The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-02-20
THE CHOICE OF
 A PROFESSION
By Barry pain.

Anybody been getting at you at all about thatg" asked James Robinson suspiclously.
 No. whyT
 "Because that holy man. Mir. Dilwa- 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 mltted to speak of Ars. Harston ln that dlsrespcctful way"
 "well. look here. It's no good my talk ing if I'm going to be not permitted ev. cry minute. If spoke respectfully of woman that solemnly gave me n threepenny bit as a tip when l came back this term. that would be acting a lie. and. as you know. being In the choir, Pm rather particular"
 'AIrs. Harston forgets that you have been growing rapidly these last few years and that such an offering Is, In amount at least. no longer appropri- ate"
 'Then she must be dotty. However. chance that anyhow. You were talking about what I'd be when l grow up. The more thigk oft myself the more I see that there isn't anything - at least anything that would suit me"
 This is bad" said the interviewer.
 %T don't say it isn't It's rotten. But It's not my fault. didn't make the professions and things that ones sup posed to go in for. could be gentle man of independent means all right. suppOslng the governor would stand the independent means, which he wouldn't. but suppose that doesn't count as anything. can't make out what money the governors got. When ever I ask him be laughs and treats me as if I were a mere kid. He can al ways find the money when he wants anything. It's when be 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 were any occupation you could think twice about"
 "A career In the army would not meet your vlewsf"
 "If I could be absolutely certain of medal. I'd put up with the other objee- tlons. but lots of chaps never get the chance. Most of them never get It."
 Suppose you dldr
 And suppose didn't take it. I've thought that over. and lt 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? It isn't everybody who can be commander in chief and save his country and get large sums voted hlm. And l 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 medal. but fear you would never get the chance or If you got the chance you might not have the cour- age. Then In a moment you seem to sink to the lowest possible commercial standpoint. and money is the principal consideration"
 "Ycs; 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. I want them both and a pretty big help of each. If I've got to have an occupa- tion. l want to get money and glory out of it otherwise what's the good of working?"
 There arc certain ideals
 Don't know what you mean. If they were any use, l suppose should nave heard of them. Then Aunt Pris- ,illa suggested the church"
 And that doesn't suit you eitherT
 Suits me a lot better than l should suit It. This being an example to others Is pretty wearying, I can tell you. set an example myself, being in the choir. though I don't pitch It quite SO strong as when had the solo parts. and | know what I'm talking about. I'm not so sorry when the hoh- days come and can take a rest and not be so particular. And parsons got to be better example than a choir boy, and ae's got to be always at 1t. Even on his holidays his coat gives him away. and he can't do any thing he naturally would. That would rot do for me"
 "rhere Is the law"
 Keeps you indoors too much"
 "Or medicine"
 Medicine keeps you out of doors too much. don't want to be fetched out of my bed in the middle of wet night. and don't want to be kept in law court in the middle of fine afternoon. The governor talks about the diplomat ic service. and let him. don't know anything about 1t. and don't think he knows much more. doubt If it's worth my while. I don't want any thing with examinations or office hours or rot oT that kind In it."
 "Then you are looking for n profes- sion which would be extremely lucra. tive. bring In heaps of honor and glory. leave you you complete freedom and Involve no work of any kind"
 Now you're talking wish every body else had got as much sense. You don't often strike 1t absolutely right like that. Now if they'd start pro fesslon like that I'd be the first to go in for it. wouldn't make a single