Evening star., 1903-08-03
He MADE A START
MAY MAKE A RAILROAD PRESI-
DENT SOME TIME.
He Had a College Education, but he
Took an Office Boys
Place.

It all occurred in the Atlanta railroad
world. and it 80 happened that the Con-
stitution man was in on the first chapter.
1t was this way;
One of the officials Of the road sat in
his chair debating to young man the
while he sorted with skillful hands and
quick eye certain typewriter sheets OF
brownish paper that in the railroad world
mean orders. 1T will be impossible to
hold 30 for the time you suggest, but II
you can guarantee 125 we will run a sec
ond section that will make the eastern con-
nections.' The dry monotone OF the dc
tator was broken by the appearance OF a
clerk In the doorway who. with the pause,
announced q waiting visitor.
The face of the official wore a bored
expression as he finished the letter and
then touched an electric button for the
caller to be shown in.
How are your he said affably as he
greeted the first OF the two persOnages; /;
what's the good word?"
why I've got a boy here who wants
to be railroad president" was the re-
sponse, "and l want you to make one out
of him"
by appointment or promotion?' asked
the railroad official. trying hard to look
pleasant no matter how painful.
Material Little Raw.
"Well. the materials a little raw for the
first the father laughed. land I reckon
the sudden change would be little stin
on Willy. Shake hands with him. any
way"
The official and the raw material got to-
gether az directed and the former sized up
the latter from his patents to the we'll
defined part that ran through the center
OF his hair with the quick, scutinizing
glance that comes with a long practical
training in the railroad world. He paused
for a moment at the crimson tie that was
backed up against q pink shirt waist.
Don't appear to be much sign OF Oil or
cinders" he commented. Where did you
work lastT'
Never have worked, sir: I've Just left
college about month"
Don't let that discourage you," returned
who have succeeded in spite OF college
training. What can you do?
Nothing more than try
The official turned to the father. Il
full love for railroads. Used to beg his
nurse to take him where he could see the
wheels go round and knows the number OF
at least three OF the trains on the main
line. They all do that" said the official.
and to the close observer 1t was evident
that there was tired If not sarcastic tone
in his voice like that which comes at the
end Of long day Of debating orders and
letters.
mo" answered the father II don't re-
member ever hearing anything Of the kind.
Willy has made considerable mistakes of
and on but 1 never heard him accused or
being genius. How about It, son?'
Not on purpose, dad. I've been reading
law lately, and it has taken me just one
month to find out that I never was Intended
for lawyer"
Offered Office Boys Place.
"Well. II you're looking for something
easy, 1t won't take you two days to learn
that railroading is about as near the hard
est work in the world with sick headache
thrown in that you have yet missed In
your search for employment. don't know
that we can do anything for you. anyway.
You see, the president of this corporation
is not only giving excellent satisfaction to
the directors. but Is enjoying excellent
health, and that position Is not vacant
In fact, I don't know of a single opening
unless it Is that Of office boy. Our present
incumbent Is off on his vacation, and his
substitute refused to clean up a muss
carelessly made, on the ground that he
did not break into the railroad business to
become a niger porter. The result was
that l had to let this Napoleon of the
future seek new fields to conquer, while I
did the work he refused to do. When it
comes to work you will find that railroad
men are just about common as the rock
ballast used on heavy grades. and there 8
q deal more have graduated from overalls
and jumpers than have got degrees, al
though I don't deny that the theoretical
training is a great thing to refer to after
you have forgotten some of the unnecessary
information acquired. A college education
Is a good deal like good woman. she may
make q great appearance while you are
engaged, but you never know how much
she is really worth in a practical way until
long after you've been married. Now, II
you wanted to take that Office boys place,
1t may be could get you a job as section
hand or perhaps as q fagman by the time