The Portland daily press., 1893-05-10
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
How One Young Man Was Helped
to Find It.
An ACT Of Courage Which Found Its Re-
ward-st0ry Without a Love Romance
philanthropy of the Eminently
Practical Kind.
Especial Chicago letter.

|. Although not teller OF romantic
tales, by either profession or inclination,
I am tempted to-day to relate an episode
in the life of personal friend which
may take the place of dry statistical
essay to the satisfaction of most of my
readers. The story has the merit of be-
ing founded on the experience of gem
tleman favorably known In the fnan-
cial world of Chicago; man, in short,
who occupies position in life equal in
Importance to thai of the president of
large railroad company.
In the spring of 1877 this gentleman
had just entered bushes life in the ca
pacity of errand boy to private bank
ing firm in a small city in Iowa. His
duties consisted mainly in sweeping
and busting the Office, copying letters
and running errands for his employers
and those of the clerks who had best
girl living in the village.
George-and this is the true name of
the hero of my tale-performed the
work assigned to him to the best of his
ability, and in the course of six or
seven months was promoted to be as
sistant bookkeeper. He was then eight
cen years of age, bright, accommodate
ing, general favorite and the main
support OF a widowed. mother who had
spent most of her small capital to give
the boy a fair education.
In the early winter Of the same year
the town in which this comedy drama
opens experienced 'sboom." For
several decades it had been dependent
on one railroad company, and when the
directors of another trunk line re-
solved to extend their road the citizens
benefit of a competing line. The com.
pany demanded subsidy, and in order
to push its interests sent its president
to the town. This official arrived amid
blowing of trumpets, and with him
came a pretty little girl, his daughter
While driving one evening the horses
attached to the carriage containing the
railroad magnate and his child became
frightened and ran away. Escape from
serious injury seemed impossible-and
would have been impossible, had not
young George, at the risk of his life,
stopped the maddened animals at the
brink of high embankment.
Those who have been addicted to the
reading Of love stories will now rise and
remark that the young man earned the
everlasting gratitude of the railroad
man, that he was forthwith given a
lucrative position and in the course OF
time became the husband of the charm,
ing little girl. Others, of more mis-
anthropic turn of mind, will observe
that the bloated capitalist did not even
acknowledge the young fellows gal
lantry, but continued his drive uncon-
cernedly. If either of these conclusions
were correct, would not be justified in
relating this story, as scores of writers
of fiction have used such plots time and
again. am merely chronicling events
as they actually happened, and if they
SAVIOR somewhat of the proverbial in
the beginning I am not to blame.
The truth of the matter is, the CAPT.
talist returned his thanks in a few we'll
chosen words and there the matter
seemed to end. The young fellow pur-
sued the even tenor of his way and in
the course of time became teller Of the
country bank. He had made up his
mind to spend the remainder of his life
in his native town, as the directors held
out a promise that he would be ap-
pointed cashier as soon as arrangements
could be perfected.
After living for ten or twelve years in
q country town the average human be-
Ing is satisfied with his lot George had
never made his home in large city.
He had paid short visits to Chicago and
New York, where he found himself a
stranger among millions of fellow crea-
lures He always returned to his home
with feeling akin to ecstasy. There
he was one Of the leading young men.
His opinions were received with re-
spect. Society, such as it was, courted
him. Business men predicted grand
future for him.
Nothing equals small town for
downright clannishness. Woe to the
stranger who dares breathe a word
against the western community which
is growing in numbers and prosperity.
His social status is forever blighted,
City people have no adequate conception
of the local pride existing in such mu-
inequalities, and are inclined to laugh at
their pretentious claims, forgetting or
never thinking OF the fact that it was
this spirit which built up prosperous
towns In regions sparsely settled and
made the west the controlling section
OF our country.
In 1885 George was appointed cashier
of his bank, but before he entered upon
the duties of the Office was astonished
by receiving a letter from a Philadel-
phia banking house offering him posi-
ton at a salary which made his head
swim Eighteen hundred dollars is con-
sidered a princely income in a western
town of 5000 or 5000 people; hence
when the young man was confronted
with request to exchange his services
Tor 1900 per annum he was thrown
into delirium of Joy. OF course he nc
cepted the post, and departed for Phil
adelphia as soon as possible.
He found his new duties to be ardu-
GUS az well as responsible, tsut never
failed to make himself useful. After