Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-15
MORE POLISH THAN MOSS.
HOW A "RoLLlNo STONE" con-
solgp HIMSELF FOR LOST TIME.
An Autobiography with . Small Moral.
hut Many Young Men viii Think ths
Penitent Did Well Enoush-"Misht
have i,een Manager" i'erhapsi
Especial correspoudence.i


Especial Correspondence
ST.. LOUIS, Feb Isl met here the
other day living illustration that roll.
ing stone gathers no moss. His story
ployers and the salaries paid to clerks,
and l believe will appeal to that large
and growing class Of young men who
are either earning their own living OF
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.
81 am "a years DID," said he. "In 1886
I was employed In an insurance Office in
this town, where I had then been for
two years, having started as boy on q
small salary. am graduate Of the
St. Louis university, and at that time
was good stenographor, running of
about 1870 words minute. ! also wrote
on the typewriter about eighty words q
minute, frequently taking letters from
dictation on the machine. was head
clerk in the office and my salary was
$15 month. But ] got dissatisfied
thought ought to be getting on faster
and kicked. told my employer that
something must be done. The fact is,
got the big head. Thought he couldn't
get along without me. 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.
II was away four months and travelled
all through the southwest. Then was
recalled. My work was of 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 I had thrown up a good
thing for an uncertainty. Well, hadn't
been back three days before heard that
large wholesale house wanted a stem
ographer. went down and saw one of
the firm. He was a perfect Chesterfield.
Shook hands, was glad to see me, said
he knew l 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 l
would be sure to hear from them. Then
l went home and held down chairs for a
few days until l got letter. was en-
gagged. Salary S75 a month. was
as happy as clam at high tide. The
next morning ! showed up bright and
early and worked like horse all day
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 l
resented it, l told him politely that
was willing to do anything 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 @ o'clock,
when was told that the work was little
behind and it would be necessary for me
to put in few nights. l 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 Iraved. There were lot
of clerks there, and some of them told me
afterward they never saw such nerve as
displayed. They themselves had been
under subjection for some time, and of
course were scared TO death.
1.-The reason given for my discharge
was that my services were not satisfac-
tory, but that didn't go down with me-
1t was a week, however, before l found
out what was the matter. Then learned
that my predecessor was a girl who had
been paid S35 month. The man saw
decided to engage me at SIS, not waiting
for his partner TO return from Chicago.
Saturday his partner got back, and when
he heard the news there was 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 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.
"He was tall man with flowing side
whiskers, and would have graced any
drawing room. Young man. said he
there's great future for you in this
business. We not only want a man tc
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 have no doubt OF
! your rability-a fortune awaits you. Aftel
you have been here some little time
shall ask you to wait on few customers
That, sir. will be the beginning. Event
ually you will be given a commission
and have no doubt that you will make
a complete success
81 was entranced. The long flowing
~hiskers of my amiable employer fioateC
through my brain all night. The mex
morning appeared on the scene and pu
in my best licks for the rest of the week
My salary was to have been S75 a month
but was told that it would be increased
to $50 week.
"After my last experience all thi
seemed like dream. | stayed in my
new place for six weeks. Then one Sat
urday night got a note saying that IN,
services would be required no longer
was ,hunderstruck. / fastened to IN,
employer. He curtly informed me tha
was not satisfactory. That was all tn
satisfaction | could get from him.
found out the next week that he had
brother-in.law That was the reason
was dished. You can bet / was dis
| I haJ u,vad nm littIn rpppa