Earlier text: The Supernatural ChristNEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES.
“Society” at Newport and doings among the “smart set” which reign there has held quite a prominent place in the papers for a few weeks, the discussion being precipitated by the caustic criticism of Mr. Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Many agree with Mr. Watterson, others condemn his action, while still others defend the “smart set” by saying they are no worse than others. The latter doubtless is true, but it is poor defense. There are two great evils which they foster, unparalleled extravagance and a do-nothing life, so far as anything useful is concerned, tho it must be confessed that he who meets the exacting rules of Newport’s high society has no easy task. What makes it worse, much of the money so extravagantly expended comes from the labors of the poor. Thus class strife and hatred are fomented. Among worse things, Mr. Watterson forcefully, and who will not say truthfully, says:— The poor are always with us, so are the vulgarians, who, given money enough, set up a voluptuous principality, call it the Four Hundred, and, having made sure of its boundaries and their isolation, proceed to make their own moral code, hardly deigning even to ask the rest of the community, “What are you going to do about it?” The sea-going palace, the modern auto, the struggle for equivocal notoriety, the strife for titles, the eating from the tree of forbidden knowledge, the aping of the manners of the foreign swell and the fancied great, the marriage as an experiment and the marriage of convenience, the hot pursuit of pleasure at home and abroad—in short, the constant striving after the ostentatious display of wealth inevitable to the sun-worship of money—these are among the features that distinguish the Four Hundred from other rich people, who do not need to affect anything, who heartily despise such proceedings, who, with fortune secure and social position fixed, live without scandal and travel without adventure, but whom the wantons of the Smart Set describe as “the bourgeoisie.” . . . At the same time it is a fact that even in the better realms of luxury and wealth there is a growing toleration of the unclean. Good people are not so shocked as they once were by moral infractions. There is not a conscientious man nor a thoughtful woman in the society of any of our great centers of population who does not mark with serious apprehension the lowering tendencies of the time; the multiplication of frivolous marriages, the desecration of the marriage tie, the increasing number of scandalous divorces, directly traceable to the spirit of lawlessness in excessive wealth and the bad example of the infamous, but prosperous, rich. We do not need to institute any historic parallels; to take to ourselves any lesson from ancient Greece and Rome, or modern France, suggestive as these may be. He is but a poor observer of contemporary life, and no prophet at all, who does not see that the whole trend of public affairs is set toward an ultimate conflict between the forces of prerogative, on the one hand, and the forces of what the exclusive few delight to call the Great Unwashed, on the other hand; between capital, too often avaricious and grasping, and labor, grimy and passionate, and, left riderless, a monster without a head. Enlightened men would moderate that conflict. The scandalous behaviour of the conspicuous rich plays directly to the lead of the extremist and the agitator, with unclean hands preparing the pickaxe of the leveller and the brand of the incendiary. The indifference of the guild of wealth and luxury is replete with evil auguries. If such offenses as we have set forth are endured and condoned, how long before that which embraces but a set becomes the distinguishing mark of a section? If the press is so easily seduced, or misled, what must it become when it is bought outright? Look at the lobby at Washington. Does it not exist? Yet are there those who will swear that it is only a figment of partisan malignity. It already costs a million of dollars to set a Presidential candidate in the field; already a hundred thousand dollars to sustain contests for a seat in the Senate of the United States. How long shall it be—the press already defending the Four Hundred—before our public men shall become but a race of Medici princes without the learning or the arts of Florence, and the President’s chair itself a simple commodity, to be knocked down to the highest bidder? Below is what one of the leading ladies of the South, the wife of ex-Congressman W. H. Felton, and former Federal Judge of Georgia, has to say of Mr. Watterson’s criticism:— But it is well to understand that the article applies to a great many more people than four hundred of our fashionable in New York City. Perhaps that is a sample lot or a specimen case, so to speak, but there is more or less of the same sort of goods in every prominent city or town in the United States. They are doing their best as imitators, copyists, and, according to their opportunities, they are treading in the steps of great leaders in fashion, and frivolity, and aping manners and customs as nearly as possible, and compliment themselves on their ability in so doing. Old Rome went to pieces just in the same way. A woman born to the purple commanded her carriage driver to roll the wheels in the open street over her own father’s dead body, and the crisis was near at hand when Rome’s glory was changed into luxurious licentiousness and official vanity, and these crimes were permitted to pass unrebuked by its rulers. It is the unhappy trend of the times. Grown-up men among the Four Hundred give dinner parties to monkeys, and fancy balls are frequented by giddy, silly people, who personate animals to create a sensation. Mr. Watterson has trumpeted a note of warning, but the evil seeds were sown many seasons ago. “Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.”
