thought you had

more courage, “Well, if you found me equally Alicia."

disappointing it would hardly be “I'm not afraid!” she exploded. fair. Because I did all of this

“No? It takes some hardihood to myself.” be Bluebeard's fourth wife.”

“You, Why, Matthew! Listen. She reddened helplessly.

I'm exactly like all the others. I “Matthew, if you knew how went after you. It gave me a thrill ashamed I am! Oh, no, it wasn't of triumph to—to break through fair. It was rotten. You—you that shell and find you so perfectly haven't the technique of Bluebeard, sweet and delightful. I started this anyway. . . . But, you see, I can't just-just to see if I were still young help saying things like that. I enough and attractive enough to couldn't stop even if I married you. start anything. It's all artificialOh, I wouldn't say them about you, synthetic-cultivated. Any woman of course; but about other people. could have done it. And I won't be And that would ruin you.”

like the others. If you—if you purr “Too bad,” said Leashe. “For of like a cat when anybody strokes you, course I'm the one person it couldn't it isn't fair to take advantage of ruin. Whenever you'd think up a

you." good line I could use it in one of my "I see you've been talking to plays. I need all I can get. Too Aunt

Aunt Regina,” he informed her. bad."

“Though that was my line originally, “Well!” said Alicia. “You don't about the cat. I invent so few that seem to think much of my reasons. I insist on getting the credit, when I Let's hear yours.”

do think of something clever. He shrugged. “I'd hardly be Well, if you started this, Alicia, offering you a unique compliment, if you're certainly a good starter.” I asked you to marry me.

Almost “Oh, I know," she said miserably. everybody has married me, at one “You thrill and tingle and see everytime or another. . . . But you're thing in bright colors—and so do I. not like the others."

But I made you feel that way, and Alicia's heart fluttered. Damn

Damn I'm not going to be mean enough to the silly thing, she thought furiously, marry you like those other women. and tried to keep her hands from You're too nice.” trembling as she asked him:

“I don't see that at all,” he ob“Why not?”

served. (His composure was in“Well—it's a delicate thing to say, furiating.) “No matter how it was but perfectly true. They all-more started there it is. Any woman or less went after me. Rather as a might have done it, perhaps, last sport, you see. It's no news that night. No other woman could do it they all found me rather disap- now.

now. Suppose it was artificial and pointing; but that was a chance they synthetic. How many things ever deliberately chose to take.

to take. But happen of their own accord? Some

body has to start them; but if they “Yes?” Alicia queried, in madden- work, who cares?” ing suspense.

“Who cares?" she repeated weakly,

you—"

utter

nerves

wondering if she dared to believe would be nastier than all the restthere was a way out.

because it's true. You're a senti“Why, that's

nonsense,

mentalist-a shameless raw sentiAlicia. That isn't the reason why it mentalist.” won't do."

“So are you!" “Oh!” she said. "Well, why, “So am I,” he agreed. “And we'd then for Heaven's sake?"

certainly be laughed out of town, “Well-you say I purr whenever both of us, if we didn't keep that anybody pets me. If you married secret—in the family. . . . Yet you me, and some other woman tried to were going to let me go because you be nice to me

wanted that final sentimental thrill Alicia straightened up.

of self-sacrifice. It won't do, my "Well! I'd like to see anybody, dear. Let me go by all means, if—" I mean, if it came to a competition “If?" (Her tortured in encouraging purrs—Matthew, couldn't stand much more.) you certainly don't think I'd let “If you can look me in the eye and That Dreadful Woman take you

say you want to.” away from me."

“You know I'm crazy about you,” “Meaning

said Alicia weakly. “Meaning the lady who had her "I do now," he admitted with eye on you last night. If you're visible relief. “But I could never likely to marry anybody who gives have been sure if—” you any provocation, you'd much She straightened up; now that the better marry me than Dolores Duve- tension was over, her black eyes were tyne. I don't care how many argu- snapping again, with amusement and ments there are against it.”

a little anger, and a reluctant admiraHe grinned.

tion. "Neither do 1,” he confessed. "Matthew! I do believe you've “But I could see that you were going been—using a technique on me.” to have a reaction and feel that you He grinned, like a cat-a cat that ought to be noble and self-sacrificing. has just swallowed a particularly You know I'm easy, so you feel you

toothsome canary. ought to let me go . . . Alicia, I've “I'm an experienced playwright,” said about all the nasty things about he told her. “It takes technique to you that I could think of, but I never bring out the-er-hidden merits of knew till last night the one thing that an unsympathetic character.”

a

A REVIEW AND SOME REMARKS

With the United States Steel Corporation as a Background

ELBERT H. GARY

W

ness.

ITHIN the last twenty-five promote their own pecuniary interyears there has been a note- ests, to the prejudice of shareholders.

worthy change in the stan- In such cases moral principles were dards and practices of American busi- ignored. Competition was ruthless,

A new technique of morality tyrannical, and destructive. Weaker has been evolved. Even to-day rivals were forced to the wall and many well-intentioned and fair- destroyed, often by means not only minded men and women are incred- unethical but brutal. The finanulous when they are told that busi- cially strong grew stronger and richer. ness, large or small, involves delicate Employees did not receive just condecisions as well as broad questions sideration; wage rates were adjusted of ethics. Yet thousands upon thou- in strict accordance with supply and sands of business men all over this demand in the labor market, without country, who as short a time ago as regard to humane considerations; the beginning of this century were and employees themselves, as might frankly skeptical whether ethics had have been expected, were governed any rightful place in business conduct, by ideas which were entirely selfish, now assert that it is essential and and in many cases arbitrary, unreacontrolling.

