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<v Speaker 1>This is section twelve of The Gilded Age, A Tale

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<v Speaker 1>of to Day. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

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<v Speaker 1>The Gilded Age, A Tale of to Day by Mark

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<v Speaker 1>Twain and C. D. Warner, Chapter twelve. Oh, it's easy

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<v Speaker 1>enough to make a fortune, Henry said. It seems to

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<v Speaker 1>be easier than it is. I begin to think, replied Philip, Well,

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<v Speaker 1>why don't you go into something you'll never dig it

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<v Speaker 1>out of the astor library. If there be any place

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<v Speaker 1>and time in the world where and when it seems

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<v Speaker 1>easy to go into something, it is in Broadway on

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<v Speaker 1>a spring morning, when one is walking cityward and has

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<v Speaker 1>before him the long lines of palace shops with an

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<v Speaker 1>occasional spire seen through the soft haze that lies over

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<v Speaker 1>the lower town. And here's the roar and hum of

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<v Speaker 1>its multitudinous traffic to the young American. Here or elsewhere,

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<v Speaker 1>the paths to fortune are innumerable and all open. There

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<v Speaker 1>is invitation in the air and success in all his

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<v Speaker 1>wide horizon. He is embarrassed which to choose, and is

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<v Speaker 1>not unlikely to waste years in dallying with his chances

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<v Speaker 1>before giving himself to the serious tug and strain of

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<v Speaker 1>a single object. He has no traditions to bind him

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<v Speaker 1>or guide him, and his impulse is to break away

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<v Speaker 1>from the occupation his father has followed and make a

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<v Speaker 1>new way for himself. Philip Sterling used to say that

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<v Speaker 1>if he should seriously set himself for ten years to

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<v Speaker 1>any one of the dozen projects that were in his brain,

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<v Speaker 1>he felt that he could be a rich man. He

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<v Speaker 1>wanted to be rich. He had a sincere desire for

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<v Speaker 1>a fortune, but for some unaccountable reason, he hesitated about addressing

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<v Speaker 1>himself to the narrow work of getting it. He never

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<v Speaker 1>walked Broadway, a part of its tide of abundant, shifting life,

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<v Speaker 1>without feeling something of the flush of wealth, and unconsciously

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<v Speaker 1>taking the elastic step of one well to do in

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<v Speaker 1>this prosperous world, especially at night in the crowded theater.

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<v Speaker 1>Philip was too young to remember the old Chambers Street box,

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<v Speaker 1>where the serious Burton led his hilarious and pagan crew

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<v Speaker 1>in the intervals of the screaming comedy, when the orchestra

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<v Speaker 1>scraped and grunted and tooted its desolate tunes. The world

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<v Speaker 1>seemed full of opportunities to Philip, and his heart exalted

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<v Speaker 1>with the conscious ability to take any of its prizes

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<v Speaker 1>he chose to pluck. Perhaps it was the swimming ease

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<v Speaker 1>of the acting on the stage, where virtue had its

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<v Speaker 1>reward in three easy acts. Perhaps it was the excessive

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<v Speaker 1>light of the house, or the music, or the buzz

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<v Speaker 1>of the excited talk between acts. Perhaps it was youth,

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<v Speaker 1>which believed everything. But for some reason, while Philip was

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<v Speaker 1>at the theater, he had the utmost confidence in life

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<v Speaker 1>and his ready victory in it. Delight full illusion of

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<v Speaker 1>paint and tinsel and silk attire, of cheap sentiment and

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<v Speaker 1>high and mighty dialogue. Will there not always be rosen

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<v Speaker 1>enough for the squeaking fiddle bow? Do we not all

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<v Speaker 1>like the maudlin hero who is sneaking around the right

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<v Speaker 1>entrance in wait to steal the pretty wife of his

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<v Speaker 1>rich and tyrannical neighbor from the pasteboard cottage at the

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<v Speaker 1>left entrance, And when he advances down to the footlights

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<v Speaker 1>and defiantly informs the audience that he who lays his

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<v Speaker 1>hand on a woman except in the way of kindness,

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<v Speaker 1>do we not all applaud so as to drown the

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<v Speaker 1>rest of the sentence. Philip never was fortunate enough to

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<v Speaker 1>hear what would become of a man who should lay

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<v Speaker 1>his hand on a woman with the exception named. But

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<v Speaker 1>he learned afterwards that the woman who lays her hand

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<v Speaker 1>on a man, without any exception whatsoever, is always acquitted

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<v Speaker 1>by the jury. The fact was, though Philip Sterling did

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<v Speaker 1>not know it, that he wants want, did several other

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<v Speaker 1>things quite as much as he wanted wealth. The modest

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<v Speaker 1>fellow would have liked fame thrust upon him for some

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<v Speaker 1>worthy achievement. It might be for a book, or for

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<v Speaker 1>the skillful management of some great newspaper, or for some

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<v Speaker 1>daring expedition like that of Lieutenant Strain or doctor Kane.

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<v Speaker 1>He was unable to decide exactly what it should be.

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<v Speaker 1>Sometimes he thought he would like to stand in a

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<v Speaker 1>conspicuous pulpit and humbly preach the gospel of repentance. And

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<v Speaker 1>it even crossed his mind that it would be noble

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<v Speaker 1>to give himself to a missionary life, to some benighted

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<v Speaker 1>region where the date palm grows and the nightingale's voices

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<v Speaker 1>in tune, and the bull bull sings on the off nights.

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<v Speaker 1>If he were good enough, he would attach himself to

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<v Speaker 1>that company of young men in the theological seminary who

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<v Speaker 1>were seeing New York life in preparation for the ministry.

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<v Speaker 1>Philip was a New England boy and had graduated at Yale.

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<v Speaker 1>He had not carried off off with him all the

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<v Speaker 1>learning of that venerable institution, but he knew some things

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<v Speaker 1>that were not in the regular course of study. A

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<v Speaker 1>very good use of the English language and considerable knowledge

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<v Speaker 1>of its literature was one of them. He could sing

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<v Speaker 1>a song very well, not in time, to be sure,

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<v Speaker 1>but with enthusiasm. He could make a magnetic speech at

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<v Speaker 1>a moment's notice in the class room, the debating society,

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<v Speaker 1>or upon any fence or dry goods box that was convenient.

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<v Speaker 1>He could lift himself by one arm and do the

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<v Speaker 1>giant swing in the gymnasium. He could strike out from

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<v Speaker 1>his left shoulder. He could handle an oar like a professional,

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<v Speaker 1>and pull stroke in a winning race. Philip had a

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<v Speaker 1>good appetite, a sunny temper, and a clear, hearty laugh.

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<v Speaker 1>He had brown hair, hazel eyes set wide apart, a

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<v Speaker 1>broad but not high forehead, and a fresh winning face.

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<v Speaker 1>He was six feet high, with broad shoulders, long legs,

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<v Speaker 1>and a swinging gait. One of those loose jointed, capable

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<v Speaker 1>fellows who saunter her into the world with a free

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<v Speaker 1>air and usually make a stir in whatever company they enter.

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<v Speaker 1>After he left college, Philip took the advice of friends

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<v Speaker 1>and read law. Law seemed to him well enough as

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<v Speaker 1>a science, but he never could discover a practical case

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<v Speaker 1>where it appeared to him worth while to go to law.

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<v Speaker 1>And all the clients who stopped with this new clerk

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<v Speaker 1>in the ante room of the law office where he

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<v Speaker 1>was writing, Philip invariably advised to settle, no matter how,

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<v Speaker 1>but settle greatly to the disgust of his employer, who

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<v Speaker 1>knew that justice between man and man could only be

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<v Speaker 1>attained by the recognized processes with the attendant fees. Besides,

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<v Speaker 1>Philip hated the copying of pleadings, and he was certain

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<v Speaker 1>that a life of whereases and aforesaids and whipping the

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<v Speaker 1>devil round the stump would be intolerable. Note these few

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<v Speaker 1>paragraphs are nearly an autobiography of the life of Charles

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<v Speaker 1>Dudley Warner, whose contributions to the story start here with

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twelve. D w his pen Therefore and whereas and

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<v Speaker 1>not as aforesaid strayed off into other scribbling. In an

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<v Speaker 1>unfortunate hour, he had two or three papers accepted by

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<v Speaker 1>first class magazines at three dollars the printed page, and behold,

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<v Speaker 1>his vocation was open to him. He would make his

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<v Speaker 1>mark in literature. Life has no moment so sweet as

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<v Speaker 1>that in which a young man believes himself called into

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<v Speaker 1>the immortal ranks of the masters of literature. It is

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<v Speaker 1>such a noble ambition that it is a pity it

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<v Speaker 1>has usually such a shallow foundation. At the time of

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<v Speaker 1>this history, Philip had gone to New York for a career.

