The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-02
AN EXPERIMENT ~ WORK.
The College Youth as a Plumbers Helper and
swell Girls Peril.

The college Youth as a Plumbers ue'per anu
swell girls Peril.
Anew York youth came home from college
AZ the beginning II the vacation ,ca.on with
his allowance 40 far ov"fdrawn that he had
I rgottsn when the next payment was due.
Hi father. VINO was a self made man, and en-
tirely out Of ,mpathy with the obligations OF
his sons social position, sternly refused further
advances. The ~paterual brand Of cigars made
the youth III, and worse still the sideboard was
under strict surveillance Under these COM
peliing circumstance he youth retired within
himself TO consider ways and means. Later he
emerged from his " Incn with a smile on his
face The difficulties Of the situation had faded
like the mornings mist before his brilliant in
tellect. He would 20 70 work.
In pursuance OF thi, highly original Idea, he
went TO an uncle who waNcnRaged in the profit
able II somewhat plebeian plumbing business,
and asked for a job. Secretly lac hoped for a
nice. clean corner IN the Office. where he might
spend a few pleasant hours during the heat OF
the SUMMED days, pcrfectlnR himself In higher
mathematics by making out plumbers bills.
without danger OF soiling his cuffs or endan-
gering his social standing, but in the heroism
Of nj. new resolve TO labor for his living. he
boldly asked for any old Job.
Sorry. said the uncle, but I haven't any
thing for %you"-then obviously. unless you
care 10 go out on odd jobs as helper. You don't
mind u little work. ! suppose"
"N-n-no." answered the youth doubtfully,
being rather uncertain about the duties and go
cial rank OF a plumbers helper. Still he decided
to Chance II, .
We'll, come around tomorrow and we'll sec
about It. said the uncle. with a smile that car
rled a sinister suggestion.
The next morning the youth slipped quietly
into the shop and lowered timidly about In the
background, wondering what he might be called
upon 70 do, yet dreading 10 hear his doom.
Presently a large. unshaven man. with nbthins
between his undershirt and jumper but a pair
OF suspenders. started out. telling the youth to
come along The man had a fire pot In
one hand. and a whole kit OF tools
variously disposed about his person. While
doubtless very worthy, he was not the sort Of
person the youth would have chosen for his
companion on a stroll through the business
part Of the city. So the youth craftily waited
and gave the man time TO go half way down
the block. intending to follow at a distance.
But the man was In no hurry and was found
lighting his pipe just outside. The youth
wanted to walk ahead. or on the opposite side
OF the street; he even thought OF sending the
man on ahead In a cab. but not seeing his way
clearly, he continued the promenade with his
persistent companion. while keeping an
eye on each side Of the street. ready to bolt at
the hrst sign 81 a re1Hsst to carry the nre pot
"A.fsw blocks further on the man hailed q car
and climbed into tho reat, seat with all his
far forward as possible The man was dis
posed to be sociable. and Immediately took eI:
CePti0n t to 'S nj a., sfrfbn ass sS IN. 80 Sol M hi ssea
across a bed Il lowered hats, which evidently
possessed rubber stems for they twisted back
whispered Comment at the peculiar actions OF
tho plumber on the back seat and oonjeotures
The youth was the only person on the car who
did not look around. he maintained the rigid
military attitude known a eyes 'front.' but he
felt the bushes rising even above his high
collar.
When they got of the car the youth was in a
Ih ns fTyse ayrVH He issPed al s sRS car s.TeS aalcR Riff's and
was half way down the block before the, mans
shouts %S a 9Rn s56 him d IL tse fact t9st ID he at T .ss
housa where a cloRged kitchen sink had sum
moned them the man suddenly discovered that
parted. leaving the youth 20 light the frepot
and clean out the trap. The youth took on his
KNOWING nothing Of the nature OF a trap In:
vestigation dscl ,sed a small cap at the bend OF
a pire that looked feasible, and he proceeded TO
Notwithstanding lite size the cap proved won
derfully tenacious against all attempts TO remove
wrench until the adjoining two feet Of lead pipe
looked Ike a souvenir from the wrecked battle
ship Maine Morsoyer the racket he made
fly. including two very pretty girls. down 70
the X tchen to see what the trouble was. In his
right mind and attired In proper raiment the
youth would have been very. happy to make
their acquaintance. but ov this time he WAS
"Oh. it's only the plumber. did not contribute
10 his peace Of mind.
At this point the man reappeared and er-
only necessary to twist the cap with the fingers
IN order TO remove I vhereat the youth eyed
g~entier treatmen, proved much more ,enloa-
cious. The cap dropped OF. Immediately fol-
lowed by a most appalling hiss and a di.Sgtee-
spilled down the youths sleeve. but did not
About this time the man discovered that he
had not purchased the right brand OF tobacco
and vent out asaln 70 repair hts mistake, leay-
ths tss chew sSui su, e Re elf EnsN me that tra toba dss SSEidH n
leave white froth on a mans mustache The
man. however. was In no hurry. ana vhle his
for tobacco. Whereupon The youth asked him
II he imbibed tobacco from a mug; but, the sar-
casm didn't seem TO reach him. Plainly the fell
low had no sense Of humor, unless Il was a very
subtle one. which enabled him to charge three
hour time for a ffteen-minute job. with a
When they returned to tho shop late IN the
afternoon. after having sparlnelv ,par!aken ola
vitips him. the Youths uncle gave him a heavy
sledRe and set him 10. breaking up some old
hfh ANN@ h~
public gaze. but the youth was too far gone 10
protet, He ,oted away nerccly. hoping, to
finish the Job before tho noise attracted n
crowd. while hi uncle stood in the shade OF an
awning and offered suggestions. In two
minutes the youths high collar had melted and
slipped down the back OF his neck. The sweat
was running on h.s nose forty drops to- the
minute. But try as he voulu his blows had no
effect on the castings. He lifted tho sledse
high above his head for a FINAL. supsrhuman
effort.
Vow, said he uncle. encourasinsly. "a good
one"
The youth looked up TO crush him. with q
glance, the slsdce still poised In midair, and
faced the SWEETEST girl he knew at cl"se range.
lie dropped the sledge and stood staring
vacantly AZ her retreat nR bacf.
BE careful he careful. said The uncle, you
might have hit that girl"
Il thought Of that" %nswered the youth,
hazily, but she had already seen me
The uncle thought the sun had affected the
youth head and sent him inside. The youth
quit work that same nigh, and spent the rest OF
his vacation reading novels In a window seat.
propped up with pink aud blue sofa cushions
three deep. Which DER true tale may or may
not have 4 mora, and In respectfully reierredto
the SOC.pfN Tor the kuCCOr of TnslrCaagfnl Col