sonable, and cruel. The managers of some large pri- Conditions such as these brought vate corporations, a score or so of hardship to the general purchasing years ago, apparently believed that if and consuming public. In the long their conduct was within the strict run the costs of production and distechnical regulations of the law, it tribution were heightened, and they was immune from public or private were then, as they must always be, criticism; that if no legal provision passed on to those whose necessities were actually violated, a corporation compelled them to purchase and use should be free to accumulate unlim- commodities. The ultimate consumer ited profits and might indeed treat paid the extra cost due to friction, with indifference its customers, its misunderstanding, and ill-will in the employees, its competitors, and the industrial world. general public. In consonance with Business throughout the United that unsound reasoning, not a few States is transacted to-day on a officials were inclined to take advan- higher plane. Several forces have tage of inside advance information to been in play to effect the change. In some instances the motives were holders in a corporation as well not so worthy as in others, yet they as all its officers are entitled to any were practical and influential with information of value, immediately many who would not have been con- upon its receipt by any officer or verted otherwise to higher standards, partner; and that in no circumstances for ethical management brings addi- should there be preferential rights tional profits to business.

Sooner or

or opportunities, but, on the other later it pays in dollars and cents. hand, full and prompt publicity of

Public opinion has aroused and all facts involving the public welfare probably always will arouse the con- or interest. sciences of men and women. Our It is encouraging to note that the sleep is broken, our digestion inter- outlook, not only in the United rupted when we oppose the will of States but throughout the world, is the majority; and we cannot long wholly changed. The present view enjoy life in the face of public dis- is the antithesis of that which prefavor. We dread the condemnation vailed a quarter of a century ago. of the general public, especially if The seeming disposition of leaders there is reason for it. This is true of

This is true of in all nations is toward harmony of most persons.

It must be admitted action. This augurs progress and that in the past business men have prosperity. It means a higher world

a not always been just in their treat- level of morals, a decrease of poverty, ment of others. Some have been and an increase of the general comselfish and arrogant, occasionally fort. The millennium has not argiving good ground for complaint. rived; we probably shall not see it in It is not certain that business men the near future; but conditions everyhave always treated their employees where are improving. People on the exactly right, or that employees average are growing better; in every have always been paid adequate department of human activity, in compensation for their services. If thought, in reading, in study, the

, it be said that employers have paid world is made better and richer by a as much as their business would greater honesty of motive and intenafford, the answer is, the producer tion. If one should ask whether should have charged more for his there is a panacea for the ills that commodities, and the general pur- sometimes appear in the moral, chasing public should have shared social, political, and economic life of the burden of increased wages. the nation, the answer would be:

Business affairs are conducted now “Yes, by the general adoption and in accordance with the avowed belief practice of the golden rule.” that right is superior to might, that It may be protested that this is morality looms as large as legality, impracticable. You may be sure and that a due observance of both is that any one who makes such a proessential to worthy achievement; test has his neighbor in mind, not that the rights of the customer must himself. There is no other rule of always be respected; that employees action that will insure perfection. are business associates, and should be Every one remembers when might treated accordingly; that the stock- was right, when jealousy, discord,

ness

and brutal antagonism prevailed, to

lack of confidence in one another. the loss and suffering of all those Often we do not credit fully what our engaged in the strife, and to the dis- business neighbors say. We suspect tress and impoverishment of the they are moved solely by selfish coninnocent by-stander.

siderations, and possibly this may be That time has passed. Our minds true; but do we not overlook the fact and hearts have awakened to a reali- that it may be just as true of ourzation that others in business are selves? possessed of the same sensibilities as Possibly the worst disease that ourselves, and we have tried with affects the business structure, at success the experiment of treating least in the United States, is the abour competitors as friends and com- normal and unnecessary timidity, panions, rather than as enemies. We the ill poised mental attitude, of businow understand that except for a men themselves. The subspirit of coöperation, born of fair and stance and form of statements conhonest methods, many of us would cerning present conditions and future have impoverished the owners of the business prospects often greatly afproperties put into our hands for fect progress and success. There is a management.

right way and a wrong way of stating

a fact for consideration. Those who On April 1, 1901, about twenty-six are well advised ponder what they years ago, the United States Steel say. It is just as proper to say, Corporation, as a completed ora

“We consider that business is good; ganization, established offices and it is up to eighty per cent of produopened its books. The stockholders cing capacity," as it is to say, “We and the general public have been in- consider that business is bad; it is formed in great detail by its regular down to eighty per cent of producing reports, published annually and quar- capacity.” terly from the beginning, of the The substance is the same, whichgrowth and volume of its business, ever form is used. No difference of the extensions it has made and the net return is involved. Yet the psyphysical condition of its properties, chological effect on those who hear its financial resources and balances. the two statements may be quite

The iron and steel industry has different. long been known as the barometer of A robust faith in the good intentrade. That statement is probably tion and integrity of one's fellows, justified. Occasionally the industry and a tranquil confidence in the conis the thermometer of conditions as tinued well-being of this richly enwell; it is like the mercury moving up dowed country, should be a part of and down in accordance with the every business leader's equipment. weather; and that is the saddest and The lack of these qualities amounts, one of the most serious things about as I have said, to a disease, and must it. Why, we ask ourselves, are we bear its share of blame for whatever not always successful in our business? failures American business has sufI offer the suggestion that, to a

fered. It should be remembered greater or less extent, it is because of that business is not confined to cor