The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-25
First Employment

a5'' IHet AsuplnytueHt. |.'a.H.
William D. Kelley had now reached the
ripe age OF II years. lie was ambitious
and inpatient. He felt that he could do
something to tighten his mothers burden
and he wanted to be eaboutit. lie refused
longer to attend school and went in search
OF his first job." . In those days good
shop or erran,l boy commanded a dollar n
week, and at that rate tile young fortune.
seeker found employment in a lottery
oliice. Half century ago lottery had u
better. Standing than now, but the bov
noted the anguish OF the more desperate
Of the disappointed players, and he felt
that he could not remain in that business.
lie found harder work ior time with an
,l,nbrella-makcr, and shortly after became
copy-reader in the printing.oflice OF the
Philadelphia Inquirer. He had no thought
OF becoming printer. It was his father's
intention that he should be a good watch
maker and jeweler, and that was the sons
desire. Harsh as the law was, ithad left him
his fathers tools, and he only waited
to be old enough to enter upon his anpren.
ticeship. Judge Kelley never weartes OF
rtecountlng to young people the benefits
he derived from his employment in the
printing Office. It fell to his lot to read
aloud with such distinctncss as would saf,
lsiy, q careful proot-reader several volumes
OF history and higll-class fiction Here
wls schooling which not only opened to
young Kelley a treasury Of delight and
profit, but developed a clearrpss Of enun.
citation for which liae man Is noted, and
which is not the least part OF his power as
public speaker. 10 this period OF his
lite Judge Kelley ascribes Ills intellectual
awakening. It was then that l.s laid The, The,
foundation Of a aoonious vocabulary and a
maryelously-iacile use OF language,
Before his 18th birthday William an
prenticed himself, with his mothers coz.
sent, to Richards \ Dubos1, jewellers. Tie
apprentleeshln Was TO expire April l2,
1854, his Goth birthday. Besides stickinr
close to his bench in the working hours
and in the evening indulging his Keen an.
petite for books, he sought active recreh.
tion in Co!ore. James Pages State Fen
cihlrs: At the age OF II he was an ac.,
tivemember Of the Niagara Hose Com.
pany, though the Constitution Of tho
Company forbade the admisslpn al any my
person under go yeals OF age. Judge
Kelley is understood 10 disclaim any and
all responsibility for this unconstitution.
atty Of his admission, claiming that It waa
the sole act OF the Company, 't N"' 40
Tbs! Ianth'a Library Company was an
association of apprentice boys in which
the lad seems to have been leading
spirit.
April Of 1881 came at last. The apprep.
tie Whs FREQ and q journey1hap jeweler.
The bitter war between President Jack.
son and the United States Bank disturbed
the country. so That business was sufler-
ing universal and extreme depression. md
there was no work for jewelers., ,''N Wv
IN 1850 there came spph q revival Of
tfaae as enabled him to get employment
IN pos!on,, where former shopmate had
i9und work and opened a way ior him.
Ills stay. in Boston had marked effect
upon the broader career which Nbllilv, in.
dtustry and perseverance were to omen TO
hihii. It was his good iortpne to come into
contact with men Of high attainments
whose influence md example fired his
ambition and directed it into proper pre,
paratory channels. The Fcpeuil Hail
meeting, which he attended and captured,
offered favorable opportunity ior dra,
matte and taking debut. Nathaniel Green.
Postmaster OF Boston, who had heard the
speech, Offered the young orator a night
etTfSshiG' en;na & win small duties, iA the post.
the P9rt, Invited. him 10 tho use Of his
fine llbrHry. and rendered him. a position
under the Government, which would en-.
aolehlm!to to prepare. for college; md sd.
vised him to seek scholaesh}p IN Har: M
ward. In each INSTANCE his RESPONSE was
substantially that lie did not wish to rive
VA his independence md individuality
and become a,waiter on the tide OF affairs.
81 Going to the 1,ar.
A better suggestion came from the lato
Colonel James Page, long known, US one
of the most active Of Philadelphians.
aWhy don't yon study law ?". "Why
don't I go to Congress, sir?n repl;ea
Ill / A.