St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-04-01
Especial Chicago Letter.1

Practical Kind.
Especial Chicago Letter1
Although not q teller Of romantic
tales, by either profession or inclination,
am tempted to-day to relate an episode
in the life of . personal friend which
may take the place of q dry statistical
essay to the satisfaction of most OF my
readers. The :1ory has the merit Of be-
ing founded on the experience of gem
tleman favorably known in the finan-
cial world of Chicago; q man, in short,
who occupies a position in lie equal in
importance to that of the president Of
. large railroad company.
In the spring of 1877 this gentleman
had just entered busincs life in the ca
pacity of crrand boy to q private bank
ing firm In q 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, q general favorite and the main
support of widowed mother who had
spent most Of her small capital to give
the boy fair education.
In the early winter of the same year
the town in which this comedy drama
opens experienced . "boom." For
several decades IL had been dependent
on one railroad company, and when tho
directors of another trunk line re-
solved to extend their road the citizens
made . supreme effort to secure the
benefit Of 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 q 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
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 .
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 bloatcd capitalist did not even
acknowledge the young fellows gal
lantry, but continued his drive uncon-
cernedly. II either of these conclusions
were correct, I would not be justified in
relating this story, rs scores of writers
of fiction have used such plots time and
again. am merely chronicling events
Is they actually happened. and if they
SAVIOR somewhat Of the proverbial in
the beginning am not TO blame.
The truth of the matter is, the capi-
talist returned his thanks in 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 mp his
mind to spend the remainder Of his life
In his native town, rs the directors held
out o promise that he would be ap-
pointed cashier a soon a. arrangements
could be perfected
After living for ten or twelve years In
. country town the average human BE-
ing is satisfied with his lot George had
never made his homo IN q large city.
He had paid short visits TO Chicago and
New York. where he found himself .
stranger among millions Of fellow crea-
lures. He always returned to his home
with q feeling akin to ecstasy. There
he was one of the leading young men.
His opinions were received with re-
spect- Society. such as II was, courted
him. business men predicted grand
futCre for him.
Nothing equals q small town for
downright clannishnes& Woe to the
stranger who dares breathe . word