One of the saddest of all things in connection with the lavish, extravagant expenditure of wealth, its ornate and vulgar display, is the reflection that it might have been so different. It is sad to think of now; it will be infinitely sadder when those who foolishly spend entrusted wealth must give an account of their stewardship, must tell to the Receiving Court of Last Resort all their bankrupt enterprises, how they have expended the trust funds of God. Would God that some of these millionaires and multi-millionaires could recognize the God-given opportunities which await in the world’s great needy field; might share some of the blessed privileges of associating not with the princes and nobles of the broken-down kingdoms of earth, but with the King of heaven, before whom the great Four Hundred is as “the small dust of the balance,” “nothing, and less than nothing.” What a blessing it would be if homes for working women and girls could be established in the great cities, light, sunny, pure, healthful homes, at a very moderate rate of rent, commensurate with the pitiful wage so many of them receive; we mean the rent in proportion to the wage, not the home, or room, or lodging. What a blessing it would be to the hearts of these persons who are studying as to how they can expend their millions so as to bring added pleasure to a world-satiate heart, entertainment to a pleasure-nauseated mind, if they would form mighty syndicates for buying up and condemning old slums, and building neat, proper, healthful tenement-houses for the poor of the cities, for the workingmen of the towns. What blessings would come to each and all, if they would learn how their equally worthy brother in want and poverty lived, and out of their abundance supply his want. What blessings would come, if some of the money so lavishly expended on personal adornment or in sensuous pleasure could be used in planning and securing tracts of land in the country on easy, proper terms for the poor of the cities. There are ways many to sow blessings. There are privileges in all the sowings. Would God that the rich might see this before it is forever too late. They are not so much to be envied as pitied. Better the toiler with his home ties, his cottage in which reigns temperance, industry, piety, love, than all the marble palaces of the rich. God will hold each responsible for his use of His entrusted means. THE EXHIBITION OF “NATIONAL CHRISTIANITY.”
By G.
We have before noted the fact that Christianity—that is, professed Christianity—is to be placed on exhibition at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. The exhibit is being prepared by the National Reform Association and the organ of that association gives an outline of what will be held up as evidence of our national Christianity. In addition to Sunday closing, the following items are noted:— A library of books (including nearly all the great masters in political science) which teach the Christian principles of civil government; a printed syllabus of the contents of these books, with critical estimates of their value; maps and charts showing our Christian population and resources, and the number and value of Christian churches, hospitals, asylums, and institutions of learning; maps showing what States have Sabbath laws, laws against blasphemy, laws in restraint of intemperance, and laws providing for Christian education in their schools, and what States have religious acknowledgments in their constitutions; photographs and engravings of Christian inscriptions on monuments and public buildings. It is further stated in this connection, that,— The syllabus of the library above referred to will aim to be a complete bibliography of the world’s literature on the subject of civil government and religion. One large department in this library will be works on the moral and religious problem in education. This syllabus will be for free distribution and will be in itself a powerful refutation of the bald secular or atheistic theory of government, and a demonstration that the world’s great thinkers are and have been on the side of national Christianity. We call special attention, however, to the following acknowledgment:— Incidentally, this exhibit will also reveal how far, at some points, as in the matter of divorce, we have departed from the Christian standard, and how much remains to be done for the development and the perfecting of our national Christianity. Great things are expected of this exhibit. First, according to the organ from which we quote, it is to show “unquestionably” that “we are a Christian nation;” and, secondly, how far we come short of the “Christian standard.” It is not necessary to make a special exhibit to demonstrate this latter point; that is everywhere manifest. There is considerable National Reform literature which, if it were placed on exhibition, would demonstrate that the advocates of the “national Christianity” theory have a vague conception of the “Christian standard.” We refer to published utterances of National Reform leaders, wherein they ardently advocate the disfranchisement, the banishment, and even the execution of men who should persistently oppose their “national Christianity.” But the very first thing on their list—enforced Sunday observance—is a specimen from the “national Christianity” Sunday laws, with their system of