the titan-第47章
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； optimistic； almost inconsequential American mind had not previously been possible。 It changed； quite as an eruption might； the whole face of the commercial landscape。 Man thought thereafter somewhat more accurately of national and civic things。 What was anarchism？ What socialism？ What rights had the rank and file； anyhow； in economic and governmental development？ Such were interesting questions； and following the bombwhich acted as a great stone cast in the waterthese ripple…rings of thought were still widening and emanating until they took in such supposedly remote and impregnable quarters as editorial offices； banks and financial institutions generally； and the haunts of political dignitaries and their jobs。
In the face of this； however； Cowperwood was not disturbed。 He did not believe in either the strength of the masses or their ultimate rights； though he sympathized with the condition of individuals； and did believe that men like himself were sent into the world to better perfect its mechanism and habitable order。 Often now； in these preliminary days； he looked at the large companies of men with their horses gathered in and about the several carbarns of the company； and wondered at their state。 So many of them were so dull。 They were rather like animals； patient； inartistic； hopeless。 He thought of their shabby homes； their long hours； their poor pay； and then concluded that if anything at all could be done for them it would be pay them decent living wages； which he proposed to donothing more。 They could not be expected to understand his dreams or his visions； or to share in the magnificence and social dominance which he craved。 He finally decided that it would be as well for him to personally visit the various newspaper publishers and talk the situation over with them。 Addison； when consulted as to this project； was somewhat dubious。 He had small faith in the newspapers。
He had seen them play petty politics； follow up enmities and personal grudges； and even sell out； in certain cases； for pathetically small rewards。
〃I tell you how it is； Frank；〃 remarked Addison； on one occasion。 〃You will have to do all this business on cotton heels； practically。 You know that old gas crowd are still down on you； in spite of the fact that you are one of their largest stockholders。 Schryhart isn't at all friendly； and he practically owns the Chronicle。 Ricketts will just about say what he wants him to say。 Hyssop； of the Mail and the Transcript； is an independent man； but he's a Presbyterian and a cold； self…righteous moralist。 Braxton's paper； the Globe； practically belongs to Merrill； but Braxton's a nice fellow； at that。 Old General MacDonald； of the Inquirer； is old General MacDonald。 It's all according to how he feels when he gets up in the morning。 If he should chance to like your looks he might support you forever and forever until you crossed his conscience in some way。 He's a fine old walrus。 I like him。 Neither Schryhart nor Merrill nor any one else can get anything out of him unless he wants to give it。 He may not live so many years； however； and I don't trust that son of his。 Haguenin； of the Press； is all right and friendly to you； as I understand。 Other things being equal； I think he'd naturally support you in anything he thought was fair and reasonable。 Well； there you have them。 Get them all on your side if you can。 Don't ask for the LaSalle Street tunnel right away。 Let it come as an afterthought a great public need。 The main thing will be to avoid having the other companies stirring up a real fight against you。 Depend on it； Schryhart will be thinking pretty hard about this whole business from now on。 As for Merrillwell； if you can show him where he can get something out of it for his store； I guess he'll be for you。
It is one of the splendid yet sinister fascinations of life that there is no tracing to their ultimate sources all the winds of influence that play upon a given barqueall the breaths of chance that fill or desert our bellied or our sagging sails。 We plan and plan； but who by taking thought can add a cubit to his stature？ Who can overcome or even assist the Providence that shapes our ends； rough hew them as we may。 Cowperwood was now entering upon a great public career； and the various editors and public personalities of the city were watching him with interest。 Augustus M。 Haguenin； a free agent with his organ； the Press； and yet not free； either； because he was harnessed to the necessity of making his paper pay； was most interested。 Lacking the commanding magnetism of a man like MacDonald； he was nevertheless an honest man； well…intentioned； thoughtful； careful。 Haguenin； ever since the outcome of Cowperwood's gas transaction； had been intensely interested in the latter's career。 It seemed to him that Cowperwood was probably destined to become a significant figure。 Raw； glittering force； however； compounded of the cruel Machiavellianism of nature； if it be but Machiavellian； seems to exercise a profound attraction for the conventionally rooted。 Your cautious citizen of average means； looking out through the eye of his dull world of seeming fact； is often the first to forgive or condone the grim butcheries of theory by which the strong rise。 Haguenin； observing Cowperwood； conceived of him as a man perhaps as much sinned against as sinning； a man who would be faithful to friends； one who could be relied upon in hours of great stress。 As it happened； the Haguenins were neighbors of the Cowperwoods； and since those days when the latter had attempted unsuccessfully to enter Chicago society this family had been as acceptable as any of those who had remained friendly。
And so； when Cowperwood arrived one day at the office of the Press in a blowing snow…stormit was just before the Christmas holidays Haguenin was glad to see him。 〃It's certainly real winter weather we're having now； isn't it？〃 he observed； cheerfully。 〃How goes the North Chicago Street Railway business？〃 For months he； with the other publishers； had been aware that the whole North Side was to be made over by fine cable…tracks； power…houses； and handsome cars； and there already was talk that some better arrangement was to be made to bring the passengers into the down…town section。
〃Mr。 Haguenin；〃 said Cowperwood； smilinglyhe was arrayed in a heavy fur coat； with a collar of beaver and driving…gauntlets of dogskin〃we have reached the place in this street…railway problem on the North Side where we are going to require the assistance of the newspapers； or at least their friendly support。 At present our principal difficulty is that all our lines； when they come down…town； stop at Lake Streetjust this side of the bridges。 That means a long walk for everybody to all the streets south of it； and； as you probably know； there has been considerable complaint。 Besides that； this river traffic is becoming more and more what I may say it has been for yearsan intolerable nuisance。 We have all suffered from it。 No effort has ever been made to regulate it； and because it is so heavy I doubt whether it ever can be systematized in any satisfactory way。 The best thing in the long run would be to tunnel under the river； but that is such an expensive proposition that； as things are now； we are in no position to undertake it。 The traffic on the North Side does not warrant it。 It really does not warrant the reconstruction of the three bridges which we now use at State； Dearborn； and Clark； yet； if we introduce the cable system； which we now propose； these bridges will have to be done over。 It seems to me； seeing that this is an enterprise in which the public is as much interested almost as we are； that it would only be fair if the city should help pay for this reconstruction work。 All the land adjacent to these lines； and the property served by them； will be greatly enhanced in value。 The city's taxing power will rise tremendously。 I have talked to several financiers here in Chicago； and they agree with me； but； as is usual in all such cases； I find that some of the politicians are against me。 Since I have taken charge of the North Chicago company the attitude of one or two papers has not been any too friend
