Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-19
Murridge was really phiIanthropist OF the

Murrldge was really philanthropist OF the
first water-an eighteen carat philanthro-
piSt. If, from time to time, in his grubbing
among genealcgies, old wills and family his
tories, he came upon curious discoveries,
which he wa able to turn to his own adva1-
tage. he is not to be banned. Notably, there
was the succession to the Clonsilla title, in
which, as you will presently see, he did
very good stroke of business
His office was in Finsbury Circus, where
he had two rooms on second floor; the
front room large and light, looking out on
the open Place; the back room small and
dingy, looking upon the Limbo of chimneys
work hops, back buildings, out houses and
grlmy yards which one finds in that part of
London On the door osts below his name
was painted: Second Floor, JOHN MUIR
RIDGE. His own room was furnished with
one very large table-genealogists like
civil engineers, require great tables-and
another very small one; he had great
book case full of books of reference, such az
Dugdale. Douglas, Tonge, Beltram, Wotton,
Collins and Lysons, really valuable col
lection; as for the country histories, one
needs the resources of Rothschild to- pos
sess them. There was also large lied safe
in a corner, and there were tin boxes piled
one asaoxe the other. as in solicitors Office
and there were three or four chairs The
room at the back was not, properly speak
ing furnished at all That is to say, there
was a table at the window with blottng-
pad, and an inkstand and chair before it.
There was another talle beside the fireplace,
with a heavy copying press upon it, the
KIND with a handle and screw. This was
for the boy clerk, who posted the letters,
conied them and ran errands. The other
table was for Mr.. Murridge, Jr.-Mr
Richard Murridge. His son and the clerk,
together with the private secre airy, COM
pleted Mr.. Murridge's staff and formed his
establishment
AS regards Master Dick it night he said
of him, as of a great MANY others that he
would doubtless have been different had his
training been other than what it was Yet
his education was not neglected At school
he learned only the things most useful in
commercial life, as good hand. accounts and
bookkeeping short hand, French and the
art of writing business etter. He also had
the advantage, being dav boy of his faith
er's experience and practical wisdom, which
was on tap, so to speak every evening.
Il have taught my son, slr," Mr. Murridge
explained, ssto des~isr the common cant
j
and the rest of it. The world is full of crea-
lures who live by eating each other. There
is no other way to live. We come into the
city every dav to eat each OIL err and to de-
fend ourselves against those who would eat
u.s. The way is to make as much money as
we possibly can. AS for honor, it means
that you ust p av fair whore it is yo"r in
terest and friendship me ms putting other
people on a good thing when you can't get
it for yourself and in exchange tor another
good thing Benevolerce mears keeping the
people YOU are eating up in good temper
Dick quite understands the world. There is
no nonsense about Dick Justice means
having all you can get-an that the law al
iows-ttc,. ], las penny, and never forgiving
ANYBODY. have nissssde the boy thoroughly
under tand these ,rincipiess he peglns
life with clear head, and no sentifnsnsGs
humbug''
It is not often that boys views are thus
based upon the first elements of life and So
cietv, and Dick certainly began life with
great advantages.
Unluckilv for D elk, he was not allowed to
put these principles into practice in an indie
pendent way. Mr. Murridge regarded his
business as thing to be kept together, and
handed down as property to his son. He,
therefore. without anv question as to Dicks
aptitude for genealogical research and the
art of clothing a man with pedigree, re-
moved him from school at an early age and
placed him in his own back office, where he
gave him copying work. You cannot posi-
bly, carry GU any of the Q beautiful precepts
and maxims on mere copying work.
Unfortun ately, too, Mr.. Murridge could
never bring himself to trust his son. He
was jealous ma ter, who would let no one
into his secrets but himself, and worked, like
the mole, underground. So that, though
Dick was now Internationally he knew no
more about his father business than he did
at sixteen, when he first took his seat in the
back office-excep5 that his father would
talk over the successful conduct of case
when it was completed, especially if there
had been any difficulties or sharp practice in
it, He cid not dare to complain but his
position made him continually grumpy 1t
is not good sign for a young mans future
when he nour: hes secret grudge agains.
his father and when the father, absorbed in
his own business never stops to consider
what his son is doing and how he regards
his own position and work.
Di, k was now drawing the very hand
some salary of seventy five pounds year,
with breakfast. lodging, washing, supper,
if he wanted it, and hi, Sunday dinner. He
was, therefore, rich a C erks at three-and-
twenty 60 We NAV allow him eighteen
pence day for his dinner, or ten shill ngs
week, which comes to twenty six pounds a
year; fifteen pounds year for his dress,
which is not extravaganza; ten pounds for a
fortnights holiday in the summer, and five
pounds year for his daily omnibus, There
femansd the handsome sum Of nineteen
pounds a year, Or rather more than shil
ling day, to cover his amusements and his
petty expenses. How many young fellows
can afford a hlling day for pleasurea
Dick had SO few pleasures that he must
have been saving money. He was very quiet
yp4ng MANSIONS of masterful fathers gem
piano a little, and to draw little, but ian
,uidlY. When he was at home he spent
most of the time at the Old piano, Which had
1een his mothers When he was at the Of
ice he spent most of the time in drawing.
de had no taste for reading, he seemed to
care nothing for the things which form the
leasure of SO many young men; he never
" emit to the theatres or music halls; he had
10 bicycle belonged to no athletic club; and,
except one or two old chool-fellows, he had
10 frienls. Yet of late he had got into the
labib Of spending every evening out Where
ae went, or what he did, his father did not
nqui O.
A quiet young man. who seemed to be get
Ting through his youth at a regular, even
pace, turning neither to the right hand nor to
the left, picking no fruits or flowers, and rum
ming af.er no butterflies, caught by none of
the Jack o'-,anterns which lead astray so
many Of the Lone on youth-his father should
have been satisfied with such son,
But he was not. Mr.. Murridge was disap-
pc nted that his son had no passion for any
thing D ok was no fool, but he did his
work like a machine; he took no interest in
mis- work; he was spiritless.
Now, a Young man who is not a fool cam
not be, though he may appear to be, ma
chine Parents who have such sons a. Dick
should remember this proverb, which is one
Of the very few omitted from Solomon's
unique collection-how good it is for the
world that this king collected proverbs in
stead of old Phoenician ware and prehistoric
pots! You will presently discover that Dick
was no exception to this proverb.
4I y