fines and imprisonment. There is no such thing in the “Christian standard.” There is no such thing as the compulsory observance of religious rites in the “Christian standard.” There is no such thing as ostentatious display in the “Christian standard.” Display religion has its rebuke in the scriptures. See Matt. 6:1-6. Luke 18:9-14, etc. The Lord Himself has given us a rule for showing Christianity to the world in a most effectual manner: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35. This is the “Christian standard;” this is the way Christ would have us demonstrate Christianity to all men. National Reform exhibits in the world’s fairs may illustrate so-called “national Christianity;” but they must not only “incidentally,” as confessed by the exhibitors, but necessarily, show how far “national Christianity”—display Christianity—comes short of the “Christian standard.” G. Financial Stringency and the Coming Crash
ANOTHER stringency has occurred in the money market of New York which threatened to cause considerable difficulty throughout the country, and the Secretary of the Treasury has again come to the rescue with the offer to redeem government bonds to the extent of $15,000,000. His offer was promptly accepted by financiers. This transaction, it is said, will put in circulation about $20,000,000 to move the crops of the country. Not many weeks ago a similar transaction was found necessary to avoid a financial panic. How long the Secretary of the Treasury will be able to use the money of the people to prevent financial disaster and keep trusts and speculators from going to the wall is not known; but that it can not go on forever is certain. That it can not go on for long is also certain. The people are beginning to realize that an end must come to the great speculations and over capitalizations, and they are beginning to lose confidence. This is what is making the stringency in the money market; and it will go on until the crash comes. Many are expecting it, and some are expecting it soon. It may be held in check for a time, like the winds of strife which the angels were commissioned to hold; but there will come a time when the restraining hand will be removed, and what the result of that act will be, only the Word of God can reveal. But it does reveal it. THE annual report of the commissioner of immigration has been made public. It shows that there arrived in the United States during the past year 647,073 immigrants. The total number of aliens refused a landing was 4,974. The report says: “The increase of alien immigration has been not quite one-third over that of 1901; but the comparative increase of diseased aliens for the same period has been more than two to one. The same races which exhibited the largest number of diseased persons last year maintain their pre-eminence in this respect for the year under consideration.” The commissioner asks for some legislation which will punish steamship companies for bringing diseased aliens to this country. This increase of disease is one of the characteristics of the times—one of the signs of the times. PROFESSOR PICKERING of Harvard claims to have obtained proof, during the moon’s eclipse, of his theory that the brightness of the moon is due to hoar frost rather than to reflections from rocks. REPORTS from Porto Rico state that the election registration there was a complete farce. The Federals were shut out in the majority of the precincts of the island, because by order of the executive council a majority of the opposition party had been placed on each board. Insular police guarded the polls, and no Federals were admitted. In order to remedy this, the supervisor of elections allowed another day for registration, and orders were issued to protect the rights of the Federals; but the orders were uniformly disregarded, and where the Federals attempted to exercise their rights, shooting affrays occurred. Many arrests have been made and thousands of charges and protests have been filed. FOR some years it has been possible to send crude outlines of pictures by telegraph; but an invention has now been perfected in New York by means of which a perfect reproduction of any photograph can be sent over the electric wire. The electrograph, as it is called, is a flash reproduction of half-tone photo engravings, preserving in the finished resultant picture every photographic detail. It is stated that these pictures can be sent over any wire over which words can be telegraphed. This will mark a great advance in newspaper illustrating, or in any work where a picture is required without delay. LA SOUFRIERE, the volcano on the island of St. Vincent, has been in eruption again. This last outbreak occurred on October 15 and 16, and it is said plunged the colony into deeper distress than that which previously existed. Growing crops were buried under several inches of hot sand, and the area covered by this volcanic dust is said to be much larger than hitherto affected. No deaths have been reported, but the destruction of the crops will result in great distress. