The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-11-20
ait ill
the Clouds
g.. Roll By
ERNEST JARRoLD
Copyright, 1902, by Ernest Jarrold.

Copyright, 1902, by Ernest Jarrold.
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n ROBINSON had worked his way
| N through Cornell university
%s| and had been graduated with
& honor. Having inherited a
taste for literature, he decided to go to
New York and win fame and fortune
with his pen. To a young and ardent
man this prospect is a very pleasant
one. In the effort a few men have sue
ceeded, but many more have failed for
the reason that the road is more stony
than the famed rocky road to Dublin.
But Robinson's heart beat high and
strong. He knew he would have to
work, but he was willing. His. ambi-
ton was to become an editorial writer
like Horace Greeley or Henri Roche
fort.
When Robinson arrived in New York
city in December, 49,, he had one suit
OF clothes and two ten dollar notes.
Having passed through an apprentice
Ship in economy at college, he knew
the value of a dollar, and so he decided
to make his cash capital go as far as he
could. It was the first time he had
ever visited great city, and feeling
Of inexpressible loneliness came over
him as he looked into the faces of thou
sands Of men and women and wonder
ed why he did not recognize any of
them. Robinson had been reared in an
environment of green trees and run
ming brooks, where nature smiles upon
man. But to the country boys percep-
ton the tall buildings seemed to frown
forbiddingly upon him, and the noise
Of innumerable vehicles sounded dis
cordantly in his ears.
Tugging his old carpetsack, contain
Ing his clothing, copy Of Shake
speare, a Bible and thesaurus, he
walked up Broadway in search Of a
lodging house. He was amazed at the
hustle and activity, the Indifference of
every man for his neighbor and at the
indications on every hand of wealth
and prosperity. Up the great thorough
fare he wandered, looking for a home,
but finding no renting place until he
arrived in Harlem. Here, in a quiet
side street, he secured a hall bedroom
on the top floor of tenement house
by paying $3.50 in advance. This little
room, perched up on the eighth floor,
just under the caves Of the building,
contained small bed, washstand
and one chair. Thoroughly exhausted
by his long walk, Robinson lay down
and fell asleep.
His first impulse on arising in the
morning was to examine this great
city of which he had heard so much,
to visit the public buildings and other
objects of interest, but he repressed
this inclination and began to work.
AS is the case with many young men
of like inclination, Robinson was an
idealist, dreamer. He delighted in
writing little prose and poetical etch-
1ngs Of scenery and of human emo
tons. The publishers of newspapers
have learned by experience that their
readers do not care for this kind Of
writing. They prefer stories of crime,
murder, burglary, arson. In short, they
want the pepper Of sensationalism.
Robinson, unfortunately for his pocket,
did not take notice of the direction of
public TASTE, Day after day he worked
away along ideal lines until at the
end Of week he had dozen sketches
and poems ready. Then he discovered
that half of his money was gone and
he must sell some of his work in order
to- replenish his pocketbook. Filling
his pockets with his stories and poems
he started to walk the seven miles in
tervening between his lodging house
and that Mecca Of journalistic genius,
Park row. This is the street where all
the great metropolitan papers are To-
Gated, the street which never sleeps
Under it's sidewalks mammoth presses
are always in motion day and night.
There gaping crowds congregate to
read the bulletins of news from all
over the world. IT'S the SPOT where
more American history has been re-
corded than any other in the country.
lis cruel place for a stranger with
out friends or money to be found, and
here it was that Robinson took his
first lesson in the sale Of manuscript.
Robinson was of a refined and sensi-
tive nature. By the time he had met
three Office boys who were hired to
keep just such men as he away from
the editors he was very much discour-
aged, and yet he felt that his work
was good. And so as he trudged back
to his room in Harlem with his pre-
cious manuscripts still in his pocket
be took heart Of grace and resolved to
start out again on the morrow. The
resolution was strengthened by hand
organ grinder who came under his win
dow and played "Wait Till the Clouds
Roll By" But it was uphill work. In
after years Robinson could not remem-
Der the various incidents of that event
full week, SO crushed and disappointed
was he. It was not because the ed
1tors were unkind to him, but they had
no time to be sympathetic. Bring us
news" they said to him, land we will
print it and pay YOU literally. We