Business Is Business by Henry Seidel Canby
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 · 5,273 words
First lines
Six hours on the train had nearly exhausted Joseph Cargan. He had read all the available magazines, looked up his connections twice in the railway guide, and even gazed for an hour out of the window. But there were only woods and farms to be seen, scarcely a bill-board, and no automobiles. He dropped his cigar wearily into the spittoon by his chair in the club car and relapsed into lethargy. With dull iteration he ran over the plans for the deal in prairie land that he hoped to put through to-morrow, and guessed lazily at whether $6000 would purchase the tract of which they had written him. He thought of his wife, and hoped that his telegram would be telephoned over to the Runkles' so that she might meet him at the station with the clean shirt he had asked for. Afterwards he cut his nails, yawned loudly, and was just going to sleep when they stopped at Joline and a boy came in with papers.
What this Textopian page supports
Business Is Business is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Seidel Canby, dated 1929 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Seidel Canby
- Date: 1929 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Business, Non-fiction, Educational, Self-help
- Length: 5,273 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 84 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Business Is Business by Henry Seidel Canby
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Business — The title of the book 'Business Is Business' explicitly indicates a central focus on business-related activities and concepts.
- Non-fiction — The author, Henry Seidel Canby, is known for his non-fiction works, and the focus of the book is consistent with popular non-fiction themes.
- Educational — Business-orientated books often serve educational purposes by providing insights and knowledge about business strategies, tactics, principles, or concepts.
- Self-help — The book may contain practical advice or emphasizes self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—especially with a practical or pragmatic approach to business.
Tags
business · economics · entrepreneurship · finance · management · corporate culture · leadership · strategy · marketing · innovation · negotiation · ethics