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, on invitation of the coal miners and operators, has appointed a commission of six members to effect a settlement of the coal strike. As the operators and the representatives of the miners have agreed to abide by the decisions of this arbitration tribunal, it is expected that the strike will be settled within a few days, and that mining will be resumed in most of the great coal mines which have been idle so long. THE British forces operating in Somaliland, East Africa, against the Mad Mullah, have met with a reverse at the hands of the fanatics. Most of the British troops were natives. The British had a colonel, a captain, and 50 men killed, and about 100 wounded. The attacking Somalis also suffered heavy losses in men. English papers are urging the government to take severer measures in dealing with the Somalis. FROM the report of the London Board of Trade, it seems evident that the coming winter will be a hard one for the laboring class of England. The return of the discharged South African troops is causing a reduction in the wages of the laborers, and the number of unemployed persons is constantly increasing. To add to the difficulty of the situation, the price of meat, bread, and coal is dearer than a year ago. COLONEL ICHENETSKY, of the Russian army, has invented a new fireproof material, which is called Uralite. Asbestos constitutes the fundamental component of the new production, which has proved a perfect fire-resisting material. It is extremely light, durable, and very strong, and is manufactured in sheets of varying size and thickness, very convenient for building purposes. A correspondent of the London Daily Mail, who is investigating the condition of the Jews in Rumania, reports that in addition to the persecutions which the Jews have to bear, many of the Rumanian legislators derive considerable portions of their incomes from large sums exacted from the Jews on the promise that they will help the Jews to obtain naturalization papers. CONSUL-GENERAL BRAGG, of Havana, is to be replaced by the present consul-general at Hongkong, China, Mr. W. A. Rublee. The Havana consul-general will take the place left vacant by the one who is to replace him. This change of officials is made necessary by Cuba’s dislike of Mr. Bragg, due to certain unguarded utterances of his in reference to the Cubans. A NEW Colombian official has taken up the work of pacifying the Isthmus of Panama. He states that he will soon have an army of considerable size at his disposal, and will at once begin to clear the railroad and isthmus of guerrilla bands. Colombia is fearful that the disturbances in the vicinity of the proposed canal may result in America choosing the Nicaragua route. THE International Court of Arbitration has rendered its decision in the Pius Fund case, awarding to the United States on behalf of the Catholic Church of California the sum of $1,460,682, and also annual payment of interest forever amounting to $43,050. The Mexican Government will pay the award, altho the government feels that it is entirely unjust. THE United States now produces more coal than any other nation in the world, the output for the year 1901 exceeding that of Great Britain by 47,965,938 short tons. The world’s output of coal for that year was 866,165,140 tons, and of this the United States produced nearly 34 per cent. THE birthplace of John G. Whittier, at Haverhill, Mass., was nearly destroyed by fire on October 17. The Whittier Association will rebuild the house. A Good Work.—In 1900 only five States had laws that amounted to anything for the protection of nongame birds, namely Indiana, Vermont, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Arkansas. Now, through the efforts of the Audubon societies, eleven States have laws against the killing of birds for millinery purposes. Let the good work go on till every State shall possess effective laws and public sentiment to enforce them. THE great beef trust has at last been incorporated, under the laws of New Jersey. The capital stock has been placed at $1,000,000; but it is understood that this is soon to be increased to $500,000,000. The company is authorized to deal in cattle, act as butchers, packers, and retailers, and to construct and operate steamship lines. ON October 16, United States Attorney Woodworth, of San Francisco, secured a temporary restraining order from the judge of the Circuit Court, restraining the salt trust from carrying on business, and ordering officials to appear in court on November 3 to show cause why the restraint should not be made permanent. THE report of the Commissioner of Education to the government for the past year shows that during that time the number of individuals receiving instruction in the various schools of the country was 17,750,000, and the value of property used for school purposes has risen to $576,963,089. AT Visalia, California, on October 18, a person was thrown into a hypnotic sleep by a hypnotist who was twenty miles away. The operation was carried on by means of the telephone, and was performed in the presence of a number of persons who had assembled to witness the test. THE Illinois State Federation of Labor has passed resolutions denouncing the State militia. It was resolved that all members of unions who join the militia violate their obligations to the unions, and it was ordered that henceforth all union men should decline to join the militia. THE General Confederation of Labor for France is now considering the proposition of a general strike in all the industries of that country for an eight-hour day and old-age pensions. The strike of French