The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-16

the road who have succeeded in spite of
college training. What can you do?'
Nothing moro than try
The official turned TO the father. I
suppose he has always shown a wonder
full love for railroads. Used to beg his
nurse to take him where he could see the
wheels so round and knows the number
of at least three Of the trains on tho
main linz. They all do that" said the Of
fetal. and to the close observer there
was tired if not sarcastic tone in his
voice like that which comes az the end
of a long day of debating orders and let
No answered the father. Il don't
remember ever, hearing anything OF the
kind. Willy has made considerable mis-
takes off and on, but / never heard him
accused of being a genius. How about 1t,
SOM
Not on purpose. dad. I've been read
ing law. lately. and it has taken ms just
one month TO find out that l never was
intended for a lawyer
''WeH, if you're looking for something
easy. il won't take you two days to learn
that railroading is about as near the HARD
est work in the world with a sick head
ache thrown in that YOU have yet missed
in your search for employment. l don't
know that We can do anything for you,
anyway. You sec the president OF this
corporation is not only giving excellent
satisfaction TO the directors. but is en-
ioying excellent health, and that position
is not vacant. In fact. ] don't know of a
single opening unless IL is that of office
his vacation. and his substitute refused
to clean up muss I carelessly made, on
the ground that he did not break into the
railroad business TO become a Niger
porter The result was that I had 10 let
this Napoleon of the future seek new
fields to conquer, while did the work he
refused to do. When il comes to work
you will find that railroad men are just
about as common as the rock ballast used
on heavy grades and there's deal more
have graduated from overalls and jump
ers than have got degrees. although
don't deny that the theoretical training
is great thing TO refer to after you
have forgotten some of the unnecessary
information acquired A college educa-
tion is a good deal like a good woman,
she may make a great appearance while
YOU are engaged, but YOU never know how
much she is really worth in a practical
way until long after you We been married.
Now, If you wanted to take that office
boys place, il may be 1 could get you
job as section hand OF perhaps as flag
man by the time the regular boy comes
back-that is. if you want to learn the
railroad business.
"Ill take IL and thank you. sir
The official looked up, and although he
may have been astonished, he did not
show il. It's another characteristic Of the
railroad man that he wears the same
mask in times Of great pleasure. tragic
excitement and daily duty.
When can YOU start inI'' he asked.
I'm ready right now. e you're with
out boy. / at least know the way TO the
pOStOffiCe, and / dare say carrying the
mail is one Of his duties. ! don't know
at all that I'll be very quick TO learn
but I'm not afraid TO do any kind Of
sweeping or cleaning up. l reckon thatll
just about fit my measure, and if there
is a chance as fiagman, I'd thank you
if you would keep me in mind. Can l
start in now"
The official called in one of the clerks
outside and told him to break the new
boy in. After ne had left he turned to the
father and said; THAT boys got a mind
just sudden enough TO make a railroad
man, and If he always backs up his judg-
ment with as quick action as i'm this par
ticular case, he'll do. That is, If he
sticks I had no more idea of his taking
the job than anything In the world. It's
rather refreshing to be disappointed that
way now and then. Most of the appli-
Cants talk a lot about the beginning at
the bottom and work up system, but
what they really are after is an appoint
ment 10 something easy. And they al
ways find that were out of easy things.
If you'll wait a few minutes while I open
the way for a party of MasOns in the
the cast without having to change cars
more tnan once or wait anywhere Tor
more than thirty minutes between con-
portation club for lunch"
Several DAYS later the railroad man for
! the Constitution found Willy still In the
office as proof that he had stuck. More
| than that. he learned that he had
! But that is quite a different StOTy.-At-
/ lanta Constitution.