New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-10
WV FIELD OF INDUSTRY.

Mr. G p Huntington, in an article in Inc
Tribune n few weeks ago. expressed the opinion
tbot q vounr man with 81 1000 could not do Deb
tor than 70 90 10 interior Africa and invest IL In
India rubber II is not Mr. IIuntngton's fault
that subsequent events have shown that TINS IS
NOT the exact truth. At the time he wrote II
WAS doubtless So but we are sure one would adj
NIT tbc error to-day more readily than he. FOR
how mich better it. would he for the young man
with $40 900 TO get himself made godfather OF the
right baby. and then chuck the little prattcr I'M
der the chin and stuff the whole roll into his
chubbv hands. Mr. Huntington simply spoke
too
The most promising undcveoped industry In
this country to-day must certainly be set down rs
that Of godfathcring. Say what you VIII, put
there are drawbacks TO the African rubber bnsl-
ness The natives do not speak English, ana are
negligent in the matter of clothes. Predatory ele-
phanfs put their trunks in the dining room WIN
dows and drink up the tomatO-ketchup. Tigers
FIGHT on the back fcncc through the long night.
The practical godfather meets none of these dis
couragng features. Perhaps no one thing better
illustrates the fact that great chances for advance
mcnt lie close around us than the recent develop
rncnts in godfathcring. Men have been godfatheTs
time out of mind. and never made n cent out OF 1t.
Indeed they have usually come ont behind. 1t
remained for one bold, adventurous mind to show
the possibilities Of the industry. There has been
too much Of this tootsy-wootSy,' rattleboN-and-
tecthing-rng business about il in the past. (ou
cannot expect returns which will amount 10 any
thing from n blue tin horse with red tail. You
may punch Your godchd in the ribs and bob
him ND and down on your knee all you want 10,
but it will not bring YOU material advancement
II may possibly on rare occasions bring you Offices
NJ trust but never what the patriotic citizen
really wants-oGces Of cmolumcnt How mary
yodfathcrs must sigh to-day they think how
they frttcrcd away their chances.
Only last fall an account Was published con-
ccrring Mr. !. II Thornton. ~ PoughkccpSic. He
vas godfather ~ promising infant two years
Of age He called on the youn2ster one sun
dav. and as the little ono sa' on his mothers
kno, Thornton took seat in low chair before
him and weakly tried TO amu>e him. Among
other things tho unfortunate godfather put
down his head and advanced 1t toward the childS
stomach. with a circular. horns motion. making
some foolish remark IN baby talk ' As be did
30. The pugnacious infant cHnchcd his hands
into his coIfatlcr's hair and pullcd out Two
large handouts Thornton got 10 Lurriciy ma.
INK much more practical remarks, and among
rhcr thinr, SAID that the child was q brat
His mother BEGAN 20 cry. and called the unhappy
Godfather n thing Her husband, the proud
father Of the playful infant. came in and struck
Mr. J. II. Thornton heavily. knocking him out
through tie bay-window backward. after which
be- threw his Lat ont into The yard with him.
first Jumping 0n It with his feet Now. how
easy n would have been 10 avoid an this trouble
and tie DAMAGE e. the ho,-window If Godfather
Thornton had only given the h,hv rubber doll