Wonderful Progress and a Fable to Live By, 1886
The year 1886 seemed to be a boom year for building in Victoria. Builders, contractors and architects were kept extremely busy with a total of $550,000 spent on new structures and improvements. Digging a little, a list can be found of new buildings erected for the year in various areas, considered a 'vast stride' forward for the fledgling city.
Great care was bestowed upon the completing of these figures. They are as near the exact cost as it was possible to obtain from architects, contractors and owners." (Victoria Daily Times, December 1886)
Prior year was also looked upon as busy. In 1884 close to three quarters of a million, while in 1885 almost $500,000. “Its the most positive proof of the forward march Victoria is making towards metropolitan greatness.”
Electric Light building, brick, for the city, Yates Street $3,300.00
Addition to Oriental Hotel Yates Street, William McKeon & Son $7,000
Brick block of six stores, corner of Government and Broughton Streets $10,300
P. Leech, facing Beacon Hill park, frame building $3000
King Tye Company, foot of Cormorant street two storey brick building $5000
John Teague, corner of Cook and Chatham streets new frame dwelling $5000
J.C. Flett, Pioneer Street two storey frame dwelling $2000
Public school house John street $1,150
J.W. Keller, corner of Quadra and Yates, a store and dwelling, two storey frame $1,500
The newspaper was proud of the achievements seen,
Improvements in the shape of buildings places Victoria in the van of progressive cities...One is safe in stating that in no city of the population of Victoria, on this continent has so much been expended in building as has been done over the last three years.
There was vast improvements in streets and sidewalks during the year, and the paper criticized those who thought otherwise,
The prophecies of pessimists that the completion of public works would be followed by severe depression and possibly financial crisis have not been realized.
Notwithstanding the opinions of croakers, a steady advancement in prosperity and wealth may safety be prophesized for a length of time to come...naturally [this has] not given satisfaction to all; but that would be an impossible task, and any council who would attempt to please everyone will find themselves in the same position as the old man, his boy, and the ass, set forth so well in AEsops fables. (Victoria Daily Times)
With that reference, I had to set out and find the fable in question. As in 1886, I believe its still apt today for consideration.
The Miller, His Son, & the Ass
One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their way to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They drove him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him if they kept him in good condition. As they walked along the highway some travelers laughed loudly at them.
"What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride. The most stupid of the three is not the one you would expect it to be."
The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up and ride.
They had gone a little farther along the road, when three merchants passed by.
"Oho, what have we here?" they cried. "Respect old age, young man! Get down, and let the old man ride."
Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants.
At the next turnstile they overtook some women carrying market baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell.
"Look at the old fool," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the Ass, while that poor boy has to walk."
The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told the Boy to climb up behind him.
They had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up from another company of people on the road.
"What a crime," cried one, "to load up a poor dumb beast like that! They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them."
"They must be on their way to sell the poor thing's hide," said another.
The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later, the market place was thrown into an uproar as the two came along carrying the Donkey slung from a pole. A great crowd of people ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.
The Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river.
The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.
If you try to please all, you please none.
*Aesop (/ˈiːsɒp/ EE-sop or /ˈeɪsɒp/ AY-sop; Greek: Αἴσωπος, Aísōpos; formerly rendered as Æsop) is an almost certainly legendary Greek fabulist and storyteller, said to have lived c. 620–564 BCE, and credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables.