Business Is Business
The narrative follows Joseph Cargan, a businessman traveling by train, as he contemplates a real estate deal involving prairie land. His thoughts drift to his family and the stock market, particularly the precarious situation of a client, Theophilus Waldron. Cargan's interactions with Waldron reveal a stark contrast in their social standings and attitudes toward business. Waldron, facing financial ruin due to a cut in dividends, pleads for Cargan's help, but Cargan remains resolute, adhering to the principle that "business is business." As the train journey unfolds, Cargan's internal conflict intensifies. He grapples with feelings of superiority and resentment towards Waldron, who represents the aristocratic class that Cargan feels inferior to. Despite Waldron's desperate pleas, Cargan decides to sell him out, prioritizing his own financial security over loyalty or compassion. The story explores themes of class disparity, the harsh realities of business ethics, and the emotional toll of financial decisions. Cargan's eventual encounter with an unexpected delay on the train serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life and business, leaving him to confront the consequences of his choices in a vast, unfamiliar landscape.
By Henry Seidel Canby · First published 1929 · Genre: Business, Non-fiction, Educational · 2 chapters
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II