The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-04-10
MARK TWAIN's ADVICE.
When Taken. 1t Always Landed n Man
In Comfortable Berth.

In n Comfortable Berth.
Mark Twain has found situations
for many man in unique way.
When any one asked him for help
along that line, he would write the
delighted applicant cordial affirm
ative, asking him to pick out any
position he preferred and to aim
high. The desired position being
selected, Mark would simply fire
back at the applicant the following
instructions. In every case, where
they were carried out in good faith,
they landed the worker at the top of
the ladder. Here they are:
Formula:
First. By a beneficent law of our
human nature every man is ready
and willing to employ any young
fellow who is honestly anxious to
work-for nothing.
Second.-A man once wonted to
an employee and satisfied with him
is loath , } part with him and give
himself the trouble of breaking in a
new man.
Let us practice upon these foibles.
Instructions:
First. You are to apply for work
at the Office of your choice.
Second. You are to go without
recommendations You are not to
mention my name, nor any ones
but your own.
Third. You are to say that you
want no pay; that all you want is
work-any kind of work. You make
no stipulation. You are ready to
sweep out, point the pencils, replen-
ish the inkstands, hold copy, tidy
up, keep the place in order, run
errands-anything and everything.
You are not particular. You are SO
tired of being idle that life is bur-
den to you. All you want is work
and plenty of it. You do not want
a pennyworth of remuneration. N.
B.-You will get the place, whether
the man be a generous one or a sci.
fish one.
Fourth. You must not sit around
and wait for the staff to find work
for you to do. You must keep
watch and find it for yourself.
When you can't find it, invent it.
You will be popular there pretty
soon, and the boys will do you a
good turn whenever they can.
When you are on the street and see
a thing that is worth reporting, 60
to the Office and tell about it. BY
and by you will be allowed to pu.
such things on paper yourself. In
the morning you will notice that
they have been edited and a good
many of your words left out-the
very strongest and best ones too.
That will teach you to modify your
self. In due course you will drift
by natural and sure degrees into
daily and regular reporting and will
find yourself on the city editor'1
staff without any ones quite know
ing how or when you got there.
Fifth, BY this time you have be,
come necessary, possibly even in.
dispensable. Still you are never tc
mention wages. That is mattel
which will take care of itself. You
must wait. By and by there will
be vacancy on a neighboring pa.
per. You will know all the report
ers in town by this time, and one or
another of them will speak of you,
and you will be offered the place al
current wages. You will report this
good fortune to your city editor,
and he will offer you the same
wages, and you win stay where you
are.
Sixth. ~ Subsequently, whenever
higher pay is offered you on another
paper. you are not to take the place
if your original employer is willing
to keep you at a like price, Nc.
Clure's Magazine.
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