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I remember saying to him, “They don't care. They really don't mind. There isn't as much jealousy in this world as you think there is.”
Harry was always very conscious of being a harness maker's son. He was always proclaiming himself as part of the proletariat because his father was a harness maker. I once said to him, “Harry, you must know, or should remember, that in the old days in New England, in the country, the harness maker and the blacksmith were leading citizens. They are two highly respected, super trades. They belong to the aristocracy, along with sea captains, down in my country. Sea captains, blacksmiths and harness makers are always put on the Boards of Selectmen. They're always put on the school committee. They're always leading citizens.” Of course, that's partly because there aren't so many of them. There are never more than one or two in a town. They do very responsible, skilled work. They have more than ordinary education. It isn't a mechanical job. It's a craft job that requires great responsibility and adaptation. “At any rate, a harness maker is not part of the proletariat. And I'll just bet your father didn't think he was a member of the proletariat. He thought he was a very important person, didn't be?”
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