You have seen, perhaps, a man whose heart was weighted by a greatwoe. You have seen the eye darken, the soul fag, and the spiritcongeal under the breath of an icy disaster. At ten-thirty ofthis particular evening Cowperwood, sitting alone in the libraryof his Michigan Avenue house, was brought face to face with thefact that he had lost. He had built so much on the cast of thissingle die. It was useless to say to himself that he could gointo the council a week later with a modified ordinance or couldwait until the storm had died out....
Long Stories - Post by : calljian - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1249
And now at last Chicago is really facing the thing which it hasmost feared. A giant monopoly is really reaching out to enfoldit with an octopus-like grip. And Cowperwood is its eyes, itstentacles, its force! Embedded in the giant strength and good willof Haeckelheimer, Gotloeb & Co., he is like a monument based on arock of great strength. A fifty-year franchise, to be deliveredto him by a majority of forty-eight out of a total of sixty-eightaldermen (in case the ordinance has to be passed over the mayor'sveto), is all that now stands between him and the realization ofhis...
Long Stories - Post by : trulyers - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2665
The storm which burst in connection with Cowperwood's machinationsat Springfield early in 1897, and continued without abating untilthe following fall, attracted such general attention that it waslargely reported in the Eastern papers. F. A. Cowperwood versusthe state of Illinois--thus one New York daily phrased the situation.The magnetizing power of fame is great. Who can resist utterlythe luster that surrounds the individualities of some men, causingthem to glow with a separate and special effulgence? Even in thecase of Berenice this was not without its value. In a Chicagopaper which she found lying one day on a desk which Cowperwood...
Long Stories - Post by : majorian - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 758
Between the passage on June 5, 1897, of the Mears bill--so christenedafter the doughty representative who had received a small fortunefor introducing it--and its presentation to the Chicago City Councilin December of the same year, what broodings, plottings, politickings,and editorializings on the part of all and sundry! In spite of theintense feeling of opposition to Cowperwood there was at the sametime in local public life one stratum of commercial and phlegmaticsubstance that could not view him in an altogether unfavorablelight. They were in business themselves. His lines passed theirdoors and served them. They could not see wherein his...
Long Stories - Post by : f10inc - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2647
The spring and summer months of 1897 and the late fall of 1898witnessed the final closing battle between Frank Algernon Cowperwoodand the forces inimical to him in so far as the city of Chicago,the state of Illinois, and indeed the United States of America,were concerned. When in 1896 a new governor and a new group ofstate representatives were installed Cowperwood decided that itwould be advisable to continue the struggle at once. By the timethis new legislature should convene for its labors a year wouldhave passed since Governor Swanson had vetoed the originalpublic-service-commission bill. By that time public sentiment...
Long Stories - Post by : lamar - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 3424
It was not until some little time after they were established inthe new house that Aileen first came upon any evidence of theexistence of Berenice Fleming. In a general way she assumed thatthere were women--possibly some of whom she had known--Stephanie,Mrs. Hand, Florence Cochrane, or later arrivals--yet so long asthey were not obtruded on her she permitted herself the semi-comfortingthought that things were not as bad as they might be. So long,indeed, as Cowperwood was genuinely promiscuous, so long as hetrotted here and there, not snared by any particular siren, shecould not despair, for, after all, she had ensnared...
Long Stories - Post by : martyr - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1953
At the news that Swanson had refused to sign the bill and that thelegislature lacked sufficient courage to pass it over his vetoboth Schryhart and Hand literally rubbed their hands in comfortablesatisfaction."Well, Hosmer," said Schryhart the next day, when they met at theirfavorite club--the Union League--"it looks as though we were makingsome little progress, after all, doesn't it? Our friend didn'tsucceed in turning that little trick, did he?"He beamed almost ecstatically upon his solid companion."Not this time. I wonder what move he will decide to make next.""I don't see very well what it can be. He knows now that...
Long Stories - Post by : infobizprofit - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2115
A Public-service-commission law might, ipso facto, have been quietlypassed at this session, if the arbitrary franchise-extending provisohad not been introduced, and this on the thin excuse that so novela change in the working scheme of the state government might bringabout hardship to some. This redounded too obviously to the benefitof one particular corporation. The newspaper men--as thick asflies about the halls of the state capitol at Springfield, andessentially watchful and loyal to their papers--were quick to sensethe true state of affairs. Never were there such hawks asnewspapermen. These wretches (employed by sniveling, mud-snoutingnewspapers of the opposition) were...
Long Stories - Post by : tommy - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2928
Whatever his momentary satisfaction in her friendly acceptance ofhis confession, the uncertain attitude of Berenice left Cowperwoodabout where he was before. By a strange stroke of fate Braxmar,his young rival, had been eliminated, and Berenice had been madeto see him, Cowperwood, in his true colors of love and of servicefor her. Yet plainly she did not accept them at his own valuation.More than ever was he conscious of the fact that he had fallenin tow of an amazing individual, one who saw life from a distinctand peculiar point of view and who was not to be bent to his...
Long Stories - Post by : kmatinfeacfd - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1456
For the first time in her life Berenice now pondered seriouslywhat she could do. She thought of marriage, but decided thatinstead of sending for Braxmar or taking up some sickening chaseof an individual even less satisfactory it might be advisable toannounce in a simple social way to her friends that her mother hadlost her money, and that she herself was now compelled to take upsome form of employment--the teaching of dancing, perhaps, or thepractice of it professionally. She suggested this calmly to hermother one day. Mrs. Carter, who had been long a parasite really,without any constructive monetary notions...
