Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-01-11
A Dictated Letter.

When Howard Moore completed his
college course he expected to find the
world waiting impatiently to avail it
self of his services. Though he had
not prepared himself for anything in
particular, he felt capable of doing ev-
erything in general. He wondered
where he could go to be best appreciat-
ed-where, in fact, his learning and
uncommon intellect would do the most
good.
He was ineXpressibly hurt when he
found that no one noticed him at all.
The crowd jostled him on the street
contemptuously, there was no good fell
lowship abroad in the busy city so far
as he could find, no one gave him any
dinners; he was not invited to join
the clubs, and most emphatically he
was not offered any occupation. He
tried to be patient with this colossal
| stupidity on the part of Chicago, but
it was difficult. He then even conde-
scended to look for work, but it was
not to be found. He was too sure Of
himself in way, too confident of good
birth and the inherited convictions of
gentleman TO care what he did-he
| di1 not make those cautious distinc-
tions which a middle class fellow
would have made. But it did not seem
as if there was anything that came
within his possibilities within the
length and breadth of the city that
wanted doing.
| However, by assiduously consulting
| the paper he found at length an adj
vertisement for a private secretary.
The correspondence that followed led
to his being installed in a luxurious
mansion as the secretary and factotum
of certain distinguished lady.
To say that Howard Moore enjoyed
such a situation would be incorrect
| AS a matter of fact, he would rather
have driven a street car in happy in
dependence than have been in a place
where his qualities were appreciated,
yet where his poverty and position
placed him at a disadvantage. At first
he fumed and went to his room after
his days work hot and angry. Not
that he had anything to complain of in
the department of the beautiful chate-
laine. She was courtesy itself, but he
could not claim that she treated him
with exceptional kindness, for the
| truth was that she was kind to the
whole world. Not a letter reached
Edith Vaille that was not considerably
answered, no matter what its import.
If young man wanted to read her his
verses, hoping to secure her for pat
ron. or an educational enthusiast came
with a new fad, or a singer begged the
privilege of displaying her voice for
the benefit of the lady, she heard them
all, if her time permitted The greater
part of her day was spent in attending
to charitable and benevolent matters;
society she patroniZed capriciously and
haughtily. Her library was her happy
retreat, and here only her intimates
were admitted. 1t was in this room
that her chosen friends came at 3
O'clock of each afternoon for a little
time of true sociability and rest around
Miss Vaille's fragrant samovar. Andin
these peaceful pleasures Moore was al
ways invited to participate. Though
the conversation on these occasions
was nearly always light-hearted. ii was
never trivial; at times it was learned,
at other times grave. But it was al
ways Edith Vaille who dominated in
| tit was she who introduced the new
book or the new musical composition
for discussion. 1t was she who in
spired her guests to their best, whether
in conversation or in playing upon the
piano or violin.
Such strong friendships did Howard
Moore form in this familiar room and
| in such high esteem was he held that
he forgot all about his foolish vanities
and chagrins. Moreover, he becamea alb
sorbed, too, in the charities of the
chatelaine. The struggles of which he
learned. the heroic bravery of the poor.
the pains and disappointments of
1 genius. the frightful suffering of those
whom society trampled under foot.
made him forget all about himself.
In a short time he realized that the
small knowledge he had acquired at
the schools was totally inadequate to
permit him TO solve the least of life's
| problems. His egotism died away as
frost melts before the sun. His atti-
tude OF mind became finely humble.
and he learned from his beautiful pat
ron the lesson which her whole life
taught, that in service is the only sat
Il =.