The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-27
VIVA BECOMES
OF The BOYS

4 E.H-E#
What becomes OF the millions o
boys from the country who so to thu
city! We hear of those who grow rich
OF famous. but they are too few r.
account for more than a small mar,
of the total.
nus spoke u chance acouaintance
en the Train at h close of an inter.
estlhS conversation which had en1fv,
ehed an otherwise dull and n,or,ntc.
nous trip. Tho question ana ren3ar,,
We're new. and they have been lie sinh
ices OF much thought since. What
eOes oeeornef OF the bright, a1niabIe.
tnuustrioHs boys. from the Village or
me farm who go to the city and e,t
'oSt They do not make fafl,res 80
cause We always hear of those ~,
make failures; they either come h,.t
or DO worse. But the fate of thn nil
mons who neither meet with ,n,,sn.t
success nor fail bothered mo NV,
h'shs nave II known who have bia
tareWeii to family and frinn,ls -,
With hish hopes OF great athiayaI
ments gone to the city and heen s,r.1
lowed up in the throng. For a fov,
NN>s - III OlIa nc \
we're the recipients Of every mark OF
ahectlonate esteem by the family and
Later the visits became
less frequent m finally ceased alto.
sether, and friends who once knew.
them. and eve immediate here
OF the family, wondered what han
oeen the measure of their success
ana now they Jared, without Gndin.
an answer. One by one the family
and friends died. and even the name
OF the wanderer was forgotten by the
new generation. ONE of whom f,1.
lowed the same course and vent ont
into the big, strange world and we're
in turn lost to sight.
While wondering what the solution
could be I CHANGED to meet a boyhood
friend, Charlie. When l knew him
he was trying to get a foothold
in a big city in the practice OF law.
He had had a hard struggle with pow
erty from early youth. but he was
and determined, and never lost
sight of his deal. AS soon as he
a slight education he began teach
ing in the country schools in the
winter time. while the summer was
spent working on a railroad
grade or in a village store. AS fast
IS he got money enough together he
a year at school, and he read
and Kent when he could
a few minutes which other duties
lid not demand. AT last he got
through the law department of an
Eastern university, and went to the
.ity, where big fee are to be had. He
lad all the elements of a great law
'er in him. and we confidently expect.
d to hear of his early and pronounced
uccess. When l saw him last he was
enthusiastic over the future; said he .
new his. profession, and that while he
vas getting no practice yet it was
'ound to come, because such as he
in demand. When I met him the
ther day he had all the appearance
t a prosperous man, and I said to him
Well, l suppose you made h bust
ess go, as you planned" yes" he
eplied, but not the business. I had
yas entirely out of money, in debt as
us 1 COulu Sel,5 Lu~dLAlueTe WAS
o demand for me in the law business.
knew the assistant general manager
f a railroad, and I went to him and
sked for something to do. He gave s
lie a place which barely paid enough |
, keep me, but it was better than I ]
ad as a lawyer, and l tool it. have I
promoted. and am now making /
good salary. 1 own my own home,
ave a dear wife and two delightful !,
hildren, and am as well contented t
5 a man ought to be. 1 used to want t
be a famous lawyer; now I want j
} be promoted as I am able to make
ood."
The other day I passed a large retail |
ouse. / thought I saw a chap that =
'oked familiar. I took a SECOND look I
nd went in to satisfy myself. l was !
ght - middle aged man was U
eorge-and we were boys together 7
had been lost to his friends for u
ears, but when he recognized me the II
smile broke over his earnest :
;
sWe1Io said "wbat has becOme OF Z