It
was now the ladder of business. Why save my earnings and invest in
government bonds, when, by buying two newspapers for five cents, with
a turn of the wrist I could sell them for ten cents and double my
capital? The business ladder was the ladder for me, and I had a
vision of myself becoming a bald-headed and successful merchant
prince.
Alas for visions! When I was sixteen I had already earned the title
of "prince." But this title was given me by a gang of cut-throats
and thieves, by whom I was called "The Prince of the Oyster Pirates."
And at that time I had climbed the first rung of the business ladder.
I was a capitalist. I owned a boat and a complete oyster-pirating
outfit. I had begun to exploit my fellow-creatures. I had a crew of
one man. As captain and owner I took two-thirds of the spoils, and
gave the crew one-third, though the crew worked just as hard as I did
and risked just as much his life and liberty.
This one rung was the height I climbed up the business ladder.
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