Henry George was a self-helped man, if ever there was one. When less
than fourteen years of age, he left school and started to earn his own
living. He never afterward returned to school. In adolescence, his
eager mind was obsessed by the glamor of the sea, so he began life as a
sailor. After a few years came the desperate poverty of his early
married life in California, as here described. His work as a printer
led to casual employment as a journalist. This was the first step in
his subsequently life-long career as an independent thinker, writer,
and speaker.
An apparent failure in life, he was obliged when twenty-six years of
age to beg money from a stranger on the street to keep his wife and
babies from actual starvation. But his misery may have been of
incalculable value to the human race, for his bitter personal
experience convinced him that the times were out of joint, and his
brain began to seek the remedy. The doctrine of _single tax_, already
on trial in some parts of the world, is his chief contribution to
economic theory.
From "The Life of Henry George, by His Son." Doubleday, Page &
Company, 1900.
Thus heavily weighted at the outset, the three men opened their office.
But hard times had come. A drought had shortened the grain crop,
killed great numbers of cattle and lessened the gold supply, and the
losses that the farming, ranching, and mineral regions suffered
affected all the commercial and industrial activities of the State, so
that there was a general depression. Business not coming into their
office, the three partners went out to hunt for it; and yet it was
elusive, so that they had very little to do and soon were in
extremities for living necessities, even for wood for the kitchen fire.
Henry George had fitfully kept a pocket diary during 1864, and a few
entries at this job-printing period tell of the pass of affairs.
"_December 25_.--Determined to keep a regular journal, and to cultivate
habits of determination, energy, and industry. Feel that I am in a bad
situation, and must use my utmost effort to keep afloat and go ahead.
Will try to follow the following general rules for one week:
"1st. In every case to determine rationally what is best to be done.
"2nd. To do everything determined upon immediately, or as soon as an
opportunity presents.
"3rd. To write down what I shall determine upon doing for the
succeeding day.
"Saw landlady and told her I was not able to pay rent.
"_December 26_, 7 A. M.:
"1st. Propose to-day, in addition to work in office, to write to Boyne.
"2nd. To get wood in trade.
"3rd. To talk with Dr. Eaton, and, perhaps, Dr. Morse.
"Rose at quarter to seven. Stopped at six wood yards trying to get
wood in exchange for printing, but failed. Did very little in office.
Walked and talked with Ike. Felt very blue and thought of drawing out.
Saw Dr. Eaton, but failed to make a trade. In evening saw Dr. Morse.
Have not done all, nor as well as I could wish. Also wrote to Boyne,
but did not mail letter.
"_January 1 (Sunday)_.--Annie not very well. Got down town about 11
o'clock. Went with Ike to Chinaman's to see about paper bags.
Returned to office and worked off a lot.
"_January 2_.--Got down town about 8 o'clock. Worked some labels. Not
much doing.
"_January 3_.--Working in office all day. De Long called to talk about
getting out a journal. Did our best day's work."
From time to time they got a little business, enough at any rate to
encourage Trump and George to continue with the office, though Daley
dropped out; and each day that the money was there the two partners
took out of the business twenty-five cents apiece, which they together
spent for food, Trump's wife being with her relatives and he taking his
dinner with the Georges. They lived chiefly on cornmeal and milk,
potatoes, bread and sturgeon, for meat they could not afford and
sturgeon was the cheapest fish they could find.[1] Mr. George
generally went to the office early without breakfast, saying that he
would get it down town; but knowing that he had no money, his wife more
than suspected that many a morning passed without his getting a
mouthful. Nor could he borrow money except occasionally, for the
drought that had made general business so bad had hurt all his friends,
and, indeed, many of them had already borrowed from him while he had
anything to lend; and he was too proud to complain now to them. Nor
did his wife complain, though what deepened their anxieties was that
they looked for the coming of a second child. Mrs. George would not
run up bills that she did not have money to meet. She parted with her
little pieces of jewellery and smaller trinkets one by one, until only
her wedding ring had not been pawned. And then she told the milkman
that she could no longer afford to take milk, but he offered to
continue to supply it for printed cards, which she accepted. Mr.
George's diary is blank just here, but at another time he said:[2]
"I came near starving to death, and at one time I was so close to it
that I think I should have done so but for the job of printing a few
cards which enabled us to buy a little cornmeal. In this darkest time
in my life my second child was born."
The baby came at seven o'clock in the morning of January 27, 1865.
When it was born the wife heard the doctor say: "Don't stop to wash the
child; he is starving. Feed him!" After the doctor had gone and
mother and baby had fallen asleep, the husband left them alone in the
house, and taking the elder child to a neighbour's, himself went to his
business in a desperate state of mind, for his wife's condition made
money--some money--an absolute and immediate necessity. But nothing
came into the office and he did not know where to borrow. What then
happened he told sixteen years subsequently.
"I walked along the street and made up my mind to get money from the
first man whose appearance might indicate that he had it to give. I
stopped a man--a stranger--and told him I wanted $5. He asked what I
wanted it for. I told him that my wife was confined and that I had
nothing to give her to eat. He gave me the money. If he had not, I
think I was desperate enough to have killed him." [3]
The diary notes commence again twenty days after the new baby's birth
and show that the struggle for subsistence was still continuing, that
Henry George abandoned the job-printing office, and that he and his
wife and babies had moved into a smaller house where he had to pay a
rent of only nine dollars a month--just half of his former rent. This
diary consists simply of two half-sheets of white note paper, folded
twice and pinned in the middle, forming two small neat books of eight
pages each of about the size of a visiting card. The writing is very
small, but clear.
