The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-06-21
THE MODERN OFFIcE-BOY.
A Being of Transcendent Importance and
Unmitigated Gall

| Being of Transcendent Importance and
Unmitigatcd Gall.
Can it be that this pachyderm, this
staggering hobbedehoy, this pestilen-
tial, noisy nuisance. is the same boy
who, few months back, came into the
office sensitive, bashful, quiet and
unobstrusive creature? Yes, he is the
same in one sense, but in another he
is an entirely different parsonage.
In the early days of his sojourn
among us, he used to doff his hat ere
he entered the door; he never spoke
unless spoken to. and when he was ad-
dressed he blushed like the red, red
rose. and and answered with fear and
trembling, although he never forgot his
"Yes, sir" and his mo. sir" In a
word, he was all that an office-boy
should be.
But how is he nowp Quite the re-
verse. When he now comes in, it is
in a breezy, boisterous manner, with
his hat reposing jauntily on one ear,
and he would be whistling were it not
for the cigarette which parts his lips
and prevents their puckering. He is
affablity itself, and he greets all alike
with an easy. devil-may-care indiffer-
ence that is really charming He makes
no invidious distinction against the
man of mature years, but addresses
him with the same sang froid and
sprightliness that is accorded to those
of tender years.
His voice is seldom still. Indeed, it
is generally held that it goes on. like
Tennyson's brook, forever. 1t is never
dull where he is. He can Cat least. he
does) talk on any subject, and he never
waits for others to start topics for con-
versation. He inevitably takes the in-
itiative, and whatever subject he conde-
scends to treat, he approaches it with
an easy confidence that is most engag-
ing, and he is never foored by it, how
ever potential it may be in the opinion
of people who have been made cautious
by the weight of years.
And then his conversation is so inspir-
ing? 1t is made up of the most re-
cherche slang; it contains the very
latest echoes from the prize ring and
the base ball field. and it discovers a
familiarity with the esoteric life of the
atrical people which is wonderful in it's
comprehensiveness, as we'll as in its
freedom in the matter of detail.
He naturally looks down upon the
people in the office, although he tries
to hide his contempt-remember no
doubt, that if he shall be spared, he will
probably become as big fool as the av-
erage human being of mature years
and by his easy familiarity and touch
and-go affability he succeeds or ought
to succeed-in making everybody feel
comfortable and contented.
And then his personal relations are
so interesting! He covers up nothing.
but freely tells to all the story of his adj
ventures of the previous evening, to-
gether with full particulars in regard
to such engrossing matters as the num-
ber of cigarettes he has burned within
the last twenty-four hours, and the
quantity of tobacco he has masticated.
and he never fails to mention. with be-
coming pride. that glass of beer which
he tossed off last night, with manly
nohchalance, in some third-rate base
ment saloon. He is, in short, so frank
and ingenious that, but for the fact
that such thought were treason to his
abounding good nature, one might sus-
pect that he told these things merely
out of spirit of boastfulness. or with
a desire to instil envy in the hearts of
his auditors; but clearly this can not be.
1t is, on the contrary, from wish to
improve others and instruct them in
the ways of the gay world that he takes
so much pains to detail his achieve.
ments.
And this is all the more kind in him
because of the fact that the burden of
the affairs of the Office weigh upon him
with unfair heaviness, for it is known
to him, even though it be unsuspected
by the others, that without his intrusive
oversight nothing could 60 rightly, or
indeed go at all. But spite of the cares
which press upon him so weightily, he
still finds time to instruct and give
counsel to those who, being older than
he. have presumably forgotten all they
ever knew; admitting that they ever
did know any thing.
The office boy, as he now is. is, in
brief, rare blessing. and when one
reflects upon what he was, and sees
how he has developed, one can not be
too thankful for the privilege of as
sociating with a being of such tram
scendent Importance. The only fear
that presses upon the mind is that he
may be cut off in the flower of his
youth, or grow too big for his unmen-
tionables.
But he is daisy. Transcript.
There are 337 blast furnaces in
operation in the United States, produc-
ing 1859 tons per week, and 313
| idle with n xyeaklv oapaoitv of 100 0i9