Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Choice of a Profession
BY Barry Pain.

asked the interviewer.
Anybody been getting at you at all
about that?' asked James Robinson
suspiciously.
mo. Why?"
Because that holy man. Mr.. Olivia
ter. was on the same tack yesterday;
also the governors been on it; likewise
the mater, not to mention that aged
owl, Aunt Priscilla"
Really, James, you cannot be per-
mitted to speak of Mrs. Harston in
that disrespectful way"
"Well, look here. it's no good my talk
ing If I'm going to be not permitted ev-
cry minute. If l spoke respectfully Of
a woman that solemnly gave me a
threepenny bit as tip when came
back this term, that would he acting II
lie. and. as you know, being in the
choir. I'm rather particular"
Mrs. Harston forgets that you have
been growing rapidly these last few
years and that such an offering is, i'll
amount at least, no longer appropri-
ate"
-'Then she must be dOtty. However,
chance that anyhow. You We're talking
about what I'd be when 1 grow up.
Il
see that there isn't anything - at
least anything that would suit me-"
This is bad" said the interviewer.
81 don't say it isn't. It's rotten. But
it's not my fault. 1 didn't make the
professions and things that ones sup
posed to go in for. / could be a gentle
man of independent means all right,
supposing the governor would stand
the independent means, which he
wouldn't, but l suppose that doesn't
count as anything. / can't make out
what money the governors got. When
ever L ask him he laughs and treats me
as if / were n mere kid. He can al
ways find the money when he wants
anything. It's when he doesn't want it
that he talks about extravaganza. Any
how. he says I've got TO find an occu-
patton of some kind. What l say is
that would be all right if there We're
any occupation you could think twice
about"
a career in the army would not
meet your views?"
eff could be absolutely certain of a
medal, I'd put up with the other objec-
tions, but lots of chaps never get the
chance. Most of them never get it,"
suppose you did,"
"And suppose l didn't take it. I've
thought that over. and it makes you
sweat, can tell you. AS far as funk
goes I'm Just about average. Besides.
where are you to get any money out of
the army? 1t isn't everybody who can
be n commander in chief and save his
country and get large sums voted him.
And 1 don't fancy the rest get much
pickings out of it,"
But you bewilder me. James Robin
son. At one moment the chief attrac-
ton is the honor and the glory. You
want a medal, but fear you would
never get the chance or IL you got the
chance you might not have the cour-
age. Then in Il moment you seem to
sink to the lowest possible commercial
standpoint, and money is the principal
consideration"
Yes; / know that idea. If you want
the glory. you don't want the money.
and If you want the money you don't
want the glory. They're both good
things to have. aren't they? Well. then.
want them both and a pretty big help
of each. If I've got to have an occupa-
ton. ! want to get money and glory
out of it, otherwise what's the good OF
wOrking?'
There are certain IDEALS
Don't know what you mean. If
they were any use. l suppose 1 should
have heard of them. Then Aunt Pris-
ella suggested the church"
And that doesn't suit you either?''
"Suits me lot better than 1 should
others is pretty wearying. 1 can tell
you. l set an example myself, being
i'm the choir, though l don't pitch it
quite so strong as when had the solo
parts, and l know what I'm talking
about. I'm not so sorry when the holt
days come and can take a rest and
not be SO particular. And a parsons
got to be Il better example than a
choir boy, and hes got to be always
at it. Even on his holidays his coat
gives him away, and lie can't do any
thing he naturally would. That would
rot do for Ee.'
There is the law"
"Keeps you indoors too much"
COR medicine"
Medicine keeps you out of doors too
much. l don't want to be fetched out
Of my bed in the middle of a wet night,
and i don't want to be kept in a law
court in the middle of a fine afternoon.
The governor talks about the diplomat
ic service, and let him. 1 don't know
about it, and 1 don't think he
knows much more. / doubt il it's
worth my while. 1 don't want any
thing with examinations or office
hours or rot of that kind in it,
'"Then you are looking for profess
sion which would be extremely lucra-
tive. bring in heaps of honor and
glory. leave you your complete freedom
and involve no work of any kind"
Now you're talking. 1 wish every
body else had got as much sense. You
don't often strike it absolutely right
like that. Now If they'd start n pro-
fession like that I'd be the first to go