San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-14

spectfully decline to take the step. 1t has
become a matter of pride with me: draw
the line there Call it volatile. foolish,
obstinate, what you will propose to
be gentleman To the last. | will sCarve
with a smile on my face and hawless
coat on my back, though it be my only
one. As | have said, gentlemen are
evolved, not made: and we owe it to our
sons 70 keep up the standard of the race.
They will uO5 even allow. sir. that | am
an American. am received with scorn
and denied my birthright, not only by
those to whom apply for work, but by
the Arabs Of the street and the public
press. | am not complaining: am
merely stating the facts of the case.
They even cast Ike in my teeth-Ike the
imperious, beautifully ugly Ike" he
added, stopping down to pat the bull
terrier, who showed his teeth and
growled atfectionately. Now. Mr..
Chelm, you have my story | am in
earnest. Will you nelp me-"
Il can understand your difficulties to
some extent, Mr., Prime, and an not al
together without sympathy for YOU" be-
gan the lawyer graveiy, after short re-
Election. The times are hard for every
body undeniably, and especially for
Young men in your position 1t is y
comparatively easy matter to draw d
cheque to alleviate distress. but finding
work for anybody today is next to i'm
possible. However, as oae ca never
tell what may turn up, let me ask you a
b!ant question. What are you tit for'
What can You do"
Here, again, sir, the world would tell
you that | was fit for nothing except to
play the lutte beneath lady's window.
But if you will believe me, am not
without business knowledge. Gentle
man as am. have long cherished an
ambition to become merchant prince
lit is we'll to aspire high), genuine
merchant prince, however. and not the
counterfeit article who accumulates mil
lions for his children to squander. |
have views upon the subject. | am an
idealist, as have told you, and there
was time when thought my father
very rich. and that should be able to
carry out my theories. Since then T
have resolved to win back before die
the fortune he lost, and with view to
that devote several hours each day Gf,
this should be breathed abroad my repu-
tation for consummate emptiness might
suffer- to the study of exports and i'm
ports, markets and exchanges, and all.
that relates to commercial affairs, You
asked me what am fit. for, Mr.. CheInl.
Ny father was a banker. should like
to follow i'll his footsteps. But suppl
cants cannot be choosers. Procure me a
clerliship in any line of business, and
shall try to prove myself worthy of your
patronage"
"Humph! wish | could help you,
with all my heart. But, frankly, |
know of nothing at the moment. Bank
ers are discharging their clerks, not en-
gaging new ones. will make inquiries,
however, and see if it is possible to do
anything for you. You have applied to
all your friends in New York. you say.
without avail?'
Entirely. The few who have any
faith in my professions are powerless to
give me employment"
Let me see. Today is Wednesday.
Can you call again on Saturday, Mr..
Prime? Mind, promise nothing. In
fact, have every reason to believe that
shall be unsuccessful"
The appointment thus made was due
to my touching the electric bell in my
office-a signal agreed upon as an indi-
cation of my desire to assist any appli-
cant for aid. Accordingly, when | en-
tered Mr.. Chelms room after his visitor
was gone, was greeted with a banter
ing smile.
How now, my fair philanthropist!
What scheme have you to relieve the
plight of this knight errant?"
I'm the first place" said, "who is he?
Do you believe his story? What sort of
a person was his father"
Three questions in one breath! The
last is the easiest to answer. This young
mans father was one of the wealthiest
bankers in New York fifteen years ago.
[ knew him well-a man who was the
very soul of honor, shrewd and liberal
in his business notions, and in his bear
ing the pattern OF finished gentleman
one of your genuine aristocrats, and,
like his sou, bit of dandy. He came
to grief, as so many of us do, through
misplaced confidence. Certain parties
whom he trusted implicitly made wreck
of his entire fortune. 1t was said at the
time that he might have saved large
portion of it had he been willing to take
advantage of legal technicality as
against his creditors. But as his son
said, he preferred to remain honest, He
died not many years ago, and left this
boy very little, fancy, but an unfair
,:aLoJ ,,o,,,o ne tho CON | l-,,oyJ, 20. Wv