The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-21
SMALL BEGINNINGS.

The late Daniel Drew, better known
on the street as 'Uncle Daniel, " the
renowned Methodist and great man
ager of finance, was always much inter-
ested in the young, and keenly obserV-
ant of their habits. Like all self-made
men, he believed in small beginnings,
and considered that boot blacks
chair or a peanut-stand, if faithfully
managed, might be the stepping-stone
to a future business and fortune.
He was always looking flor evi-
dences of financial genius among
this class, and nothing escaped his
eagle eye.
Among other peculiar theories was
the. one that a boy who had sense
enough to leave door as he found it,
whether open or shut must necessarily
have something in him that was worth
developing. On one occasion, news
boy ran into Mr.. Drew's Office, and on
going out found that the door did not
close easily. After making several
Intellectual attempts to latch it, he
stepped back, put down his load,
and carefully scrutinized the lock.
Mr.. Drew sat watching him intently.
"Say, Uncle Daniel" the boy yelled
out at last, giving the knob few pro
fessional turns, 81 can't shut your old
door. 1t needs taking off and cleaning.
Here you are Times, Herald, Sun,
Tribune, Here you are!'
The next day, when the lad came
again with the papers, the gentleman
| called him to his desk. ,.-e,y.. -,
''Say, my son." he began, don't
| you think a new lock would be better
for that door than cleaning the old
oneP'
Certainly, Uncle Daniel the gamin
responded, ''if you can afford it."
This bit of faceti@ touched Mr.. Drew's
keen sense of humor and practically
settled the business.
sis there anything" he asked, 'that
you'd like better than selling papersP'
'.Is there?" said the boy" "Any-
body must be luny to ask that ques-
ton"
"Well, what would you rather dol"
Mr.. Drew persisted.
"Why, I'd rather learn how to fix
clocks when they won't 60, and locks
when they won't latch, and engines
when they get cranky, and such
things I'll bet / could make that old
latch o'yourn work like a daisy now,
and l amt never learned anything so
far"
"Go to work at the lock, Johnny"
said the gentleman, land we'll see."
And he did see. Johnny fixed the
lock, and after that was apprenticed to
a tinker, and turned out well.
On another occasion, a petty theft
had been committed in one of the Off
ces contiguous to Mr. Drew's. A
ragged but clean-faced boy about eleven
years old, who attended to the fires in
one or two of the offices, was accused
of being the guilty party. A mob OF
clerks and officials had pressed about
the lad, as q policeman searched his
clothes for the missing articles. MIR.
Drew stood near; and, as The officer
brought out two little packages from
the tattered pockets-one wrapped IL
a corner of a newspaper, the other in {
piece of tin-foil--the crowd sent up ,
shout.
"Sure's I'm born, amt got moth
in" the lad protested. But the heart
less spectators only laughed the loude
at this trembling asseveration of in
nocence When the wrapping wa
torn away, a part of horn comb wa
revealed. The tin-foil covered q pec
of hard soap, about three inche
square,
The voice of Uncle Daniel was hear,
at this point
"Tl 90 security for any lad VIII
carries comb in one pocket and
] piece of soap in the other" he said
Young fellow, don't you be afraid
1 Shake every rag he's got on" he tol
r the officer, land then pass him owe
4 to me-"
What Mr.. Drew said to the lad, VIII
q was proved innocent of the crime in
e puted to him, does not transpire; bI
this bit of soap had more power fC
good in it than many bars. A boy
n his poverty-stricken condition WI
,. would keep himself clean and his ha
n tidy was bound 10 make his mark, ar
IL Uncle Daniel was ready and willing
e help him.
n A bright American boy started pc
f nut stand on the corner of Wall al
u Broad streets. 1t became at once il
q mensely popular. One day, MIR. Dire
Il stood on the corner talking to SOL