The Nine-Tenths

"The Nine-Tenths" by James Oppenheim is a story about Joe Blaine, a printer whose world is shaken by a fire in his shop that kills his female workers. We first meet Joe as a dedicated business owner, but the tragic explosion casts a dark shadow, filling him with guilt that makes him rethink everything. His memories of his mother and his feelings for Myra get mixed up with his sadness, pushing him to wonder if he's living his life right. This leads him toward wanting to help others and to understand the difficulties faced by ordinary workers. As Joe starts to see the world differently, he struggles to balance his new beliefs with his past relationships, setting the stage for a deep examination of life in a busy city struggling with the problems of its factories.