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<v Speaker 1>With his talent, he thought he should have little difficulty

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<v Speaker 1>in getting an editorial position upon a metropolitan newspaper, not

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<v Speaker 1>that he knew anything about newspaper work or had the

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<v Speaker 1>least idea of journalism. He knew he was not fitted

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<v Speaker 1>for the technicalities of the subordinate departments, but he could

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<v Speaker 1>write leaders with perfect ease. He was sure the drudgery

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<v Speaker 1>of the newspaper office was too distasteful, and besides, it

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<v Speaker 1>would be beneath the dignity of a graduate and a

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<v Speaker 1>successful magazine writer. He wanted to begin at the top

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<v Speaker 1>of the ladder. To his surprise, he found that every

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<v Speaker 1>situation in the editorial department of the journals was full,

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<v Speaker 1>always had been full, was always likely to be full.

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<v Speaker 1>It seemed to him that the newspaper managers didn't want genius,

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<v Speaker 1>but mere plodding and grubbing. Philip therefore read diligently in

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<v Speaker 1>the Astor library, planned literary works that should compel attention,

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<v Speaker 1>and nursed his genius. He had no friend wise enough

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<v Speaker 1>to tell him to step into the dorking convention, then

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<v Speaker 1>in session, make a sketch of the men and women

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<v Speaker 1>on the platform and take it to the editor of

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<v Speaker 1>the Daily Grapevine and see what he could get a

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<v Speaker 1>line for it. One day he had an offer from

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<v Speaker 1>some country friends who believed in him to take charge

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<v Speaker 1>of a provincial daily newspaper, and he went to consult

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<v Speaker 1>mister Gringo Gringo, who years ago managed the Atlas, about

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<v Speaker 1>taking the situation. Take it, of course, says Gringo. Take

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<v Speaker 1>anything that offers. Why not. But they want me to

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<v Speaker 1>make it an opposition paper. Well, make it that that

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<v Speaker 1>party is going to succeed, it's going to elect the

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<v Speaker 1>next president. I don't believe it, said Philip stoutly. It's

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<v Speaker 1>wrong in principle, and it ought not to succeed. But

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<v Speaker 1>I don't see how I can go for a thing

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<v Speaker 1>I don't believe in, Oh, very well, said Gringo, turning

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<v Speaker 1>away with a shade of contempt. You'll find, if you

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<v Speaker 1>are going into literature and newspaper work, that you can't

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<v Speaker 1>afford a conscience like that. But Philip did afford it,

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<v Speaker 1>and he wrote, thanking his friends and declining because he

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<v Speaker 1>said the political scheme would fail and ought to fail.

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<v Speaker 1>And he went back to his books and to his

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<v Speaker 1>waiting for an opening large enough for his dignified entrance

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<v Speaker 1>into the literary world. It was in this time of

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<v Speaker 1>rather impatient waiting that Philip was one morning walking down

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<v Speaker 1>Broadway with Henry Brierly. He frequently accompanied Henry part way

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<v Speaker 1>downtown to what the latter called his office in broad Street,

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<v Speaker 1>to which he went or pretended to go, with regularity

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<v Speaker 1>every day. It was evident to the most casual acquaintance

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<v Speaker 1>that he was a man of affairs, and that his

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<v Speaker 1>time was engrossed with the largest sort of operations about

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<v Speaker 1>which there was a mysterious air his liability to be

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<v Speaker 1>suddenly summoned to Washington or Boston or Montreal, or even

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<v Speaker 1>to Liverpool was always imminent. He never was so summoned.

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<v Speaker 1>But none of his acquaintances would have been surprised to

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<v Speaker 1>hear any day that he had gone to Panama or Peoria,

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<v Speaker 1>or to hear from him that he had bought the

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<v Speaker 1>Bank of Commerce. The two were intimate at that time.

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<v Speaker 1>They had been classmates, and saw a great deal of

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<v Speaker 1>each other. Indeed, they lived together in Ninth Street, in

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<v Speaker 1>a boarding house there which had the honor of lodging

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<v Speaker 1>and partially feeding several other young fellows of like Kidney,

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<v Speaker 1>who have since gone their several ways into fame or

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<v Speaker 1>into obscurity. It was during the morning walk to which

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<v Speaker 1>reference has been made, that Henry Brierly suddenly said Philip,

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<v Speaker 1>how would you like to go to Saint Joe? I

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<v Speaker 1>think I should like it? Of all things, replied Philip,

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<v Speaker 1>with some hesitation. But what for, Oh, it's a big operation.

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<v Speaker 1>We are going a lot of US railroad men, engineers, contractors.

