Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-07-01

brated champion of evil doors, Mr..
Blackleaf, came to his office he found
mild-countenanced young man wait
ing for him with letter in his hand.
''Ah, he said, when he had read it
through, you want to study law, do
you? Well, if you come to me for adj
vice-and l don't know what else Dr.
Blood could have sent you fOr-I can
give it in short order: Let this profess
sion alone. There is nothing in it.
Good day; you see, there are quite
number of people waiting to speak to
me. Call again some other time, Mr.
album"
"Thank you," said Simon.
1t began to be evident to Simon that
the task of getting started in life was
serious and difficult undertaking. 1t
was likely to consume a somewhat
longer time than he had supposed, and
larger sum than 81 900. This was al
ready beginning to disappear, for, hav-
ing come of poor but extravagant
parents, Simon did not understand the
art of economy.
81 can see," said Simon, "that it is
quite easy for man to make danger
Gus mistake in his choice of a life pur-
suit. Suppose | had undertaken to be-
come a teacher, or had tried to get into
business house, or had studied law or
medicine? 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 position of
superfuous man, and might have
starved to death. | will 90 slow, lest l
fall into errors similar to these / have
escaped"
He then proceeded to go slow-so
60 Of Of
months slipped by and several hundred
dollars were spent, without any results
whatever.
One day as he was coming away from
the Office of a court reporter, where he
had just learned that it would be foolish
for him to study stenOgraphy, as the
profession was swamped by the numbers
that were f1ocking into it, he met his
Cousin Felix, man who had travelled
much and who understood we'll the
ways of men.
~ have heard of your difficulty"
said he to Simon, "and | have 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 superhuous. 1t is al
country that have been longest settled.
Why don't you go West? There is plenty
of work for everybody in growing cities,
like Chicago or st. Paul. You have rel
atives and friends there who will help
you to get in"
YES said Simon: st 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 Odyssey by themselves. The Chica-
go uncle-by-marriage who had made
little in wheat, declared that he had
seen experienced men walking the
streets month after month in search of
every vacancy there had several hum
dred applicants. He recommended Da-
kota and gave Simon a letter to a man in
Fargo. The latter was not to be found,
and Simon, after vain effort to get
Sin, ;" started for st. Louis- On bis way
he met traveltng-man, who assured
him that that city was "dead," and adj
vised him by all means to go to Alabama
or Tennessee. There was great demand
there for active, intelligent young men.
He gave Simon several letters to mer-
chants in Chattanooga.
day or two later, Simon presented
one of these letters.
"Dear me-" said the recipient; "do
you know that you are the fortieth man
who has applied to me for work in the
last two days? Why don't you go to
Texas ?"
At Ell Paso it 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 progress on the Pacific
coast, and he hurriedly set out in that
direction.
While these events were taking place,
months were passing and money steadi
~ going out. He still had, as he sup
posed, about 500 remaining. But soon
after he arrived at 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 him
self, almost breathlessly, 81 must find
something to dol really must
Necessity makes heroes out of some
Simon went out to look for work that
morning his knees trembled under
him, there was cold weight in his
stomach, and when he spoke it was
with weak, quavering voice.
The advertisements in the news
papers told of places, but for every one
there were fifty applicants. When men
asked about his experience" and
learned that he knew nothing of any
kind of business, they seemed to won
der at his audacity in asking for work.
Late in the afternooni it happened that
he fell in with a man whom he had
seen among the applicants for certain
place.
Say, I got that place, y said the man,
st 90 to work tomorrow
"Do you?" sad Simon.
eyes. Are you fixed yet?"
"No."
"Well, I know what it's like to be out
of job, and I'll just give you pointer.
| know Of a place you can get, if yougo
after it Immediately. No experience is
needed. All they want is a man who is
honest and intelligent, and any one can
see you are both of those. could have