Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-01

In each case would have found myself in
a line of work where there was really no
| place for me; | would have been In the po-
sition of superAuous man, and might
| have starved to death. | will go slow,
lest fall into other errors similar to those
| have escaped"
| He then proceeded to go slow-so very
| slow, in fact, that number of months
slipped by and several hundred dollars
were spent, without any results what
ever.
One day when he was coming away from
the office of court reporter, where he had
just learned that it would be foolish for
him to study stenography, as the profes-
sion was swamped by the numbers that
were hocking into it, he met his cousin
Felix, man who had travelled much and
who understood we'll the ways of men.
Il have heard of your difficulty, said
| he to Simon, land | have a solution to
suggest. You have been trying for some
time to get IN here, but find every avenue
closed. The trouble is that there are too
many people in this city for the amount of
| work to be done. Your services are super
huous. It is always that way in the Sec
tions of the country that have been longest
settled. Why don't you go west? There
is plenty of work for everybody in grow
ing cities like Chicago or st. Paul. You
have relatives and friends there who will
help you to get In. ;"
Yes" said Simon; 81 must get in
somewhere. I'll try it in the west.
Thus began the wanderings of Simon
Howard, which, if there were space here
for an extended epic, would form an Odys-
sey by themselves. The Chicago uncle
by-marriage, who had made little In
wheat, declared that he had seen dozens of
experienced men walking the streets
month after month in search of job. The
Minneapolis cousin said that every vacancy
there had several hundred applicants. He
recommended Dakota and gave Simon a
letter to man in Fargo. The latter was
not to be found, and Simon, after a vain
effort to get sin, started for St. Louis.
On his way he met travelling man, who
assured him that that city was dead"
and advised him 10y all means to go to
Alabama or Tennessee. There was great
demand there for active, intelligent young
men. He gave Simon several letters to
merchants in Chattanooga.
A day or two later Simon presented one
of these letters.
Dear me-" said the recipient; do
you know you are the fortieth man who
has applied to me for. work in the last two
days? Why don t you 60 to TeXas?'
At Ell Paso 1t was suggested to him that
he should try the new country In Indian
Territory, and, after failing there. he
went to Denver. Here, for the first time,
he learned that great things were in pro-
gross on the Pacific coast, and he hurried
ly set out in that direction.
While these events were taking place
months were passing and money steadily
going out. He still had, as he supposed,
about 500 remaining. But soon after he
arrived at a southern California city he
received letter from his bankers that
made him very pale.
He had miscalculated, it seems, either
in addition or subtraction (Simon was
always bad in Mathematics, and the
money was all spent.
Now you see said Simon to himself,
almost breathiessly, 81 must find some
thing to dol really must"
Necessity makes heroes out of some and
towards out of others. When Simon
went out to look for work that morning
his knees trembled under him; there was a
cold weight in his stomach, and when he
spoke it was with a weak, quavering
voice.
The advertisements in the newspapers
told of places, but for every one there was
fifty applicants When man asked him
about his Experience and learned that
he knew nothing of any kind of business,
they seemed to wonder at his audacity in
asking for work
Late in the afternoon it happened that
he fell In with a man whom he had seen
among the applicants for d certain place
Say, | got that place, said the man;
81 60 to work tomorrow"
DO you?" said Simon.
Yes. Are you fixed yet?''
No"
"Well, | know what It is like to be out
of job, and I'll just give you a pointer
| know of a place you can get, if you go
after it Immediately. No experience is
needed. All they want is man who is
honest and intelligent, and any one can
see you are both of these. | could have
taken it. but the pay ism much-only ten
a week.
The man then gave him the address.
and added: Il was there about five min
utes ago, and they had no one. You may
get it sure.
'At last" muttered Simon, with
gasp.
1t was only 4 few blocks distant He
ran most of the way.
AS he opened the door young man
came out.
Are you looking for this job?" said he
to Simon, with grin; ''well, just got it.
See?"
Sin on went slowly down the steps into
the street. 1t seemed to have grown quite
dark all at once, a4d he could no longer
hear the noise of the wheels upon the
stone pavement. He walked straight
along. his head down and his senses dead.
Look out there!" some one yelled.
There was something of an uproar and
crowd gathered in an instant.
Lift him up" said one man; she
isn't killed"
isn't he, thought" said another; do
you expect man to come out of a mash
ing like that alive?,
They carried him into a drug store and
laid him upon the floor. A physician
came through the crowd, ordering them
to stand back. He looked at Simon and
puckered his lips.
You had better ask him his name"
SAIL one of the bystanders.
What's your name?" asked the physi-
clan.
Simon moved his head little, but did
not answer. He was frightened and con-
fused, and could not think.
ASK him where he works, said an
In II