Long Stories - Post by : travisdu - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2341
Berenice, perusing the apology from Beales Chadsey, which hermother--very much fagged and weary--handed her the next morning,thought that it read like the overnight gallantry of some one whowas seeking to make amends without changing his point of view. Mrs. Carter was too obviously self-conscious. She protested toomuch. Berenice knew that she could find out for herself if shechose, but would she choose? The thought sickened her, and yet whowas she to judge too severely?Cowperwood came in bright and early to put as good a face on thematter as he could. He explained how he and Braxmar had gone...
Long Stories - Post by : Rowdy - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1253
Engrossed in the pleasures and entertainments which Cowperwood'smoney was providing, Berenice had until recently given very littlethought to her future. Cowperwood had been most liberal. "Sheis young," he once said to Mrs. Carter, with an air of disinterestedliberality, when they were talking about Berenice and her future."She is an exquisite. Let her have her day. If she marries wellshe can pay you back, or me. But give her all she needs now." Andhe signed checks with the air of a gardener who is growing awondrous orchid.The truth was that Mrs. Carter had become so fond of...
Long Stories - Post by : ramuks - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 3568
The failure of American Match the next morning was one of thoseevents that stirred the city and the nation and lingered in theminds of men for years. At the last moment it was decided thatin lieu of calling Cowperwood's loans Hull & Stackpole had bestbe sacrificed, the stock-exchange closed, and all trading ended. This protected stocks from at least a quotable decline and leftthe banks free for several days (ten all told) in which to repairtheir disrupted finances and buttress themselves against theeventual facts. Naturally, the minor speculators throughout thecity--those who had expected to make a fortune out of...
Long Stories - Post by : dallas02 - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1505
By eight o'clock, at which hour the conference was set, the principalfinancial personages of Chicago were truly in a great turmoil. Messrs. Hand, Schryhart, Merrill, and Arneel were personallyinterested! What would you? As early as seven-thirty there was apattering of horses' hoofs and a jingle of harness, as splendidopen carriages were drawn up in front of various exclusive mansionsand a bank president, or a director at least, issued forth at thecall of one of the big quadrumvirate to journey to the home of Mr.Arneel. Such interesting figures as Samuel Blackman, once presidentof the old Chicago Gas Company, and now a...
Long Stories - Post by : dglenn - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1041
On August 4, 1896, the city of Chicago, and for that matter theentire financial world, was startled and amazed by the collapseof American Match, one of the strongest of market securities, andthe coincident failure of Messrs. Hull and Stackpole, its ostensiblepromoters, for twenty millions. As early as eleven o'clock of thepreceding day the banking and brokerage world of Chicago, tradingin this stock, was fully aware that something untoward was on footin connection with it. Owing to the high price at which the stockwas "protected," and the need of money to liquidate, blocks ofthis stock from all parts of the...
Long Stories - Post by : Savvymarketer - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1747
Following Cowperwood's coup in securing cash by means of his seeminggift of three hundred thousand dollars for a telescope his enemiesrested for a time, but only because of a lack of ideas wherewithto destroy him. Public sentiment--created by the newspapers--wasstill against him. Yet his franchises had still from eight to tenyears to run, and meanwhile he might make himself unassailablypowerful. For the present he was busy, surrounded by his engineersand managers and legal advisers, constructing his several elevatedlines at a whirlwind rate. At the same time, through Videra,Kaffrath, and Addison, he was effecting a scheme of loaning...
Long Stories - Post by : Privlist - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2935
The complications which had followed his various sentimental affairsleft Cowperwood in a quandary at times as to whether there couldbe any peace or satisfaction outside of monogamy, after all. Although Mrs. Hand had gone to Europe at the crisis of her affairs,she had returned to seek him out. Cecily Haguenin found manyopportunities of writing him letters and assuring him of her undyingaffection. Florence Cochrane persisted in seeing or attemptingto see him even after his interest in her began to wane. Foranother thing Aileen, owing to the complication and generaldegeneracy of her affairs, had recently begun to drink....
Long Stories - Post by : wrayherring - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 2096
The effect of all this was to arouse in Cowperwood the keenestfeelings of superiority he had ever yet enjoyed. Hitherto he hadfancied that his enemies might worst him, but at last his pathseemed clear. He was now worth, all in all, the round sum oftwenty million dollars. His art-collection had become the mostimportant in the West--perhaps in the nation, public collectionsexcluded. He began to envision himself as a national figure,possibly even an international one. And yet he was coming to feelthat, no matter how complete his financial victory might ultimatelybe, the chances were that he and...
Long Stories - Post by : wldcreek - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1600
The money requisite for the construction of elevated roads havingbeen thus pyrotechnically obtained, the acquisition of franchisesremained no easy matter. It involved, among other problems, thetaming of Chaffee Thayer Sluss, who, quite unconscious of theevidence stored up against him, had begun to fulminate the momentit was suggested in various secret political quarters that a newordinance was about to be introduced, and that Cowperwood was tobe the beneficiary. "Don't you let them do that, Mr. Sluss,"observed Mr. Hand, who for purposes of conference had courteouslybut firmly bidden his hireling, the mayor, to lunch. "Don't youlet them pass that if...
Long Stories - Post by : Larcon_2 - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 1382
The banking hostility to Cowperwood, which in its beginning hadmade necessary his trip to Kentucky and elsewhere, finally reacheda climax. It followed an attempt on his part to furnish funds forthe building of elevated roads. The hour for this new form oftransit convenience had struck. The public demanded it. Cowperwoodsaw one elevated road, the South Side Alley Line, being built, andanother, the West Side Metropolitan Line, being proposed, largely,as he knew, in order to create sentiment for the idea, and so tomake his opposition to a general franchise difficult. He was wellaware that if he did...
Long Stories - Post by : Tomas_Lod - Date : March 2011 - Author : Theodore Dreiser - Read : 583
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The Titan - chapter LXII - The Recompense