miners continues. The report states that there are now 160,000 miners out. IT is reported that throughout the East the price of coal will be generally increased fifty cents a ton, because of the probable increase which will be made in the price paid the miners as a result of the prospective agreement between the miners and operators. SECRETARY of the Treasury Shaw, in his forthcoming annual report to the government, recommends that the Bertillon method of measuring criminals be adopted by the government in the detection of the identity of the Chinese who come to America. THE Boer generals who are making a tour of Europe to raise funds for the Boers impoverished by the long war are said to be meeting with scant encouragement financially in those countries. They will soon visit America to raise funds for that object. THERE was a stormy scene in the British Parliament on October 16, when the Irish members denounced the government in unmeasured terms for its refusal to appoint one day between that date and Christmas for the discussion of the Irish troubles. A DESPATCH from Lisbon, Portugal, states that the king of Portugal has leased Portuguese Southeast Africa to Great Britain for a period of 99 years. The Portuguese flag will continue to fly over the territory, but it will be for the sake of appearances only. JAMES YOUNGER, the paroled bandit, who, with his brothers, made part of the Jesse James gang of outlaws, committed suicide at St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 19. He was the youngest of the three brother bandits. THE corn market of Chicago is reported to be in the absolute control of J. Ogden Armour, who is holding something like 30,000,000 bushels of December corn, and has within a few days cleared between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000. IT is reported that the Haitian insurgents have given up the fight, and that their leader has sailed away from the island with a few of his followers. Marines are guarding the consulates, which are thronged with refugees. WALL STREET statisticians have figured it out that the American farmer will receive for this year’s crop of corn, wheat, and oats $1,795,000,000, besides the amount received from hay, potatoes, and other products. THAT little Denmark is not to be left behind in the race for war preparations is shown by her latest order for war munitions, which included 128 Krupp field guns and 192 ammunition wagons. THE frontier dispute between Algeria and Morocco has been settled. France obtains the territory which was in dispute between her African possession and Morocco. REPORTS from Colombia state that that country now has a new president, General Perdomo, former minister of state and commander of the Colombian army. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE COURTS.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE got into the courts the other day when the First Church of Christ Scientist of Philadelphia applied to Judge Pennypacker for a charter. He denied the application on the ground that on the face of the evidence the proposed church was a medical institution, the doctors or healers in which did not possess the qualification necessary under the State laws. In the view of the law these so-called Christian Scientists were unlicensed and not licensable practitioners of medicine. Their application was made to Judge Arnold. On the evidence before him he refused to grant the charter because the Church of Christ Scientist is a concern for revenue only, a business carried on for profit. According to Mr. Frederick W. Peabody, of Boston, Mother Eddy’s income from Christian Science is between $75,000 and $100,000 a year. The “mother church” in Boston brings in $21,000 a year or more, as every Christian Scientist gives $1 a year to it. The sale of the Christian Science oracle and bible, Mother Eddy’s “Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures,” has been enormous. But we do not vouch for Mr. Peabody. The incisive facts are that Judge Pennypacker denies the right of “Christian Science” to practise any form of healing, while Judge Arnold seeks to protect the followers of Christian Science from the effects of their own credulity.—Christian Work. A WRITER in the Christian Advocate presents the following supposition of what might happen in a modern church:— Let us suppose, for example, that to this church comes an opportunity to do practical Christian work in connection with a case of sickness and destitution in the neighborhood. The stewards have a small fund made up from the monthly poor collections; the ladies have a certain sum at their disposal; and the Mercy and Help Department of the Epworth League has certain funds in hand. Perhaps the case is called to the attention of one of the circles of King's Daughters. Four sets of workers are interested. Four reports are made upon the case, and the result is likely to be that four driblets of charity are doled out, under circumstances where, with one officer handling the four funds, substantial relief might have been given with half the total expense and with less than half of the effort. It is all true. In the apostolic days there was one body and one Head. Now there are double and treble and quadruple monstrosities, inextricable confusion of bodies and heads. And it is largely to gratify ambition. CAPITAL AND LABOR.
