Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-30
REAL DETECTIVES.
T;icy Arc Not the Kind Described In
Thrilling Fiction.


"If man isrut oct for detective work."
says ex-Chicf of Police Byrues of New
York, 1.-THE fact will manifest itself at an
early age. don't mean that every young
FELLOW who soaks his mind In so called
detective literature is lroordained de-
tUctivo. Quite the reverse.
AS TO practical way by which to start
upon a detective career nm somewhat In
doubt. Perhaps the real truth is that there
j; ne raral road l myself began as an
ordinary pollen patrciman on Dee. 10, 1865,
but it Is n question whether routine patrol
work has its advantages. IL one sInsc It
Is q ,loir!mcrt, in another benefit. Tno
Gicn N uniform has little chance Of get
ting to know oriminals--a particularly
useful possession for the detective. His
brass buttons are Il warning sign, and all
II, thieves, hGneo men ana tho like give
BIN a wide Ecrih. On the ether hand, the
patralIGan : lilo giycsa young man habits
II discipline and obedience. Then, too
lucky cfai.Co lay give p2troi!nan the
opportunity Of showing certain talents
which will win Lin q place on the regular
detective fierce. During NY incUmbency
Of IT,. detective force chiCiship it was my
habit to keep sharp lookout fer proniis-
ing Young Ua:rolmcn. Ii | learned Of any
such, l sent for them and gave them
months trial Daring the month they
had the power and the time to show the
sort Of stuff they wcro madc CT believe
Tie samc custom is in vogue in the police
bodies of ali big American ana European
CITIES
"But let nc cauticl tho intending detect
i've 30 Keep away from all fiction protesting
to describe the pursuit.. Even tho lGtter
class OF literature of this kind is harmful
because it is untrue. Take Conan Doyle S
Sherlock Holmes. 70 a practical detect
i've it is absurd from start tn finish The
young man who fancics he could make
himself a detective by dilieent study Of
works such as those Of Doyle Gaboriau or
Dr. Boissobcy, is gricyously mistaken.
Amateur 'slcuthing' is somewhat dan
gerous bat if the amateur be brainy and
discreet yuunSstcr ho mag pick up many
| points in this way and eventually work
himself into a successful position. Iwould
| rot advise Il beginning in the Offices Of
| minor private detective agencies Such
| agencies are frequently Of n most shady
character, ard before he knows it the
| young aspirant nay find himself chased
| by the police az the associate Of criminals
instead Of being regarded as criminal
catcher.
Surprising tho young man to have got
his first start either in the police OF
in a first class private agency, be must
then make up his mind that hard work
and plenty of it lies before him. That is
where the requisite CT patience comes in.
| It's dCEgcd Is does il with tho detective.
| No matter how bright the Young man is,
TO matter what sor5 # genius he has fol
picking up clCws and doing the fine worl,
Of the profession, if his nature Is one OF
those easily daunted by Temporary set
backs, then he had better get out Of de
tectivo work at once. Tho easy things
don count, the jobs which any merely
clever man may accomplish without OK
cessive labor. 1t is tho hard case which
wins the lasting reward md shows th,
sterling quality Of the young detective.