New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-07
A FORTUNE IN A FORTNIGHT,

1t is not a pleasant situation to find oneself
reduced to ones last half-crown, the wide world
around, and not friend in IT. Such was my
position when, through no fault of my own
in the Desert Of Sahara | had been tutor III
boys school for five years; the principal dled,
and il passed into "A strangers hands inc Only
home | ever knew, for | was placed there a
motherleSs boy when my father went out as
vice-cOnsul TO Zanzibar.
The climate killed HIM, but my master dld
not part with me- and when the bank smashed
which held my little heritage the good man re-
tanned me as teacher. Ia vain L tired Tor
another situations alas my referee was no more ne
Then for cler1shp, but the times were bad;
and firms discharglng their employees instead OF
engaging them. Those who knew me, as is
usual in such cases, withdrew into their Shells
and when they emerged from them were rude
and unfceling Near relations / had none.
Footsore and weary l had walked the points OF
the compass after every advertisement that seemed
hkely-Or, indeed, unlkely-to suit; all dlsap-
pointments; so l sat down in my one room IN
Bernard Street, Russell Square the tenancy OF
which would expire with the week, wondering
what on earth | should do, my thoughts reVolv-
ing in circle and terminating where they com
menced Everything comes to those who wait,
is the saying but. unfortunately. a roof over
ones head and a breakfast and dinner every day
are essential TO that process Why DO you not 4G
You nearly fOur-and-twCnty years of age,
well educated. and yet giving way like a girl
NY diet had been extremely frugal of late; |
wearing down. body and mind
ACaln / took up The Times, 10 see III by
chance had overlooked anything No:
Wanted, an accomplished goverqess, advanced
English, grammatical analysis, fluent French
perfect German. brilliant pianist and artist lols
and water, an exhibitor at the Il. A. preferred
must be able 10 work sewing machine, Wilcox
& Gibbs Poor young woman Who would
undertake il unless like me. starving? Wanted,
a cOachman TO drive two horses Of decidedly plous
habits" No mistake about those being good
animals. Wanted to purchase a practice near
London by young surgeon, or douceur omered
for accommodation TO good opening, There
was nothing for me. Stay-a bright idea shot
through my brain with the vividness of lightning.
WHY not, instead of hunting for myself. try TO
match up other peoples require ments-an mex
hauslble field for seekers have not sufficient time
10 search daily all the papers. l sprans up;
Yes, l would try it; hope once more inspired
me. ! changed my poor haf-crown by investing
in different daily newspapers, qulre of blue
official paper and envelopes stamps. etc. and,
neck or nothing set 80 work il was my last
throw / steadily took copies of requirements
from each paper, then matched them up. To
be Sold corner house, main read in and
rising neighbOrhOOd near LCndOn, suited TO
medical practitioner for whom there is a splen-
did opening" Here was my chance at once
| wrote nowery epistle to the young doctor,
giving a delightful description of the rising
ncighborhood, of which I knew nothing, pointing
out to him the advantage in not having 10 buy
factory-eXpending money IN purchasing another
persons old shoes. as one may say fami iiary,
Ing bis capital in solid bricks and mortar. This
l dispatched to St Ncots-then looked out an
other pair N gentleman offers { % TO any one
who can place his fourteen, an intelligent
youth leaving school, in counting house, salary
first year no object" That was in The Daily
News then in " The Telegraph" Wanted, in
city Office smart boy leaving school great
advantages after two years To the merchant
wrote such description of friends son who
had just concluded his commercial edu-
cation in irst-claSs, school, that the
calculating boy would have been a
fool TO him. To the paternal advertiser
dispatched glowing description of my ability to
in-r inn af MD tad into.r
rity in firm of wcll-knOwn commcrcialists. /
prided myself on that word, il sounded substan-
tial, and did not commit myself to description.
lay awake I'll that night thinking OF my venture
in romance French roll and a glass of milk
Sc; sOned with anxiety are not good narcotics.
Some things are 10 be, others never come to
pass. Kick as you will against the prickS-bump
your head against stone wall-cOme they will
not But my advice is 10 try everything, and
keep on trying: door will open for you at last:
it is generally what you do not expect, and proba-
bly, what you dislike. but most people succeed in
what they were not brought up for.
Now whether il my handwriting, charming
style powers of description The handsome blue of
fetal note paper, or all CON bined l cannot say,
but by the next evening had received answers
to all my letters, and instantly plunged into the
extravaganza of a pint of tarmgona and bag of
biscuits, for my appetite had become delicate
through compelled abstemiousncsS that steak
would have chOked me. | drank success TO my
undmtakings-I needed it, my half-crOwn had
ished Well the builder named the lowest price
for his house in the rising suburb, offering me
The young doctor was delighted with my descrip-
ton if would oblige by sending the address and
price he would go TO inspect 1t at once. L set IT
down aifaire fine The grateful parent OF
my calculating boy wrote, asking all sorts of qucs-
lions about the cOmmerclalistS' they, who were
tailors and outfitters in Gracechurch-st., were
equally anxious to secure the paragon Just leaving
school-there was another pair. went to work
again at the daily papers with renewed ardor, and
met with more or less success, contrlvlng TO match
no a variety of requirements of course with q
little stretch Of imagination. liked the occupa-
tion-it was almost an art After receiving I 20
from the builder, who was man OF his word, ana
the 20 douceur from the anxious parent, with
the delightful feeling of a few gold coins In my
wastcoat pocket success emboldened me 10 eX-
tend my hunting-grounds; had been angling in
a streamlet and wished for deep-sea fishing with
nets | determined 10 strike out and take an office.
high rent and wished TO reside in locality that
would inspire confidence and insure business.
After much trouble and deliberation found
front parlor in very old-fashioned house. stu
ated in Hart-st,, Bloomsbury, almost within the
Nudes, and few doors from bloomsbury church
what could be more respectable?
7 had to be very careful in my expenditure for
furnishing my. office bought a fourth hand IL
brary table which recovered and rubbed up my
self: also chair the twin OF dear OhVer Gold
smiths at South Kensington. Then sought for
an imposing, looking one IN which TO seat my
clients At last met with my piece de resistance,
for il was the only handsome furniture In the
room, at the sale of a dentists efiects-an oper-
afipq chair. "A cocoa mating on tne uoOr u map
of Europe lmy own property, five feet by seven,
on the wall where the paper was shabby; another
of the Holy Land en- face, cast OF Minerva
Sought from an Italian boy, on the mantelshelf
where a clock ought TO have been, completed the
interior of my office. Fortunately the windows
were provided with obsolete wire blinds but IL
was very expensive having gold letters fixed on
The glass panes-" Universal and Confidential
Agency As / did not wish my own name TO be
known, ] assumed that of Gamer li"r dld not
wish to become one p, and had it placed on my
Office door.
The mise en- scene was admirable. i invested
IN a new suit from Hyamss over the way, choosing
mourning out OF respect TO the memory OF my lost
t3riend black studs, black watch-guard, a narrow
band on my hat-what looks nicer than new