By Horatio Alger, Jr.
A Story for the Capitalist and Employer. JOHN GRIFFITH, a rich English manufacturer, sat in a room in his elegant mansion one day in autumn. To judge by his face, his reflections were of an agreeable nature. “The prospect is,” he said to himself, “that my income for the present year will reach fifteen thousand pounds. That is a tidy sum for one who started as a poor boy. And I am not so old, either. Just turned sixty! There is more than one nobleman in the kingdom that would be glad of John Griffith’s income. My Katy will have a rich dowry.” He was interrupted here by the entrance of a servant. “Mr. Griffith,” he said, “there are three men below who would like to see you.” “Yes, sir. They are not gentlemen,” said the servant, who understood the question. “They are men from the mill, I’m thinking.” “Very well; show them up.” It was a holiday and the works were not in operation, so the operatives were off work. There was heard the tramp of heavy boots on the staircase, and presently entered three men whose dress and appearance indicated clearly that they belonged to the class who are doomed to earn their daily bread by hard and unremitting labor. “What is your business with me, my men?” asked Mr. Griffith, rising and surveying them with interest. “Are you employed in the mill?” “Yes, sir,” said the foremost, Hugh Roberts; “yes, Mr. Griffith, we are employed in the mill, and it’s about that we’ve come to see you.” “Very well,” said John Griffith, resuming his seat, “speak on, whatever you have to say to me.” “It’s this, Mr. Griffith, sir, and I hope you won’t be offended at what I say. We came here to humbly beg that you would be pleased to raise our wages.” “To raise your wages!” exclaimed Mr. Griffith, in a displeased tone. “Yes, sir. I hope you won’t be offended.” “Don’t I give as high wages as are paid in other mills?” “Mayhap you do, sir; but it’s very hard to get along on three shillings a day.” “But if I should pay higher wages than others they could undersell me in the market.” “I don’t know, sir, but I think we should work more cheerfully and do more in a day if we felt that we had a little more to live on, so that the wife and children needn’t have to pinch and go hungry.” These words were uttered in a manly and straightforward tone, and there was not a little pathos in them, but it seemed lost on Mr. Griffith. “It’s only sixpence more a day we ask, sir,” said Hugh Roberts, pleadingly. Mr. Griffith made a mental calculation. He had three hundred men in his employ. He found that sixpence a day additional would make a sum total during the year of over two thousand pounds. This reflection hardened his heart against the applicants. “But, sir,” said Hugh Roberts, “think what it is to support a family on three shillings a day.” “It is hard, no doubt,” said Mr. Griffith; “but I can not afford to make the advance you desire.” “I do. If you can do any better, of course I won’t prevent your bettering yourselves.” “We can’t do better, sir,” said Hugh, bitterly, crushing his hat between his toil-hardened fingers. “We have no other way to live, except to work for you and take what you are pleased to pay.” “Think it over, my men,” said Mr. Griffith more good-humoredly, for he had carried his point, “and you will see that I can’t pay more than other manufacturers. I’ve no doubt your wives and children will earn something to help you along.” The three men departed with sad faces, looking as if life were a weary struggle with little to cheer it. Scarcely had they left the room when Katy Griffith entered. Born when her father was comparatively late in life, she was his darling and the light of his existence. It was for her that he wished to become very rich, that he might make her a match for the highest, as he was wont to express it. “They will overlook John Griffith’s pedigree,” he said to himself, “if his daughter has a good hundred thousand pounds to her dowry.” Katy entered, a bright-eyed, attractive girl of fifteen, of whom her father might well