The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
THEIR VACATION WORK
FINE START IN LIFE MADE BY TWO
COLLEGE STUDENTS.
One "a. waiter and One as Summer
Hotel Clerk Began Success
full Careers.


panIon. 81 wonder whether he is college
man with vacation job?'
Three years later the girl went TO New
York and stopped at one of its well-known
apartment hotels. A few days after her ar
rival. when she stopped at the desk to set
tie a bill. she was surprised to see man
who looked very familiar TO her ordering
the clerks about.
WHY she exclaimed, half aloud in her
astonishment. why. it's our old waiter at
the -"
The young man heard her and turned
around.
Why" he exclaimed on his part as he
saw the girl. you here. Miss Smith," And
ne walked toward her with extended hand.
Then he saw the puzzled look on the
girls face. and laughed.
You don't know whether or not IL Is
proper TO greet your old waiter do your
he questioned, candidly. He laughed again.
But was a waiter that 1 might go back
TO college the next year. Does that help
you any?"
She blushed furiously, then replied. tri-
umphantly. az always told mamma you
were a college man." then allowed her wo-
mans curiosity to get the better Of her.
But what are you doing here?"
The story that her old waiter told her
was one OF opportunity; and many college
youth who has worked at a summer
resort could tell similar story Of his rise
In the world. IL he only would.
After she had left the resort he was as
signed to wait upon a table at which a
cranky old man. his wife and elderly
you'll have plenty of trouble" his prede-
cessors, all OF whom had been deposed by
the caprices of the cranky old man, had
warned him. but. curiously he managed to
please the family from the start
They remained the rest Of the summer,
and never . so much "a, as offered tip In all
10 close the old man remained at the table
after his wife and daughter had left and
motioned to the waiter.
Your service has pleased me-" he be-
gan: you haven't worked for tips like the
rest. I've made inquiries about you and
know why you're waiter. Now. when you
are through college, understand IL will
be next falI-consult this card come to me.
II you have nothing better in prospect. and
I'll start you in business
With that the man got up from the table
and walked away, and the waiter looked
at the card. II contained the mans name
and conveyed the additional information
that he was the proprietor of the - Hotel
IN New York city.
HER HUSBANDS WISH.
And So" concluded the young man, two
years ago. upon,my graduation. came here
and the man started me In as desk clerk
and took all the pains possible to instruct
me. as a reward for not working for tips,
but for the work ITSELF as he explained
IL. Six months ago he died; and after the
funeral the wife sent for me and told me
that was to manage the hotel for the
estate-that IL was her husbands wish.
And there you have the story OF why 1 am
here in managerial capacity and will not
be able to-ah. serve you at dinner to-
night personally"
that take place among the hundreds of
American youths who find employment at
the summer resorts In order to get through
the vacation and lay aside few dollars
for further education in the fall. They are
not walters In the dining rooms markers
in the bowling alleys, clerks in the hotel
Offices barkers for divers amusement en-
terprises and ticket sellers for the same be-
cause of the fun that's in IL. They work
because they have to; they taste the
worlds labor before they are fully pre-
pared for Ii; and in order that they may
be better prepared. they work earnestly.
So 1t often happens that full-hedged bust
ness man sees future possibilities In a va
cation working college youth, and the latter
has his life s WORK cut out for him then
and there. Such one is the vice president
OF certain leading banking institution
IN Philadelphia.
This influential financier ten years ago.
upon his graduation from the University of
custom OF taking a clerI<ship in an Atlantic
City hotel. His idea was to keep his eyes
open while there for position in the fall.
The opportunity came in an unexpected
way.
1t happened one Monday morning that a
large number OF guests decided rather I'M
expectedly TO return to the city and with
out any previous notification to the office
TO have their bills ready, they swooped
down upon Ii, expecting 10 have everything
settled up In time for them to catch the
train.
HE DID 1T ON TINE.
The college clerk on duty and al
though II seemed impossible even to him
for all the accounts to be balanced before
train time, which was perilousy close at
hand he went to work with a will. He
had been noted for his powers OF lightning
calculation at college, and now he brought
them into full play. Bills were made out.
money taken I'm and change given I'm quick
order-in fact. so fast that the departing
guests scarcely had time to indulge I'm even
transitory speculation as to whether they'd
catch the train all right.
When 1t was all over and the last man
had gone, baggage and all. and the clerk
had counted the money twice to see that
he had not made wrong change in the
hurry. guest who was known to the clerk
desk ~ '''e
Pretty lively fifteen minutes. wasn't it?"
ne inquired, pleasantly.
The clerk replied in the affirmative.
Didn't make any mistake in making
change. did your" he went on in the same
tone-just talking for the sake OF CONVEX
sation.
The clerk answered this time In the neg
alive.
That's good" was the reply ''I thought
maybe In the rush you might have made a
mistake, and / wouldn't want TO know YOU
were out OF pocket because of your attempt
TO please guests"
Then the banker walked away. but few
with the clerk.
What are you going 10 do In the fall?''
he inquired In an offhand sort of way
IN keeping my eyes open for an oppor-
tunity, was the reply.
HE KNEW HIS MAN.
The guest smiled.
How would you like 10 become a
banker?" he said briefly.
The clerk hesitated.
why" he began. IT don't know-I-"
Tut. tut" was the elder mans reply. as
he read the youngsters thoughts, "of course
you can get along with figures. 1 haven't
doubted that since the morning when you
got all those people off on time and came
out Of IL without making any mistake in
the amount OF their bills or the change"
And so. when the summer was ended the
clerk accompanied the banker back to the
Quaker city and was given "A minor posi-