The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-13

young. With him came a brother, Jo-
seph, three years younger. The boys
had been well educated in Ireland
we'll educated enough to enable them
to teach school Locating In a town
of 1000 Inhabitants they sought en-
ment.
The town board was in need Of a
school teacher, and James Murphy Sc
cured the position. The younger broth
err, however, was forced TO seek other
means of livelihood, because there had
been only one vacancy in the schools.
He secured a job as clerk in the post
office, and at a considerably lower
wage than his brother was 10 draw.
James Murphy was success as a
school teacher That is why he failed
later-he thought he could do nothing
else The position only paid $45 a
month. but be was content with that,
for while at least Two years went on,
still he taught school at $45 month.
In the meantime his brother had been
winning laureis in the postoffice. He
was a bright young fellowTno brighter,
however. than his elder brother, but il
was only a few months before he made
himself Indispensable in the postOffice.
The postmaster, desiring to give more
time to his private affairs, let the young
man run the federal institution, who
learned all of the mail business that he
could in an Office so small as the one in
this town. But the clerkship enabled
him to become acquainted with mail
clerks that run on the trains and from
conversation with them and study Of
the map he became familiar with the
routing of the mails not only in his
vicinity but of all mail destined to the
northwest. He knew about in what bag
a letter addressed to Grub Center. s. D.,
went, as well as one addressed to Red
Wolf, Wyo.
1t was not so difficult to secure a posi-
ton as mail clerk on the railroad then
as it is now. The civil service qualif-
cations had not been put into effect.
and he made application for a job.
To his surprise he was notified that
there was a position open TO him-if ne
was experienced. Though he had no ac-
tual experience sorting mail on trains,
he felt that he did know the business,
and he stretched the truth just a little
and told the company he had had ex-
| perienee.
He was accepted. and backed by. self
confidence that he would not fail he
made his first trip. 1t is true he was
Bit nervous. but he held himself in
check, and worked so well that at the
end of his run his companion re-
marked:
well. you're the best new partner
I've ever had"
Thus was the way OF Joseph Murphy.
Thirsting for more knowledge, he ex-
tended his learning OF the business of
carrying mails A dozen years later he
was given the post of superintendent
Of mails of his division, and his salary
was increased from $50 a month to 500
His brother was still struggling away
in the small Minnesota town. His pay
had not been raised, but he had taken
unto himself a bride, and it was not
| long before there were other mouths to
feed-still at $40 a month. Once he was
offered the position as principal of the
schools, but he hesitated. and said:
mo, I don't believe I'll try it. I
might not be what they wanted, and
then perhaps ] should be out of Job.
So the school trustees gave the place
to woman. less experienced and even
less capable than himself, who had no
difficulty in giving satisfaction.
Then his brother Joseph came to his
aid
"Now let me get you job in the man
service. I can fix ii all right so that
you can hold it even while YOU are
learning. You have just as good an
education as l have and your mind is
just as active. You win have no trou-
bic mastering the work
But again the brother hesitated He