"_February 17, 1865 (Friday)_ 10:40 P.M.--Gave I. Trump this day bill
of sale for my interest in office, with the understanding that if he
got any money by selling, I am to get some. I am now afloat again,
with the world before me. I have commenced this little book as an
experiment--to aid me in acquiring habits of regularity, punctuality,
and purpose. I will enter in it each evening the principal events of
the day, with notes, if they occur, errors committed or the reverse,
and plans for the morrow and future. I will make a practice of looking
at it on rising in the morning.
"I am starting out afresh, very much crippled and embarrassed, owing
over $200. I have been unsuccessful in everything. I wish to profit
by my experience and to cultivate those qualities necessary to success
in which I have been lacking. I have not saved as much as I ought, and
am resolved to practice a rigid economy until I have something ahead.
"1st. To make every cent I can.
"2nd. To spend nothing unnecessarily.
"3rd. To put something by each week, if it is only a five-cent piece
borrowed for the purpose.
"4th. Not to run in debt if it can be avoided."
"1st. To endeavour to make an acquaintance and friend of every one
with whom I am brought in contact.
"2nd. To stay at home less, and be more social.
"3rd. To strive to think consecutively and decide quickly."
"_February 18_.--Rose at 6 o'clock. Took cards to woodman. Went to
post-office and got two letters, one from Wallazz and another from
mother. Heard that Smith was up and would probably not go down. Tried
to hunt him up. Ran around after him a great deal. Saw him; made an
appointment, but he did not come. Finally met him about 4. He said
that he had written up for a man, who had first choice; but he would do
all he could. I was much disappointed. Went back to office; then
after Knowlton, but got no money. Then went to _Alta_ office. Smith
there. Stood talking till they went to work. Then to job office. Ike
had got four bits [50 cents] from Dr. Josselyn. Went home, and he came
out to supper.
"Got up in good season.
"Tried to be energetic about seeing Smith. Have not done with that
matter yet, but will try every means.
"To-morrow will write to Cousin Sophia,[5] and perhaps to Wallazz and
mother, and will try to make acquaintances. Am in very desperate
plight. Courage!
"_February 19 (Sunday)_.--Rose about 9. Ran a small bill with Wessling
for flour, coffee, and butter. After breakfast took Harry around to
Wilbur's. Talked a while. Went down town. Could not get in office.
Went into _Alta_ office several times. Then walked around, hoping to
strike Smith. Ike to dinner. Afterward walked with him, looking for
house. Was at _Alta_ office at 6, but no work. Went with Ike to
Stickney's and together went to _Californian_ office. Came home and
summed up assets and liabilities. At 10 went to bed, with
determination of getting up at 6 and going to _Bulletin_ office.
"Have wasted a great deal of time in looking for Smith. Think it would
have been better to have hunted him at once or else trusted to luck.
There seems to be very little show for me down there. Don't know what
to do.
"_February 20_.--Got up too late to go to the _Bulletin office_. Got
$1 from woodman. Got my pants from the tailor. Saw Smith and had a
long talk with him. He seemed sorry that he had not thought of me, but
said another man had been spoken to and was anxious to go. Went to
_Alta_ office several times. Came home early and went to _Alta_ office
at 6 and to _Call_ at 7, but got no work. Went to Ike Trump's room,
and then came home.
"Was not prompt enough in rising. Have been walking around a good part
of the day without definite purpose, thereby losing time.
"_February 21_.--Worked for Ike. Did two cards for $1. Saw about
books, and thought some of travelling with them. Went to _Alta_ before
coming home. In evening had row with Chinaman. Foolish.
"_February 22_.--Hand very sore. Did not go down till late. Went to
work in _Bulletin_ at 12. Got $3. Saw Boyne. Went to library in
evening. Thinking of economy.
"_February 26_.--Went to _Bulletin_; no work. Went with Ike Trump to
look at house on hill; came home to breakfast. Decided to take house
on Perry Street with Mrs. Stone; took it. Came home and moved. Paid
$5 of rent. About 6 o'clock went down town. Saw Ike; got 50 cents.
Walked around and went to Typographical Union meeting. Then saw Ike
again. Found Knowlton had paid him for printing plant, and demanded
some of the money. He gave me $5 with very bad humour.
"_February 27_.--Saw Ike in afternoon and had further talk. In evening
went to work for Col. Strong on _Alta_. Smith lent me $3.
"_February 28_.--Worked again for Strong. Got $5 from John McComb.
"_February 29_.--Got $5 from Barstow, and paid Charlie Coddington the
$10 I had borrowed from him on Friday last. On Monday left at Mrs.
Lauder's [the Russ Street landlady] $1.25 for extra rent and $1.50 for
milkman.
"_March 1_.--Rose early, went to _Bulletin_; but got no work. Looked
in at Valentine's and saw George Foster, who told me to go to Frank
Eastman's [printing office]. Did so and was told to call again. Came
home; had breakfast. Went to _Alta_ in evening, but no work. Went to
Germania Lodge and then to Stickney's.
"_March 2_.--Went to Eastman's about 11 o'clock and was put to work.
"_March 3_.--At work.
"_March 4_.--At work. Got $5 in evening."
The strength of the storm had now passed. The young printer began to
get some work at "subbing," though it was scant and irregular. His
wife, who paid the second month's rent of the Perry Street house by
sewing for her landlady, remarked to her husband how contentedly they
should be able to live if he could be sure of making regularly twenty
dollars a week.