An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

suppose?”

“Well, not exactly. No, Mr. Griffiths, I don’t,” replied Clyde

quickly, alive at once to the possibilities of this query. “It

pays well enough. But I don’t like the way you have to make

the money you get here. It isn’t my idea of a salary at all.

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But I got in this because I didn’t have a chance to study any

particular work or get in with some company where there

was a real chance to work up and make something of

myself. My mother wanted me to write you once and ask

whether there was any chance in your company for me to

begin and work up, but I was afraid maybe that you might

not like that exactly, and so I never did.”

He paused, smiling, and yet with an inquiring look in his eye.

His uncle looked solemnly at him for a moment, pleased by

his looks and his general manner of approach in this

instance, and then replied: “Well, that is very interesting.

You should have written, if you wanted to——” Then, as

was his custom in all matters, he cautiously paused. Clyde

noted that he was hesitating to encourage him.

“I don’t suppose there is anything in your company that you

would let me do?” he ventured boldly, after a moment.

Samuel Griffiths merely stared at him thoughtfully. He liked

and he did not like this direct request. However, Clyde

appeared at least a very adaptable person for the purpose.

He seemed bright and ambitious—so much like his own

son, and he might readily fit into some department as head

or assistant under his son, once he had acquired a

knowledge of the various manufacturing processes. At any

rate he might let him try it. There could be no real harm in

that. Besides, there was his younger brother, to whom,

perhaps, both he and his older brother Allen owed some

form of obligation, if not exactly restitution.

“Well,” he said, after a moment, “that is something I would

have to think over a little. I wouldn’t be able to say, offhand,

whether there is or not. We wouldn’t be able to pay you as

much as you make here to begin with,” he warned.

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“Oh, that’s all right,” exclaimed Clyde, who was far more

fascinated by the thought of connecting himself with his

uncle than anything else. “I wouldn’t expect very much until

I was able to earn it, of course.”

“Besides, it might be that you would find that you didn’t like

the collar business once you got into it, or we might find we

didn’t like you. Not every one is suited to it by a long way.”

“Well, all you’d have to do then would be to discharge me,”

assured Clyde. “I’ve always thought I would be, though,

ever since I heard of you and your big company.”

This last remark pleased Samuel Griffiths. Plainly he and

his achievements had stood in the nature of an ideal to this

youth.

“Very well,” he said. “I won’t be able to give any more time

to this now. But I’ll be here for a day or two more, anyhow,

and I’ll think it over. It may be that I will be able to do

something for you. I can’t say now.” And he turned quite

abruptly to his letters.

And Clyde, feeling that he had made as good an

impression as could be expected under the circumstances

and that something might come of it, thanked him profusely

and beat a hasty retreat.

The next day, having thought it over and deciding that

Clyde, because of his briskness and intelligence, was likely

to prove as useful as another, Samuel Griffiths, after due

deliberation as to the situation at home, informed Clyde that

in case any small opening in the home factory occurred he

would be glad to notify him. But he would not even go so far

as to guarantee him that an opening would immediately be

forthcoming. He must wait.

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Accordingly Clyde was left to speculate as to how soon, if

ever, a place in his uncle’s factory would be made for him.

In the meanwhile Samuel Griffiths had returned to

Lycurgus. And after a later conference with his son, he

decided that Clyde might be inducted into the very bottom

of the business at least—the basement of the Griffiths

plant, where the shrinking of all fabrics used in connection

with the manufacture of collars was brought about, and

where beginners in this industry who really desired to

acquire the technique of it were placed, for it was his idea

that Clyde by degrees was to be taught the business from

top to bottom. And since he must support himself in some

form not absolutely incompatible with the standing of the

Griffiths family here in Lycurgus, it was decided to pay him

the munificent sum of fifteen dollars to begin.

For while Samuel Griffiths, as well as his son Gilbert,

realized that this was small pay (not for an ordinary

apprentice but for Clyde, since he was a relative) yet so

inclined were both toward the practical rather than the

charitable in connection with all those who worked for them,

that the nearer the beginner in this factory was to the clear

mark of necessity and compulsion, the better. Neither could

tolerate the socialistic theory relative to capitalistic

exploitation. As both saw it, there had to be higher and

higher social orders to which the lower social classes could

aspire. One had to have castes. One was foolishly

interfering with and disrupting necessary and unavoidable

social standards when one tried to unduly favor any one—

even a relative. It was necessary when dealing with the

classes and intelligences below one, commercially or

financially, to handle them according to the standards to

which they were accustomed. And the best of these

standards were those which held these lower individuals to

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260

a clear realization of how difficult it was to come by money—

to an understanding of how very necessary it was for all

who were engaged in what both considered the only really

important constructive work of the world—that of material

manufacture—to understand how very essential it was to

be drilled, and that sharply and systematically, in all the

details and processes which comprise that constructive

work. And so to become inured to a narrow and abstemious

life in so doing. It was good for their characters. It informed

and strengthened the minds and spirits of those who were

destined to rise. And those who were not should be kept

right where they were.

Accordingly, about a week after that, the nature of Clyde’s

work having been finally decided upon, a letter was

dispatched to him to Chicago by Samuel Griffiths himself in

which he set forth that if he chose he might present himself

any time now within the next few weeks. But he must give

due notice in writing of at least ten days in advance of his

appearance in order that he might be properly arranged for.

And upon his arrival he was to seek out Mr. Gilbert Griffiths

at the office of the mill, who would look after him.

And upon receipt of this Clyde was very much thrilled and

at once wrote to his mother that he had actually secured a

place with his uncle and was going to Lycurgus. Also that

he was going to try to achieve a real success now.

Whereupon she wrote him a long letter, urging him to be,

oh, so careful of his conduct and associates. Bad

companionship was at the root of nearly all of the errors

and failures that befell an ambitious youth such as he. If he

would only avoid evil-minded or foolish and headstrong

boys and girls, all would be well. It was so easy for a young

man of his looks and character to be led astray by an evil

woman. He had seen what had befallen him in Kansas City.

But now he was still young and he was going to work for a

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261

man who was very rich and who could do so much for him,

if he would. And he was to write her frequently as to the

outcome of his efforts here.

And so, after having notified his uncle as he had requested,

Clyde finally took his departure for Lycurgus. But on his

arrival there, since his original notification from his uncle

had called for no special hour at which to call at the factory,

he did not go at once, but instead sought out the important

hotel of Lycurgus, the Lycurgus House.

Then finding himself with ample time on his hands, and

very curious about the character of this city in which he was

to work, and his uncle’s position in it, he set forth to look it

over, his thought being that once he reported and began