The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-12
! AN ODD SPECTATOR.
. How a Man Who Failed at Many
. Things Was Great Success
In a Single Role.
BY GREENE L. ELwOOD.



From worldly point of view my lif
had been monotonous succession o
knockdowns until made the acquaint
! ance Of Leonard Hartman.
was giving an elaborate account o
my i'll luck to friend of my college day
and imploring him to help me to stu
alton suitable to my attanmcnts. Gil
bert listened sympathetically. When m!
story was finished, he thought awhile il
his quiet way and then said, with pc
culiar smile: =
"Kent, old boy, You have had tough
time of it, but don't despair. am going
to give you letter to Leonard Hartman
capitalist, whom ! know quite well
He is good man. Go to him and relate
your story just as you have to inc, and
think he will be able to do something fol
you. lie asked me to find him man II
could and think you will please him.
"Do you mean that am to tell him all
about my-my failurcs?" l asked in as.
constituent.
"Certainly; tell him everything. He
likes candor, and IL you don't make him
understand that you have made bad
mess Of business heretofore l doubt il
he will want you"
A queer situation, to be sure. Gilbert
gave me the letter. and lost no time in
hunting up Leonard Hardman.
found him man of 60 or therea bout,
short, stout, red faced and side whisker-
cd, evidently Il substantial citizen, who
never permitted himself to go hungry or
thirsty. He had even the appearance Of
q benevolent person. His suit of offices
was quite pleasant and extensively fur
nished, but he kept no clerical force save
an office boy.
Mr.. Hardman read my friend Gilbert's
letter with surprising interest and then
turned to me inquirngly.
colbert advised me to tell you al
about myself" began in an embarrassed
way.
go right ahead" he said heartily.
I'm the first place, then, ! am college
man, though | was graduated at the
wrong end Of my class. OF course some
one had to graduate there. When | left
college, ! taught school awhile, but my
abilities, which We're quite conspicuous,
were not really appreciated, and | took
~ Ae 10, - 'h'' WI" io"hu
50 u'n'cuit TO Please the company,
tsptcially so dincult 10 make ENDS meet
.nat 1 l.rneu my at,ehtioh 10 IRE ihsur
mi "a.n p'aetlc"l'y inc same result
living up Insurance. ! became can,
vasser for a very excellent book, but
business was not good. Knowing that
there was no better judge of land values
anywhere than myself, | went into real
estate WIN my usual enthusiasm ana
p'uch' anu YET my success III that Inc
eou'u nave pech mucn greater. then
Iot iii'Aeu up III po'ilics' lrled TO get
Tue nomination lor congress- pnt ciFcnm'
stances forced 'ne nomination Tor inc leg.
isia'ure upon me- ana Ut the election
was sho"eu ui'der bisgus'cd win the
uncertainty OIL poiitical lie, l became
museum 'eclufer' ceaslhg mat work when
lne proprietor became bankrupt. Since
that time nave been engaged as an ad-
'eitlsihs SOLICITOR which, beleve me, Is
WORK lar pelow my capacity ana very
precaflous way OF making living in the
n"rs"'h. am no" looking LOT some.
,Hihs OF steady remuneratlve KIND.
nave never been appreciated, sir, nof
gwen iair opportunity 10 snow my ad'
mirabie business anu literary qualihca-
IONS. All ask is such an opportunity.
hilbert suggested that you might be able
10 employ me IN your business
There stopped. The effect of my his
Tory upon Mr.. llardman was almost star.
Ting. From the very first he evinced an
intense interest in me, and when ceased
speaking he graspcd me by the hand
with convulslve warmth.
II am sure l can help you" said he
that is, if you will help me. You see, it
is case Of reciprocity. | have been sue
cessful in business way-qute success
full. but man always wants to do better
than he has done md see his gains in
crease faster. For long time ! have
felt the need OF an assistant, man of
certain qualifications, such qualifications,
indeed, as J feel that you possess. If
you will engage with me, am confident
that we can accomplish great things"
"What Is your line Of busincssW ]
'. nnh 49, ~ aJ ha. .u ,,.
hu .L;n "n". sou 'ui , speIu'a'o'
:, a. s' Nv , n'".l w Ia "a, s' ions 's
~ !. aJ''a t , .u"' WILL ''Ney 'ne i',,
~ "'s 'ii Us; s"'.s "nu 4u,,AiS'
eo''" e'e 80" as 80, s,,''ei ~
Ieme..eu nn','eh' s"F, %-'o 'noh.h
:; -. "
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