Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-08-14
THE PRACTICAL MAN.

He sat beside us in street car He looked
over our shoulder, at the copy of scientific
paper, which fresh from the press, was receiv-
ing our final scrutiny, and requested the loan
OF the paper for a moment when we had fin
ished.. He glanced at the first page, skinned
over the middle, and peeped into the inside.
Il suppose that paper interests great many
people," he remarked.
We modestly signified our assent.
wall, it don't me" he interrupted sharply
sIt doesn't take no books or papers to larn me
business you know. Never learned nuthin'
from books in my life. Didn't have but quar-
ter's schoolin', and then went into the shop.
Served my time with old Pete Reynolds of Bos-
ton. You know'd him, mebbe; dead now. Was
his foreman; now I'm boss OF my own works
in the city, Pm practical man, l am. All
yer hollergeys and hosserphys may do well
enoogh to write about, but they amt no sorter
use in the show. They. just get inter mems
heads and set 'em a thinkin' about other things
than their work, and then they git invention
and that's the last OF 'em. Why had likely
young feller who used to buy that paper and
read on it dinner hour. Sometimes he d stick
it up on his lathe, until stopped that mighty
sudden. Wall, one day l caught him scrib-
blin' with a piece OF chalk, on a bit of board;
then know'd the invention fit had got hold
OF him, and that he was goner. few weeks
after he comes to the Office. and says he: Boss
Pm got little arrangement here that Ii make
the old lathe do better work, and he out with
one OF them reg lar, printed paytents, and
showed me new attachment for making gear
ms and SIGH" WALL says 1, to humor him
Like, sonny, says L. you can go make yer ma
sheen and set it up on the lathe if yer wanter
But the ungrateful villin began to say some
thing about royalty and shop rights, and L told
the bookkeeper to pay him right off and let him
clear out. Blow me if he didn't go right over
to Smiths, across the street, and rig his affair
there, and the first thing know'd Smith was
turnin work -out at half my prices. Then
had to find that feller, and pay him his blanl-
ed royalty, and heap it was too.
Now there was q good hand just spilled by
a-readin; if he'd left that ere paper OF your n
alone he might have been a good stiddy man,
gitten his three dollars day comfortable and
reg lar. Now they say he's maxim stamps by
thousands, but he's spilled. Will not be worth
nuthin' ever fer work agin. Where nd have
been If I'd pegged away at books and nooze-
papers-ehi''
Our practical friend did not await for an
answer for while we were cogitating suitable
response, he suddenly made bolt out OF the
car and rushed down side street toward a
dilapidated-loo edifce which, we conjec-
tured, was none other than the works
Our acquaintance carried off our paper. He
h onestly mailed it back to us the other day
We smiled as we saw the thumb marks on all
the paper and opposite an engraving there
was pencil note of "Iknow becter plan than
this" Perhaps after all latent idea in his
brain has been aroused, or has he taken the
invention fit Should he see this he will
promptly scout the idea that our humble eff
forts have awakened him, for 1T doesn't take
no papers to learn me my business you
know