Dickinson,TallantandSchererforthereallydangerousopponent.WhothedeucewasthismanKrebs?Well,Icouldsupplythemwithsomeinformation:theydoubtlessrecalledtheGalligan,case;andMillerGorse,whoforgotnothing,alsorememberedhisoppositioninthelegislaturetoHouseBill709.Hehadcontinuedtobetheobscurelegalchampionof\"oppressed\"labour,buthowhehadmanagedtokeepbodyandsoultogetherIknewnot.Ihadencounteredhimoccasionallyincourtcorridorsoronthestreet;hedidnotseemtochangemuch;nordidheappearinourbriefandperfunctoryconversationstobearanyresentmentagainstmeforthepartIhadtakenintheGalliganaffair.IavoidedhimwhenitwaspossibleIhadtoadmitthathehaddonearemarkablygoodpieceofworkincollectingGreenhalge\'sevidence,andhowthe,erringcityofficialsweretoberescuedbecameamatterofseriousconcern.Gregory,thedistrictattorney,wasinanabjectfunk;
inanycaseamediocrelawyer,aftertheindictmenthewasnohelpatall.Ihadtodoallthework,andafterwehadselectedtheparticular\"Railroad\"judgebeforewhomthecasewastobetried,Italkeditoverwithhim.HisnamewasNotting,heunderstoodperfectlywhatwasrequiredofhim,andthathewasforthemomentthechiefbulwarkonwhichdependedthelogicalinterestsofcapitalandsanegovernmentfortheirdefence;also,hisre-electionwasatstake.Itwasindicatedtonewspapers(suchastheMailandState)showingadesiretokeepuppublicinterestintheaffairthattheiradvertisingmattermightdecrease;Mr.Sherrill\'sgreatdepartmentstore,forinstance,didnotapproveofthissortofagitation.Certainstationers,booksellersandotherbusinessmenhadgot\"coldfeet,\"asMr.Jasonputit,theprospectofbankruptcysuddenlyloomingaheadofthem,——sincetheCornNationalBankheldcertainpaper
Inshort,whenthecasedidcometotrial,it\"blewup,\"asoneofourwardleadersdynamicallyexpressedit.Severalimportantwitnessesweremysteriouslylacking,andtwoorthreeschool-teachershadsuddenlydecided——totakeatriptoEurope.Thedistrictattorneywasill,andassignedtheprosecutiontoamildassistant;whileascepticaljury——
composedlargelyofgentlemenwhohadthebusinessinterestsofthecommunity,andofthemselves,atheartreturnedaverdictof\"notguilty.\"ThiswasthesignalforseverelydignifiededitorialsinMr.
Tallant\'sandotherconservativenewspapers,hintingthatitmightbewellinthefutureforallwell-meaningbutmisguidedreformerstothinktwicebeforesubjectingthecitytothecostofsuchtrials,anduselesslyattemptingtoinflamepublicopinionandupsetlegitimatebusiness.TheEraexpressedtheopinionthatnocityintheUnitedStateswas\"moreefficientlyandeconomicallygovernedthanourown.\"
\"Irregularities\"mightwelloccurineverylargeorganization;anditwouldbetterhavebecomeMr.Greenhalgeif,insteadofhiringanunknownlawyerthirstingfornotorietytocookupcharges,hehadcalledtheattentionoftheproperofficialstothematter,etc.,etc.ThePilotalone,whichreliedonsensationforitscirculation,kepthammeringawayforatimewithveiledaccusations.Butourcitizenshadbecomeweary
Asatopic,however,thiseffectivesuppressionofreformwasreferredtowithsomedelicacybymyfriendsandmyself.Ourinterferencehadbeennecessaryandthereforejustified,butwewerenotparticularlyproudofit,andourtriumphhadatemporarilysoberingeffect.Itwasaboutthistime,ifIremembercorrectly,thatMr.Dickinsongavethebeautifulstained-glasswindowtothechurch
Monthspassed.Oneday,havingoccasiontogoovertotheBoyneIronWorkstogetinformationatfirsthandfromcertainofficials,andhavingfinishedmybusiness,IboardedaSouthSideelectriccarstandingattheterminal.JustbeforeitstartedKrebscamedowntheaisleofthecarandtooktheseatinfrontofme.
\"Well,\"Isaid,\"howareyou?\"Heturnedinsurprise,andthrusthisbig,bonyhandacrossthebackoftheseat.\"Comeandsithere.\"Hecame.\"DoyouevergetbacktoCambridgeinthesedays?\"Iaskedcordially.
\"NotsinceIgraduatedfromnewspaperworkinBoston.That\'sagoodmanyyearsago.Bytheway,ouroldlandladydiedthisyear.\"
\"Doyoumean——?\"\"GraniteFace,\"Iwasabouttosay.Ihadforgottenhername,butthathomesickscenewhenTomandIstoodbeforeouropentrunks,whenKrebshadpaidusavisit,camebacktome.\"You\'vekeptintouchwithher?\"Iasked,insurprise.
\"Well,\"saidKrebs,\"shewasoneofthefewfriendsIhadatCambridge.
Ihadaletterfromthedaughterlastweek.She\'sdoneverywell,andisaninstructorinbiologyinoneofthewesternuniversities.\"
Iwassilentamoment.
\"Andyou,——younevermarried,didyou?\"Iinquired,somewhatirrelevantly.
Hissemi-humorousgestureseemedtodenythatsuchaluxurywasforhim.
Theconversationdraggedalittle;Ibegantofeelthecuriosityheinvariablyinspired.Whatwashislife?Whatwerehisbeliefs?AndI
waspossessedbyacertainmilitancy,adesireto\"smokehimout.\"Ididnotstoptoreflectthatminewasinrealityadefensiveratherthananaggressiveattitude.
\"Doyoulivedownhere,inthispartofthecity?\"Iasked.
No,heboardedinFowlerStreet.Iknewitasinadistrictgivenovertothesmallhousesofworking-men.
\"Isupposeyouarestillasocialist.\"
\"IsupposeIam,\"headmitted,andadded,\"atanyrate,thatisasnearasyoucangettoit.\"
\"Isn\'titfairlydefinite?\"
\"Fairly,ifmynotionsaretakeningeneralastheantithesisofwhatyoufellowsbelieve.\"
\"Theabolitionofproperty,forinstance.\"
\"Theabolitionoftoomuchproperty.\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanby\'toomuch\'?\"
\"Whenitceasestoberealtoaman,whenitrepresentsmorethanhisneed,whenitdriveshimandhebecomesaslavetoit.\"
InvoluntarilyIthoughtofmynewhouse,——notasoothingreflection.
\"Butwhoisgoingtodecreehowmuchproperty,amanshouldhave?\"
\"Nobody——everybody.Thatwillgraduallytendtoworkitselfoutaswebecomemoresensibleandbettereducated,andunderstandmoreclearlywhatisgoodforus.\"
Iretortedwiththestock,common-sensephrase.
\"Ifwehadadivisionto-morrow,withinafewyearsorsothemostefficientwouldcontrivetogetthebulkofitbackintheirhands.\"
\"That\'sso,\"headmitted.\"Butwe\'renotgoingtohaveadivisionto-
morrow.\"
\"ThankGod!\"Iexclaimed.
Heregardedme.
\"The\'efficient\'willhavetodieorbeeducatedfirst.Thatwilltaketime.\"
\"Educated!\"
\"Paret,haveyoueverreadanyseriousbooksonwhatyoucallsocialism?\"
heasked.
Ithrewoutanimpatientnegative.IwasgoingontoprotestthatIwasnotignorantofthedoctrine.
\"Oh,whatyoucallsocialismismerelywhatyoubelievetobethemoreorlesscrudeandutopianpropagandaofanobscurepoliticalparty.Thatisn\'tsocialism.NoristheanomalisticattemptthattheChristianSocialistsmaketounitemodernsocialisticphilosophywithChristianorthodoxy,socialism.\"
\"Whatissocialism,then?\"Idemanded,somewhatdefiantly.
\"Let\'scalliteducation,science,\"hesaidsmilingly,\"economicsandgovernmentbasedonhumanneedsandarationalviewofreligion.IthasbeentaughtinGermanuniversities,anditwillbetaughtinourswheneverweshallsucceedininducingyourfriends,byonemeansoranother,nottocontinueendowingthem.Socialism,inthepropersense,ismerelytheapplicationofmodernsciencetogovernment.\"
Iwaspuzzledandangry.Whathesaidmadesensesomehow,butitsoundedtomelikesomuchgibberish.
\"ButGermanyisamonarchy,\"Iobjected.
\"Itisamodern,scientificsystemwithmonarchyasitssuperstructure.
Itisanomalous,butfrank.Themonarchyisthereforallmentosee,andsomedayitwillbedoneawaywith.Wearesupposedlyademocracy,andoursuperstructureisplutocratic.Ourpeoplefeeltheburden,buttheyhavenotyetdiscoveredwhattheburdenis.\"
\"Andwhentheydo?\"Iasked,alittledefiantly.
\"Whentheydo,\"repliedKrebs,\"theywillsetaboutmakingtheplutocratshappy.Nowplutocratsarediscontented,andneversatisfied;themoretheyget,themoretheywant,themoretheyaretroubledbywhatotherpeoplehave.\"
Ismiledinspiteofmyself.
\"Yourinterestin——inplutocratsischaritable,then?\"
\"Why,yes,\"hesaid,\"myinterestinallkindsofpeopleischaritable.
Howeverimprobableitmayseem,Ihavenoreasontodislikeorenvypeoplewhohavemorethantheyknowwhattodowith.\"Andtheworstofitwashelookedit.Hemanagedsomehowsimplybysittingtherewithhisstrangeeyesfixeduponme——inspiteofhisridiculousphilosophy——tobelittlemyambitions,tomakeofsmallworthmyachievements,tobringhometomethefactthatinspiteoftheseIwasneithercontentednorhappythoughhekepthishumourandhispoise,heimpliedanexperiencethatwasfardeeper,moretragicandmoresignificantthanmine.Iwasgoadedintomakinganinjudiciousremark.
\"Well,yourcampaignagainstEnnerlyandJacksonfellthrough,didn\'tit?\"EnnerlyandJacksonwerethecityofficialswhohadbeentried.
\"Itwasn\'tacampaignagainstthem,\"heanswered.\"AndconsideringthesubordinatepartItookinit,itcouldscarcelybecalledmine.\"
\"Greenhalgeturnedtoyoutogettheevidence.\"
\"Well,Igotit,\"hesaid.
