continued, lowering his eyes again, to follow the tracings of his
finger. "I--I believe the shop might have done for me this time if
I hadn't--if something hadn't helped me to--oh, not only to bear it,
but to be happy in it. Well, I AM happy in it. I want to go on just
as I am. And of all things on earth that I don't want, I don't want
to live a business life--I don't want to be drawn into it. I don't
think it IS living--and now I AM living. I have the healthful toil
--and I can think. In business as important as yours I couldn't think
anything but business. I don't--I don't think making money is worth
while."

"Go on," said Sheridan, curtly, as Bibbs paused timidly.

"It hasn't seemed to get anywhere, that I can see," said Bibbs. "You
think this city is rich and powerful--but what's the use of its being
rich and powerful? They don't teach the children any more in the
schools because the city is rich and powerful. They teach them more
than they used to because some people--not rich and powerful people--
have thought the thoughts to teach the children. And yet when you've
been reading the paper I've heard you objecting to the children being
taught anything except what would help them to make money. You said
it was wasting the taxes. You want them taught to make a living, but
not to live. When I was a little boy this wasn't an ugly town; now
it's hideous. What's the use of being big just to be hideous? I mean
I don't think all this has meant really going ahead--it's just been
getting bigger and dirtier and noisier. Wasn't the whole country
happier and in many ways wiser when it was smaller and cleaner and
quieter and kinder? I know you think I'm an utter fool, father, but,
after all, though, aren't business and politics just the housekeeping
part of life? And wouldn't you despise a woman that not only made her