“It is only going back to the old idea of the Church,” said Mr. Emerson. “Every child is to have a godmother and godfather. All that is best in these modern improvements has come from our section of the Church.”
An amused silence which followed this remark was broken by a question, put by the German, in regard to Craighelbyl, which Mr. Knight answered.
“The cure for strikes everywhere is to give the people a direct share in the business. Craighelbyl has adopted this plan from the first. The people are buying their homes with the rent they pay. I gave them twenty years in which to do it; but they got dissatisfied, and considered that too long a time. Perhaps it was. I am getting recouped more quickly than I expected; and the time is short yet. So I gave in. We talked the matter over together, and I altered the term to fifteen years, at the end of which time, supposing the rents to be faithfully paid, every man’s house will be his own. But all men are not alike; some save money more quickly than others, even though they earn but little more; so I have had a sum fixed for every house, and if a man can pay it off in ten years, or even less, I have no objection. Some will be their own landlords in less than ten years, I believe.”
“And what will you do with the business?”
“If they are willing to unite together, and buy it as a co-operative affair, I shall sell it to them. I think they will, for the old jealousy which they used to feel towards each other, and the suspicion with which they regarded any man who seemed to be doing well, are less than they were.”
“Everybody who serves in any capacity is chosen by vote, is he not?” asked the American.
“Excepting myself, the minister, the schoolmaster, and the doctor. Eventually, perhaps,” said Knight with a smile, “they may choose individuals to fill our places, but at present we have been given to them, whether they liked us or not. In Craighelbyl the people are very keen and critical. We have fine men there. Hancourt has been a splendid manager of the business. I am sure he will always be triumphantly put back in his place, whatever new candidates are forthcoming. We have an Irishman for a doctor. The people pay no fees; they are doctored at my expense, because it is very much to my advantage that I should have healthy workpeople; and we have very little sickness, because the sanitary arrangements are good, and the first symptoms of disease are promptly seen and met.”
“Do they all go to church?” inquired the German.
“No; but a very large majority may be found there. They nearly all go to the Sunday-evening concert, held from eight to nine in the lecture-hall, where high-class sacred music is performed and sacred songs are sung.”
“Do you pay these musicians and singers?”