Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-23

MS muSJacl6.
81 judge that you have got into some
difficulty, Mr.. Prime. If so, am sorry
to hear it. Be frank with me. and as
your fathers friend will do what can
for you, but as lawyer must ask you
to conceal nothing" So saying, Mr..
Chelm made move as il TO close the
door.
"Pray, do not trouble yourself, sir.
Ny story is already known TO so many
people that privacy is immaterlal. Let
me, instead, ask permission to light
cigarette-that is, II you do not object
to smoking, and are sufficiently at leis-
ure to hear me to the end"
Certainly. Make it a cigar and l will
join you, and pray try one OF these II
you will, for my time is quite at your
disposal" answered Mr.. Chelm, who, it
was evident to me, was amused and puz-
zled by his visitor.
Thank you" He seated himself
comfortably in his chair, and after a
preliminary puff said: 81 am no ordi-
nary felon. l am even not, strictly
speaking, amenabIe to the laws. / am,
however, as have told you already, a
sham. The world believes me TO be a
young fellow of fortune. whose only
concern is with the cut Of his coat and
the style of his mistress. The world for
once is in error. | am nothing OF the
sort. Appearances are against me, l
admit. Even you, fancy, were deceived.
No, my dear sir, while every one judges
me to be mere butterfly of fashion, l
am an idealiSt at heart and the worst OF
IL is that no one will believe me. All
that want Is chance, an opportunity
To prove I am that which | claim; but
nobody will give it to me. III | venture
to suggest that | am in earnest the
statement eXcites sneerS or ridlcule.
For nearly two years / have been trying
TO find something to do and without
success. / have exhausted my own
city and have now come to yours.
Your name was familiar 10 me as one
which my father respected and it oc-
CURED to me to tell you my story.
am quite prepared to be informed that
there are a thousand applicants for
very vacancy and that such case as
mine is not especially deserving. In
ono sense of the word you would
be right. There are others VINO
suffer more accutely than L,
but few who suffer more unjustly, and
the whole cause Is to be found in a sim
gle phrase-I am gentleman"
"You are indeed 10 be pitied," SAID
Mr.. Chelm. With gu amused laugh.
"And what Is more, it is notmy fanlt.
am not responsible for it; | was born
so. My case is precisely opposite to
that OF most of my contemporaries.
They find it easy enough 10 get occupa-
zion, but very difficult 10 be gentlemen.
l know how TO behave like gentleman,
but can find nothing to do. Gentlemen
are evolved, not made. Would toheaven
I had beel consulted on the subject!
But awoke one day and found myself
what | am. Let me rehearSe to You
briefly my qualifications. was semitic
school abroad, and was graduated from
college at home. speak fluently three
modern languages besides my own, and
have bowling acquaintance with two
dead ones. / have read widely enough
in history, political economy, literature.
science aud music 10 be superficial. |
can write verses, play on the piano and
flute, fence, firt ard lead the cotilion.
All this the public seem TO recognize and
give me credit for; but when | ask them
TO take me seriously, as they would the
veriest begger in the street, the trivol-
Gus look incredulous and giggle, and the
practical frown and point me TO the
DOOR And why? Simply-and this
will, it may be, anticipate your criti-
ciSm-simplY because wear well fitting
clothes, address lady with gallantry,
and change my coat for dinner. Let me
add at once, if you have no assistance to
offer as to how / shall find employment
except TO go from Office to Office with
long face and baggy trousers, | must re-
spectfully decline TO take the step. 1t has
become Il matter of pride with me; |
draw the line there. Call it volatile,
foolish, obstinate, what you will pro-
pose TO be a gentleman to the last. |
will starve with a smile on my face and
a flawless coat on my back, though it
be my only one. AS l have said, gen
tlemen are evolved, not made; and we
owe it To our sons TO keep up the stand
ard OF the race. They will not even
allow, sir, that am an American. |
am received with scorn and denied my
birthright, not only by those to whom
l apply for work, but by the Arabs OF
the streets and the public press. |
am not complaining; I am merely stat
ing 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
TERROR, who showed his teeth and
growled affectionately. "Now, Mr.
Chelm, you have my story. l am in
earnest. Will you help me?"
81 can understand your difficulties to
some extent, Mr.. Prime, and am not al
together without sympathy for you,
began the lawyer gravely, after a short
reflection. THE times are hard for
everybody undeniably, and especially
for young men in your position. 1t is
comparatively easy matter TO draw a
cheque to alleviate distress, but find
ing work for anybody to-day is next to
impossible. However, as one can never
tell what may turn up, let me ask you
blunt question. What are you fit for?
What can you do?"
Here, again, sir, the world would tell
you that l was fit for nothing except to
play the Lutte beneath ladys 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
it is well to aspire high, genuine
merchant prince, however, and not the
counterfeit article who accumulateS mil
lions for his children to SQuander. l
have views upon this subject. | am an
idealst, 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 l
have resolved to win back before l die