Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-26

IMAM lhc ICCI L GOACluucu
that he was gentleman and offered him
cigarette and drink.
He accepted the cigarette and smoked
it with somewhat fevcrish haste. AS fol
drink, he would take lemonade.
1T is better to drink nothing stronger
when onc is looking for work." he ex-
planned: ''it may prejudice possible en-
ployers''
How long have you been looking for
work." l asked
''Three years." he replied. 81 have an
swered hundreds of advertisements
rawned my clothes TO pay the postage
and worn out my shoes tramping the
city. But l keep pegging away, and it
will soon end 1t is sort of-penance, VI
he added, rehectively contemplating the
ash of his cigarette.
"What are ycu?" asked.
"a failure-at present." he replied,
with quiet laugh. But have been
most things"
Tell me-"
First | was a medical student; then
ran away and enlisted. After that 1
got place as medical officer on an
American ship.
"On the west coast of Africa l caught
yellow fever, was deserted by my COM
rades and had to walk 300 miles before
! picked up another ship.
after that l went to Paris, completed
my medical studies and took my degree
of bachelor of science.
''Since that l have done everything
you can think of. l have invented a
face powder that was advertised in all
the papers and brought me in EGO a
week until my business partner bolted
with the secret and the cash.
Il have been an artist, n showman's
agent. assistant editor of a scientific pa
per which died. as it were, i'll my arms.
| have been in nearly every country of
the world and know French, Italian and
Spanish. as well as English, not to speak
of Greek and Latin
why not put your experience into a
book?''
"Ah, Do you remember an article in
The Pail Mall Gazette some years ago
on The Real She? -
81 remember it very we'll"
Il wrote that For l had come across
Obeah women in Africa who were every
bit as wonderful as Rider Haggard's s
She. Only Rider Haggard. in Difference
to European taste. had made his hero
inc beautiful white woman instead of
hideous black beldame | wrote that
at the request of Mr.. Stead and imme-
diately prominent firm of publishers
offered me ESQ down and royalty for a
book of adventure on the lines of She
Here is the letter"
He handed me the letter.
"And you wrote the book?"
"No. My health broke down, and
had to 20 into a hospital. l had had
nothing to eat for five days, and it near
ly finished me. When l came out and
went to the publishers, 1 was too late"
And where are you living now?'
AT sort of - mission. in White
chapel. | have cubicle all to myself
and pay sixpence a night
"A dosshouse, ill fact?'
"Some call it that But there are bet
ter men than myself there. They have
services, and so forth, but l take no
notice of them. The curate is good fell
low, but an ignorant man. Would you
believe it?''- he dropped his eyeglass
and turned with flashing eyes on me
'he cannot perceive the difference be-
tween Greek aorist aud the Greek per-
fectr'
rs it important-in yiew off,
Important, sir? See here" and he
drew from his pocket a worn copy of the
revised version of the New Testament
and laid it before me. Passage after pas
sage was scored. and corrected. On the
margin and at the foot of the columns
were noted the MSS. from which the
corrections had been made. 1T is my
version of the revised version. / tell you
the revisers knew no English and very
little Greek. 1t has taken me years to
complete, but it will be ready in few
weeks now"
But how did you get hold of the
MSS. of the gospels?"
Il have copies of many of them in my
locker at thc-at home. The rest find
at the British museum in my spare time
and | have had lot of spare time in
the past three years"
My friend puffed at a fresh cigarette
while | reflected on the incongruity of
Greek scholar in a dosshouse.
why is it?' | asked, that a man of
experience and capacity can't
get work when he wants it?''
Il know no one," he replied Il sup
pose | am the most friendless man in
London"
But a man of your knowledge, who
doesn't drink. who
He turned suddenly on ME and looked
me in the eyes.
"Ah. that's it, he said. Il ought to
tell you that. Some years ago / married
unfortunately. 1t was not her fault
and she's dead now. But | had trouble |
And ! drank. | don't do things by |
halves, and | was drunk all the time |
for two years. Now it is three years |
since l touched anything stronger than
the man who lives where l |
live can't often afford even claret. Well,
well-three years of penance should
atone for it, shouldn't it? | shall get
some work before I'm too old to do it.
Then he rose and went out, with his
erect figure and stiff gait, with his eye
glass and absurd clothes, back to his
iosshouse to revise the Bible.-Ex-
rhange.
Not a Close Observer.
at seems almost incredible, said