The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-09
BOUND TO SUCCEED.
The Story of the Bootblsck Who Was y
to BE Kept Down.

to BE Kept Down.
'Its just about seven years ago."
said a well-known broker, as he pointed
toward a well-dressed young man.
''since that young fellow shined my
shoes, and l believe that it was the last
pair he ever got paid for putting a
gloss on.
cat that time Billie was one of the
many youngsters who made their liveli-
hood by keeping an electric shining
chair in gamblers alley. In those days
the highway was frequented by Il good
many young sports who didn't care
any more about paying quarter for a
shine than they did about treating
friend to ice water. This young fellow
scraped the sand from my shoes that
afternoon and daubed them with a half
inch layer of blacking-more or less
and as he finished he said, Il wish l
could give up shining" This was
something strange to come from him,
for he was an expert sinner and got
good deal more than his share of pat
ronage, and the other professors of the
brush were envious. got over my
surprise, for thought that two regi-
ments of soldiers couldn't drive him
away from that chair, and / asked him
why he wanted to give up the old stand.
As he toiled away with his two brushes
he said: We'll, if don't quit it soon
l never will get out of it. So l want to
get away from it while l feel like it.
And if don't before long it will be the
ball and chain on my leg all the days
of my life
Il had pity on the poor fellow, for
he talked so sincerely, and, while he
was giving my coat L finishing touch
with his whisk broom, a friend of mine,
who was engaged in the lumber bust
ness at that time, came up.
"As soon as Billie saw him he gave
me wink that said: See if he won t
do something for fellow who wants to
better his condition. My friend took
the vacant chair next to me, and after
we had chatted awhile | asked him if
he couldn'nt give Billie Il job. He was
! soon as much interested iii the boot
| black as | was myself, and after hear
ing long talk Billie was engaged as q
yard hustler at six dollars a week
| just about one-third what he was max
ing at shining. He had little chance
to obtain an education, but this didn t
| discourage him, and half of the first
weeks pay was spent for school-books.
| Every spare moment that the lad had
he spent in study, and he could be seen
quite often between two lumber piles
| figuring out an example in long divis-
ion with pencil on a smooth board.
After he had been doing general
work about the yard for about four
months he was promoted to the position
of tallyman, which he held until the
end of 1881. Bill had been very dill
gent during all this time and l de-
termined to see if couldn't get him a
more remunerative position, and one
where he could advance himself faster
than in the lumber business. Accord
| ingly l sent a letter to one of my cor
respondents, a reputable Wall street
broker, and the reply was that he
wanted a good Office man, and if l had
a friend he would be very glad to give
him the place.
Il kept Bill in my office until a few
days before he was to take his New York
position. Then he went East. He gave
excellent satisfaction in every respect,
and gradually made himself so valua-
| I Il L
He withdrew from the firm last Janu-
airy and brought over 100000 to Chi
cago with him as his share.
He thinks the first step he made
toward success was when he started off
with a load of 'two-by-fours' on his
shoulder in lumber yard not a great
distance from the corner of Lincoln
street and Blue Island avenue. '-Chi-
cag0 Mail.