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<v Speaker 1>You know my uncle is a great railroad man. I've

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<v Speaker 1>no doubt I can get you a chance to go

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<v Speaker 1>if you'll go. But in what capacity would I go? Well,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going as an engineer. You can go as one.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know an engine from a coal cart field

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<v Speaker 1>and civil engineer. You can begin by carrying a rod

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<v Speaker 1>and putting down the figures. It's easy enough. I'll show

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<v Speaker 1>you about it. We'll get trot wine and some of

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<v Speaker 1>those books. Yes, but what is it for? What is

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<v Speaker 1>it all about? Why don't you see? We lay out

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<v Speaker 1>a line, spot the good land, enter it up, know

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<v Speaker 1>where the stations are to be, spot them, buy lots.

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<v Speaker 1>There's heaps of money in it. We wouldn't engineer long.

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<v Speaker 1>When do you go? Was Philip's next question, after some

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<v Speaker 1>moments of silence. Tomorrow Is that too soon? No, it's

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<v Speaker 1>not too soon. I've been ready to go anywhere for

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<v Speaker 1>six months. The fact is, Henry, that I'm about tired

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<v Speaker 1>of trying to force myself into things, and I'm quite

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<v Speaker 1>willing to try floating with the stream for a while

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<v Speaker 1>and see where I will land. This seems like a

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<v Speaker 1>providential call. It's sudden enough. The two young men, who

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<v Speaker 1>were by this time full of the adventure, went down

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<v Speaker 1>to the Wall Street office of Henry's uncle and had

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<v Speaker 1>a talk with that wily operator. The uncle knew Philip

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<v Speaker 1>very well and was pleased with his Frank enthusiasm and

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<v Speaker 1>willing enough to give him a trial in the Western venture.

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<v Speaker 1>It was settled, therefore, in the prompt way in which

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<v Speaker 1>things are settled in New York, that they would start

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<v Speaker 1>with the rest of the company next morning for the West.

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<v Speaker 1>On the way uptown, these adventurers bought books on engineering,

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<v Speaker 1>and suits of India, rubber, which they supposed they would

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<v Speaker 1>need in a new and probably damp country, and many

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<v Speaker 1>other things which nobody ever needed anywhere. The night was

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<v Speaker 1>spent in packing up and writing letters, for Philip would

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<v Speaker 1>not take such an important step without informing his friends

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<v Speaker 1>if they disapproved, thought he I've done my duty by

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<v Speaker 1>letting them know, happy youth that is ready to pack

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<v Speaker 1>its valise and start for Cathay on an hour's notice.

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<v Speaker 1>By the way, calls out Philip from his bedroom to Henry,

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<v Speaker 1>where is Saint Joe. Why it's in Missouri, somewhere on

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<v Speaker 1>the frontier. I think, get a map. Never mind the map,

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<v Speaker 1>we will find the place itself. I was afraid it

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<v Speaker 1>was nearer home. Philip wrote a long letter, first of

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<v Speaker 1>all to his mother, full of love and glowing anticipations

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<v Speaker 1>of his new opening. He wouldn't bother her with business details,

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<v Speaker 1>but he hoped that the day was not far off

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<v Speaker 1>when she would see him return with a moderate fortune

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<v Speaker 1>and something to add to the comfort of her advancing years.

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<v Speaker 1>To his uncle, he said that he had made an

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<v Speaker 1>arrangement with some New York capitalists to go to Missouri

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<v Speaker 1>in a land and railroad operation, which would at least

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<v Speaker 1>give him a knowledge of the world, and not unlikely

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<v Speaker 1>offer him a business opening. He knew his uncle would

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<v Speaker 1>be glad to hear that he had at last turned

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<v Speaker 1>his thoughts to a practical matter. It was to Ruth

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<v Speaker 1>Bolton that Philip wrote last. He might never see her again.

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<v Speaker 1>He went to seek his fortune. He well knew the

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<v Speaker 1>perils of the frontier, the savage state of society, the

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<v Speaker 1>lurking Indians, and the dangers of fever. But there there

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<v Speaker 1>was no real danger to a person who took care

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<v Speaker 1>of himself. Might he write to her often and tell

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<v Speaker 1>her of his life. If he returned with a fortune, perhaps,

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<v Speaker 1>and perhaps if he was unsuccessful, or if he never returned,

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps it would be as well. No time or distance, however,

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<v Speaker 1>would ever, lessen his interest in her. He would say

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<v Speaker 1>good night, but not good bye in the soft beginning

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<v Speaker 1>of a spring morning, long before New York had breakfast,

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<v Speaker 1>while yet the air of expectation hung about the wharves

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<v Speaker 1>of the metropolis, our young adventurers made their way to

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<v Speaker 1>the Jersey City Railway station of the Erie Road to

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<v Speaker 1>begin the long, swinging, crooked journey over what a writer

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<v Speaker 1>of a former day called a causeway of cracked rails

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<v Speaker 1>and cows to the west. End of Chapter twelve,