Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-29
THE PROFESSORS SECRET.
By l. B. McCumber.

By I. B. McCumber.
How many of the thousands Of
people who glance over the want"
page of a great metropolitan daily
stop to consider what moves the
various individuals who use the
medium to reach the general public?
If there is another medium where the
thoughts of so varied a collection are
grouped together for so short time
as daily newspaper, it is beyond my
ken
Being in need of a position and
practically unacquainted in large
city, l proceeded to squander my last
cent and began to peruse the male
Help Wanted
Many attracted my eye, but none
seemed to be what 1 was looking for.
Again I went over the list, marking
those which | would consider and
select one from.
First one then another was rejected
as being impossible, until at last only
one solitary four-line "ad" remained.
It was this:
"WANTED-A young man who has
no home or relatives; stranger pre-
ferred; one who has no computations
to what he does so long as he is well
paid Apply in person to w. A. R.,
4576 Evergreen street"
AS before stated, I was a stranger,
had no home, no relatives, and COM
punctions-well, that depended-as l
had about as much on my person as
new born babe, barring the apology
petite that was growing more vora-
ciOus as my means grew less.
Slowly rising from the seat in the
park on which 1 had been sitting,
asked copper" to direct me to the
| street.
It was all we'll enough for him to
| tell me to take a car, but as I had
not the necessary nickel, must per-
| force walk Not a pleasant outlook
for a fellow with an empty stomach
to have a walk Of nearly five miles
| staring him in the face; but there
was so help for it and 1 started out.
The sun had long passed the
meridian when I arrived at the street
and turned up the road, for it was
even a poor resemblance of even a
road-more of path or lane, and
observed a somewhat antiquated man.
sion in the distance. That must
surely be the house for which I was
| looking. as none other was in view.
YEARLY I walked over the rough
and uneven path and at last found
myself at the door Seeing or hear
| ing No one about, I gave a timid
knock. Not receiving an answer,
| repeated it, only somewhat louder.
This at last was answered by some
one from within, who called who
there?"
replied that came in answer 70
the advertisement which appeared in
the DAILY Compendium"
After what seemed an interminab1e
length of time the door opened and
was greeted by scholarly-looking
man. who might have been a profes-
sor. of a somewhat aged appearance
but with eyes that we're as sharp and
! piercing as the bitter north wind in
mid-winter Bidding me enter, I was
ushered into a large room directly of
the spacious hall in which I found
!, myself. Entering the room I was
waved to a seat and took hasty
glance of my surroundings. Ceilings
that were abnorma1ly high, walls thai
we're free from all decorations, and
the only furniture was made up Of The
two chairs occupied by us and small
| table.
'sWell, sir" he at length said, "wha
are your qualifications for answering
that advertisement"
After giving him a complete &C
J count of myself, I finally paused