64 ADVENTURES IN IDEALISM 



years my husband worked for the Fund, whenever this 

 kind of an offer was made to him, and it was made 

 by every new dealer, his answer was always the same: 

 "Deduct my commission from the cost of the goods." 



Taking account of the money laid out by him for 

 the Fund in building the farm-houses, the little town, 

 with its numerous factories, and the agricultural school, 

 no mean sum was saved by him in this way. In later 

 years the remark was sometimes made: "Professor 

 Sabsovich must have made lots of money in Wood- 

 bine." They undoubtedly judged him by accepted 

 business methods-, not knowing that there was in him 

 a much higher standard of honor. To him, every 

 dollar of the Fund was a sacred trust. 



Not only the business people, but the farmers, too, 

 had to be taught a lesson in this respect. The very 

 first year that they raised any produce, whether veg- 

 etables, fruit, fowls, butter, eggs or cheese, a donation 

 would be brought. This custom, so much in vogue in 

 Russia, where the tenant endeavors thus to keep in 

 the good graces of the landlord, being out of place 

 here, where my husband was manager, was discour- 

 aged. Invariably, when any of the farmers would 

 bring in a gift, my husband or I would ask: 



"How much does it cost?" 



"Why, nothing," would be the usual answer. 



"Didn't you work hard for it? Did it cost you 

 nothing? We will not take anything for nothing. 



