The object of his watching was frankly stated to himself and to his world. He purposed going into business neither for his own health nor for the healing or clothing of the peoples but to apply his knowledge of the world‚Äôs nakedness and of black men‚Äôs toil in such a way as to bring himself wealth. In this he was but following the teaching of his highest ideal, lately deceased, Mr. ¬ÝJob Grey. Mr. ¬ÝGrey had so successfully manipulated the cotton market that while black men who made the cotton starved in Alabama and white men who bought it froze in Siberia, he himself sat‚ÅÝ‚Äî
“High on a throne of royal state That far outshone the wealth Of Ormuz or of Ind.”
Notwithstanding this he died eventually, leaving the burden of his wealth to his bewildered wife, and his business to the astute Mr. ¬ÝEasterly; not simply to Mr. ¬ÝEasterly, but in a sense to his spiritual heir, John Taylor.
To be sure Mr. ¬ÝTaylor had but a modest salary and no financial interest in the business, but he had knowledge and business daring‚ÅÝ‚Äîeffrontery even‚ÅÝ‚Äîand the determination was fixed in his mind to be a millionaire at no distant date.
Some cautious fliers on the market gave him enough surplus to send his sister Mary through the high school of his country home in New Hampshire, and afterward through Wellesley College; although just why a woman should want to go through college was inexplicable to John Taylor, and he was still uncertain as to the wisdom of his charity.
When she had an offer to teach in the South, John Taylor hurried her off for two reasons: he was profoundly interested in the cotton-belt, and there she might be of service to him; and secondly, he had spent all the