be proud. “How are you, my darling?” said her father, smiling fondly upon her. “I’m always well,” she said lightly; “but, papa, who were those poor men that I met on the stairs? Had you been scolding them?” “What makes you ask, Katy?” “Because they looked so sad and discouraged.” “Did they?” asked Mr. Griffith, with momentary compunction. “Yes, papa, and I heard one of them sigh, as if he were tired of living.” “They were men from the mill, Katy.” “And what did they come for? Do you tell them about their work?” “No, the overseer does that.” “What did they come for?” “You are very curious, my darling.” “That isn’t telling me, papa,” said the young lady, persistently. “Then, if you must know, it was to ask for higher wages.” “Of course I didn’t. Why should I?” “Because they need it. How much do they get now?” “Only three shillings a day!” exclaimed Katy, “and have to support their families out of that?” “O, papa, how can you pay them such mean wages?” “I pay as high wages as other manufacturers,” said her father. “But they can’t live on three shillings a day, poor men. How much more did they ask for?” “Only a sixpence a day, and you refused!” said Katy, reproachfully. But consider, my dear, on all my workmen it would amount to more than two thousand pounds a year.” “And how much do you make in a year, papa?” “This year,” said Mr. Griffith proudly, “I think I shall make nearly fifteen thousand pounds.” “You don’t surely spend all that, papa?” “Not more than four thousand pounds.” “Then,” said Katy, “as it is to be mine, pay the men a shilling more a day. There’ll be enough left for me. I shouldn’t enjoy money that was taken from so many poor people. Think, papa, how much good the extra shilling would do to your poor men, and how little difference it would make to me. I shall be as rich as I want to be. Come, papa, you were once poor yourself. You should pity the poor.” At these words Mr. Griffith recalled the difficult struggle he had early in life, and the selfishness of his present treatment of his poor operatives struck him forcibly. His own heart joined with his daughter. “Are you in earnest, Katy, in what you say?” he asked. “If I do what you ask it will make a considerable difference in your fortune.” “But I shall feel so happy when I think that the men are more comfortable. Won’t you do it, papa?” “Yes, Katy,” said her father; “I will do as you say. Other manufacturers will think I have gone insane, but if I please my Katy I will not care.” “I love you better than ever now, papa,” and the warm-hearted girl threw her arms around her father’s neck. A servant was sent to Hugh Roberts’ cottage to bid him come to the great house. He was sitting in moody silence in his poor cabin, which was pervaded by a general air of want and discomfort. He did not understand the summons, but thought he might be going to receive his discharge in return for his bold request. Again he was ushered into the presence of his employer. “I have been thinking of your request, my man,” said Mr. Griffith in a kind tone, “and tho I doubt whether any other manufacturer would grant it, I have made up my mind to do it.” “Bless you, sir,” said Hugh Roberts, his face lighting up. “Heaven will reward you. Then we shall have three shillings and sixpence hereafter?” “You shall have four shillings.” “Four shillings! Are you really in earnest, sir?” “Truly so. The overseer shall receive my instructions to-morrow.” The workman burst into tears, but they were tears of joy. “The men will bless you,” he said, smiling, and the words had a pleasant sound for Mr. Griffith. A hearty blessing is not to be despised. It was found on experiment that the profits of the business were but little affected by the increased wages, for the men now worked with a hearty good-will which enabled them to accomplish more work in a day, so Katy’s sacrifice will be less than was supposed. And every day she rejoices over the thought of the additional comfort secured by the extra shilling paid at her request.—Horatio Alger, Jr.