Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
HARD KNOCKS AT THE START
Bunch Of Tough Luck Stories with a
Rainbow Finish.
GAME OF CRAPS BRlGHTENs A PROSPECT
Experiences of Men in Various Avoca-
lions I'm Securing q FOothOid
on the Highway Of
Success.

had been Joking each other about being
"squeezed" that day on the market, and he
Of the iron gray hair and youthful eyes
INDUCED in a most pleblan wink at his
vis-a-vis as he said:
Never mind, old man; It was nothing
compared with our first speculation that
night in Boston"
The table awoke on the instant. The
moment was ripe for remlniscences
you see, It was this way: Bert and l
started out In tho world together, giving
up mail clerkships in l. to make our
fortunes in the nearest big city. which hap
pened to be Boston. But we found that
the world wasn't so confoundedly easy to
conquer, and with no acquaintance In the
city and no valuable references we were
soon on OUR uppers. We knew nothing OF
life in town, and we're about as green as
could be. But we were too proud to 20
home.
Finally there came a day when we were
desperate. We had slept In a warehouse
shed the night before and woke to face
q dreary rain. Money we had none. and we
we're afraid that II we applied TO the po-
lice we'd be booked as 'vags' So we de-
cided to spend the day in the commons aud
watch for money or articles Of value that
people might drop. It was a forlorn hope,
but we followed it through puddles and
showers, getting fainter each moment for
lack OF food. It wasn't a day for dropping
valuables, and night found us In sad
straits still. We were IN no mood to talk,
but at last, for the sake of saying some
thing, ! said TO Bert:
"'Well | guess it's about time for us
TO take to a dark side street and hold up
the first man that comes along
BERT took me in earnest, and I'll never
forget the expression on his face when he
stopped In our dreary perambulation and
faced me. 1t was absolutely tragic: Oh
say, George, not just yet. Let's wait a
little longer
"I doubled up with laughter, and as I
bent over something shiny on the pavement
caught my eye. 1t was a dime.
I'VE both clutched at it. Two sand
witches. Or two cups Of coffee. Or two
small pans Of beans. Which should 1t be?
Then the spirit OF plunging. which has
since brought my partner coin OF the realm
seized him. Said he:
LETS shake for It. II you get It, buy
the grub. II l get it. l shoot craps with 1t
with the first fellow l meet
"He won and we repaired to the nearest
cheap lunch joint where he actually did
ind a man who would gamble on the enor-
NOUS sum Of 10 cents. He doubled our
capital and we had lunch.
'Then what? Well, that seemed to be
the turning point OF our careers. The
proprietor Of the Joint had spotted us, and
before we had finished our 25-cent meal
we were telling him our story. He put US
in the way Of work. BY and by we came TO
our senses and let the folks at home know
about Il, and Bert's father, tickled with
our grit, gave us a start
A Helping Wife.
"Next." said the hostess with a laugh.
The manager of a hoursshing mercantile
concern leaned forward.
my good wife, heaven rest her soul,
once helped me out OF the highest hole we
we're ever in" he began. 1T was In a
midwest city, then in it's youth, that l
stranded as a life insurance agent. How
we managed to exist for a few weeks In
a so-called furnished room I will not at
tempt to describe, but we finally got down
10 our last IS. My wife, while doing our
paltry washing. remarked;
"'Just see what a lather this soap
makes, It is the best brand l ever
used
IT watched the white foam on her hands
and suddenly the inspiration came.
Peggy I exclaimed, that soap must
save us. I'M going to do it up in little
paCkaReS anu sell IL Oh u oNANoN $500
dark as a lightning cleanser. Now, how
can we turn the trick?'
1.-THE family washing was suspended Their
and there and she sat down with me &c
figure It out. Before long my last IS and
I were on the street. l bought three doZer
bars OF the soap, which is white and OF
a brand that you all know, a roll Of tinfoll
some tissue paper and several fine, small
sponges.
"Once back in our room my wife and
went TO word hard and fast, for Afternoon
was at hand. Taking the sponges we wei
them thoroughly and rubbed them hard
over the soap until they were saturated
with suds. Then, without rinsing them, We
placed them above the stove to dry. Mex
We carefully scraped on the bars the i'm
print OF the soap maker, washed the sur
faces 20 make them prefectly smooth and
glossy. cut each cake into Ave small ia
ones and wrapped these carefully in tissue
and tinfoil. That night l took up my stanc
on the corner, the soap in tinfoil piled OF
one hand and the dry sponges with a basil
OF water on the other.
"well, l proceeded to demonstrate tn,
'sudslng' quality Of that soap until the eyei
CT the entire crowd seemed TO bulge out
OF course, when the sponges we're wet tn,
old lather got in its work. and then wheI
! barely touched It on the sample oakl
there was something doing all over m,
hands and clear down TO the ground.
Ibid / sell the soap? Well. rather, an
at 80 cents a cake, And then in the sol
emn hour of midnight we boarded a trail
with the proceeds OF the scheme an
quietly stole back TO the old farm"
stranded Far from Home.
There is a reminiscent glow in the eye
OF Mr.. Stevens said the host, waving hi
hand in the direction OF a we'll know
singer, who instantly became the center o
interest. He began;
I'm from New England. as you know
and my family was opposed 20 my adoptin
the musical profession. So l promptly "a
away and Joined the chorus OF a second-rat
opera company. OF course, the eompan
selected San Francisco. the Jumping o.
place, 20 get stranded In, and with my ute
inexperieuce l was soon up against It 4
dead earnest. One day I got a date at
variety house, though l felt that / wouldn
make good, as they say In the profession
II ! survived my first appearance as a solo
list I would do we'll. This thought. with tn
fact that ia had nothing 10 eat for twenty
four hours, plunged me into the depths ono