Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-02-21

Penitent Did Well Enough-"NIight
Have Been Manager" Perhapsi
Especial Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Feb 81 met here the
other day living illustration that roll
ing stone gathers no moss. His story
throws light on the methods of en-
ployers and the salaries paid to clerks,
and | believe will appeal to that large
and growing class of young men who
are either earning their own living or
about to start out for themselves, warn
ing them, perhaps, to let well enough
alone. | give the story in the young
mans own words as nearly as | can re-
member them.
Il am "a years old" said he. Sin 1886
| was employed in an insurance office in
this town, where / had then been for
two years. having started as a boy on a
small salary. | am a graduate of the
st. Louis university, and at that time
was a good stenographer, running off
about 100 words a minute. also wrote
on the typewriter about eighty words
minute, frequently taking letters from
dictation on the machine. | was head
clerk in the Office and my salary was
S75 month. But l got dissatisfied
thought | ought to be getting on faster
and | kicked. l told my employer that
something must he done. The fact is.
got the big head. thought he couldn't
get along without loe. Just about this
time | got an offer from another office to
travel, and that settled it. | left my
place and went out on the road.
81 was away four months and Travelled
all through the southwest. Then | was
recalled Ny work was of a special nat
ure and required no extraordinary abil-
ity. When it was finished of course
there was nothing more for me to do but
to leave. This didn't occur to me when
l left my former place, and / began to
realize that | had thrown up "a good
thing for an uncertainty. Well, | hadn't
been back three days before heard that
a large wholesale house wanted a stem
ographer. | went down and saw one of
the firm. He was perfect Chesterfield.
Shook hands, was glad to see me. said
he knew | was just the man they had
been looking for, but his partner was
away in Chicago and, of course he
wouldn't like to engage me positively
until that individual got back. But
would be sure to hear from them. Then
| went home and held down chairs for a
few days until | got a letter. was en-
gagged. Salary SIS month. | was
as happy as a clam at high tide. The
next morning l showed up bright and
early and worked like a horse all dav
taking notes.
"Everything was lovely in the morn
ing, but in the afternoon a cloud APP
peared on my horizon. The manager,
who had been so pleasant when he saw
me first, began to curse me. OF course /
resented it. l told him politely that
was willing to do anything l was told to
do, but didn't propose to be sworn at by
any man. He quieted down after this,
and things went along until 6 o'clock,
when was told that the work was little
behind and it would be necessary for me
to put in a few nights. | said | was per-
fectly willing, went out, paid for my own
supper and came back and worked until
midnight. For three days and nights /
kept this up. | never worked so hard in
my life. Well, sir, will you believe me,
when Saturday came the manager called
me into his office and said they would not
require my services any longer. Maybe
/ didn't boil. raved. There were a lot
of clerks there, and some of them told me
afterward they never saw such nerve as
| displayed. They themselves had been
under subsection for some time, and of
! course were scared to death.
The reason given for my discharge
was that my services were not satisfac-
tory, but that didn't 90 down with me.
1t was a week, however before | found
out what was the matter. Then learned
that my predecessor was girl who had
been paid S35 month. The man | saw
decided to engage me at S75, not waiting
for his partner to return from Chicago.
Saturday his partner got back, and when
he heard the news there was a cyclone.
AS he ruled the place of course | was
fired.
"Then loafed for spell. Laid around
home and waited for developments.
Looked through the advertising columns
of the papers every day for about two
months One day saw that a large car
riage house wanted "A stenographer. My
application was answered, and appeared
one morning to be tested. My future
employer, after he had dictated some
few minutes, expressed himself delight
ed with me.
''IIe was tall man with flowing side
whiskers, and would have graced any
drawing room. Young man. said lie,
there's great future for you in this
business. We not only want a man to
write shorthand, but we shall expect you,
sir, to acquire the details of the business;
to become familiar with the various kinds
of vehicles, sir, and to know their prices.
Young man, | have no hesitation in say
ing to you that if you succeed in master
ing this business-and l have no doubt of
your ability-a fortune awaits you. After
you have been here some little time /
shall ask you to wait on few customers.
That, sir, will be the beginning. Event
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