The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-07-17

Iary Noble, seems 20 be especially
adapted to the duties of his position. He
has suave, polished manner, keen in
sight into character, wide acquaintance
and tireless devotion to duty. as well as
loyalty and fidelity in marked degree.
have known him for long time out
never spent much time in his room I'M
til to-day, when his work appeared as a
revelation to me. Probably very few
persons in this city realize the amount
and character of intelligent endeavor
which is daily put forth by this private
secretary. He receives each caller po-
litely, gently, ascertains the name, resi-
dence and object of each individual and
disposes of them all with Abe ability OF
born diplomat. Itmatters not whether
the caller be the greatest man in his
township or veritable crank from an
asylum, Mr.. Ryan satisfies and pleases
them all. Probably the secretary OF
the interior himself does not realize
what amount of work is done in the
room adjoining his own nor how many
annoy ances are kept from him by his
able assistant. Mr.. Ryan is very popu.
lar with the newspaper men of this
city. Fifteen years ago he was a bright,
chubby, handsome boy and employed as
stenographer by various correspondents
on newspaper row. His first great effort
as shorthand reporter was in 1876,
when he accompanied Mr.. q. L. White
to st, Louis and reported for the New
York Tribune the proceedings of the
| conyeation which nominated Mr.. Tilden
for the presidency. Subsequently he
worked for Maj. John NJ. Carson, of the
Philadelphia Ledger; Mr.. Dunnell, Of
the New York Times; Mr.. Wight, OF
the Chicago Inter Ocean, and other lead
ing papers. Maj Carson to-day said:
Zone of the most faithful, reliable
young men have ever known was lit
tie Billy Ryan. He was an orphan boy,
born in the district of Columbia, who
taught himself shorthand and by his
own efforts supported his widowed
mother and sisters. He was very in
| dustrious, always sober and an unusual
ly steady, manly little fellow for his
years. We all became interested in
him, and, realizing the struggle which
he was making for the benefit of his
| family, rather than for himself, couple
of correspondents united with me and
requested his appointment in the in
terror department. Hon. Carl Schurz, at
that time secretary of the interior, ap
pointed Ryan to Il clcrkship in the pen
sion office under Col Dudley, and he
passed through every grade in the civil
service by regular promotion for merit
until he reached the important position
which he now occupies, by designation
of Secretary Noble in 1889. He deserves
because he has earned, success"
AS a local reporter in this city young
Ryan made the acquaintance of pubic
men by assignments to interview them.
| Clarence Barton, now of Olympia,
Wash, was managing editor of the
| National Republican of this city, and
he always called on Ryan to secure in.
| terviews because they were invariably
verbatim and absolutely reliable. BY
the way, that is the most important
work to be done by newspaper men in
| this city-interviewing statesmen and
reporting them accurately. The &C.
| QUESTION of acquaintanceS was cor.
relative to the making of friends by
the young stenographer, for he retains
until this day tue warm friendship OF
leading men of both political parties.
He knows every member, ex-membe1
and member-esct of both houses OF
congress of the present day, and is ia.
miliar with the peculiaritics and fads
of nearly all OF them. AS the guardian
of the door of the secretary he knows
whom to welcome, to whom the door il.
open and for whom it is never open.
The public duties of the private sec.
retary-that Is, those which are visible
to the general public-constitute but a
portion of the labors of this worthy
young man. He takes from dictation
all of the important correspondence OF
the secretary and prepares all letters
for his signature, seals and mails them,
and also prepares answers to hundreds
of letters which the secretary never is
obliged to even see or hear of, although
they are addressed to him. 1t would be
physically impossible for the secretary
to personally read all letters addressed
to him. The career of this young mar
might well be emulated by young men
everywhere. Poverty, orphanage and
other discouragcments can be overcome
by honesty and industry.
SMITH D. FRY.