Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-07

his hat. "You see, it's like this: 7 want
to get along in the world and l would
like to know what-well-I would like
some advice"
This was such an unusual request from
a modern American boy that it quite took
my breath away. Most of the BOYS who
come up to see don't want adyiee-they
want to kaow where to get cigarette pic
lures or tickets to some game.
locked at the boy who wanted advice.
He had fresh, honest face, and felt !
had no hesitation in setting him down as
good boy who would probably make his
way in the world.
swell, my boy" said seriously, "there
is one thing I'd advise you 10 quit. If
WIS you I'd stop getting drunk and rails
ing racket on the streets at midnight
and getting run in. That's my advice"
81 never touched a drop of liquor in
my ife," said the boy with so pair ed an
expression that I was sorry I had spoken
in this way to him.
Don't smoke, SUPPOSED"
''No, sir"
"Che y, snuff; anything of that kindf"
mo, sir"
'Read fash novelss"
mo, SIR"
"Swear?"
mo, sir"
Fight"
mo, SIR"
"Well," said, "that's all very IN tortun-
ate for me. If you have any vices ID
would help me out if you would tell me
what they are. If you committed burg
larry as a relaxation or saHdbagged a
friend occasionally it would make my
task as adviser much easier. As you don't
do any of these things I'll think over
the matter, and if you come up tomorrow
I'll perhaps see my way clearer than do
now"
The boy thanked me, although / knew
l did not deserve any thanks. Next day
he called again. In the interval had re-
membered the incident on Brooklyn
bridge. Now, the man had said excuse
me" and had been knocked down. "Well,
my boy" l began, "my advice is this:
Never make an excuse. There is prov
erb which says A poor excuse is better
than none That adage is as wrong as most
of them are. Even a good excuse is not
better than none. There are thousands of
people in this world, my boy, who are
magnificent architects of excuses. Some
of them manage to get along pretty well
building up imposing excuses and letting
others do their regular work, but they
never amount to much in the long run.
No one ever depends on man who is
good at excuses.
When 1 was in Chicago last summer the
city editor of one of the papers there
told me this story, which will show the
advantage of not having an excuse:
Some years ago a green looking fellow
= 49,
no one knew where and wanted a job.
The city editor told him, as he told hun
dreds of fellows before him, that there
was no vacancy at present-that is the
usual formula-but that if he came across
good bit of n ws it would be cheerfully
accepted and paid for.
Well the young man brought in what
stuff be could, and sop etimes an item or
two was used; but more often nothing was
available, and the fellow lived as best he
could and slept in sheds or in the park
and never grumtled. The editor began
to get tired of seeing his want stricken
face, and once or twice advise d him to go
home, but the young man said that per
haps a chance would come along bye
and-bye, and anyhow he was there to stay.
One night the city editor said TO him:
off you want q chance, there's beaati-
full one open for you to night. The street
car men are having meetings every night,
and we can't find out what they are up to.
They meet at the corner of - tn street
and - avenue"
"All right" said the young man.
"Have you any objection to my saying
I'm reporter of this paperw
"None in the least" said the editor with
grin. 81 may say, though, that Rsti-
gan, who tried to get last nights meeting,
is in the hospital to-day"
Seeing how much in earnest the young
man was the city editor added:
"The meeting is Shades regular assign
ment tonight, but l don't think he'll get
much except broken head perhaps.
Anyhow if you get anything at all it'll
help out. Here's couple of dollars to
meet any expenses you may bave."
Shortly after midnight the young man
appeared in the city editors room. He
looked as if he had been principal in a
prize fight.
"Well?'' said the city editor.
81 couldn't get in" remarked the young
man. "Has Mr.. Slade brought sHy-
thingf"
eyes, a first rate excuse like yours"
81 tried to pass the guards but they
flung me down stairs. That's how got
"Ghat's all right. l didn't expect you'd
get in"
81 bribed fellow for dollar to let me
in the back way. They found me out and
dropped me out of the window. That's
how got this" pointing to his closed
right eye.
swell, you mustn't feel discouraged"
81 felt little cast down when they
dropped me cut the wiz dow."
"That's not bad. You ought to apply
for position in the paragraph depart
ment."
81 climbed up to the roof on the rear
ire escape, got into the top story through
the trap door, went down to the room
above them by the stair and found that
the stove pipe cane up through the
1oor."
Yes" said the city editor with increas-
ing inter est.
They we're having such stormy time
below that / removed the stovepi pc with
put any one hearing and held the lower
plps from falling with my left hand"
Yes"
81 could move it aside and see all
wanted to and hear everything"
"Yes.'
"They have resolved to go on strike on
iii the lines at 9 tomorrow MOI ming and
are sworn TO secrecy"
'Great Scotrr cried the city editor,
jumping to his feet. "Write that up.
Tive US all you can of it."
at is written up. You see, the electric
light opposite made the room ligat
enough to write by and l had 10 stay there
Ind hoIo the stovepipe till evsry one was
zone and then fit it up again SO they