Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26

the same. Groans In anguish, not for him.
SELF but on account of the thousand pas
sengers about to be added to the morgue
receipts. Suddenly remembers his aero
batic stunts of former days dabbles nus nus
handkerchief in blood until it's beauu1ui
red ties 1t around one of his busted legs,
walks down the track on his hands a mile
or so, flags the train and saves the whoie
push. Now he owns the road and a rev
others. Oh. lovelyl' And the dyspeptic
mussed up his morning paper some more
with his feet and swallowed couple OF
tablets.
Must Seize Opportunity.
Well" said the genial man, thoughtful
ly, I'm willing to admit for the sake OF
argument that the incidents you have men,
toned are real frilly and unusual. but I'm
not saying that they didn't happen. If a
man has got the stuff in him the color will
show some day and somehow, just at the
right particular minute of time, and If he
hasn't It won't. That's all there is to it.
The man who SEXES Mr.. Opportunity by
the back of the neck and rubs his nose in
the mud is there with the goods at the
finish every time"
"Shucks,' said the dyspeptic-looking
citizen, you talk like first reader. This
thing l hear mentioned as opportunity Is
nothing but luck-pure, simple and unadul-
terated luck. And as for man having
the stuff in him that's likewise bosh Some
men can work until they have bone felons
on every finger and callous spots under
their mats, and they don't get ahead, while
others only have to stand around and look
wise and luck will steal up behind and hit
them over the head. Don't talk to me. l
know"
My" said the contented citizen, "if
had your views on this subject I'd buy two
dollars worth of pepsin and take it all at
once. Your liver is loafing on you and
your spectacles don't fit. I'm going to tell
you little story. and I'll say first off that
III c n me- a W
body. because I'm government clerk on
far from fancy salary, and I've taken so
much advantage of opportunity and am so
beautifully fixed, financially, that nearly
have angina pectoris every time / spend
more than dollar all at once. But you
don't have to throw your searchlight out
side of Washington to size up one or two
situations nearly fancy as the ones you
outlined this morning. But that's got moth
ing to do with the yarn.
Right in His Town.
There's firm in Washington know
pretty well that employs a good deal of
help of various sorts. Along back in 1899
one of its office boys left and another
one name of Jim, was hired in his place.
The seat of his trousers was patched all
right, and 1 don't believe he had even the
four cents you mentioned as cash capital.
But, at any rate, he only had leg and
half the other one having been left lying
SOlneWHeTe dlteT IL TRAIN pdSSeu III
the Immediate vicinity. Jack didn't meet
any bank presidents or magnateS that I'm
aware of; he didn't rescue a capitalists
daughter from a watery grave and, so far
as / know, he never tagged a train or was
adopted. In fact he just grubbed along at
about four per week, doing things the best
he knew how and keeping mis- smile and his
whistle on tap frequently. His boss PROB
ably wasn't aware that he was on the
premises. The firm / have reference to
runs a little homemade philanthrop1c
game every now and then, and on Christ
mas distributes quite a few baskets of
grub to the poor of the city This partic-
ular year Jim was put to work helping to
pack up and pass out the turkeys ana
things, and he was fairly tickled to death.
Every time he passed out bunch of food
to some unfortunate he grinned almost as
eating the grub, and he seemed to take
genuine delight in the proceedings. That
day, just before closing time, one of the
office boys who knew the hero of this line
of conversation pretty well, walked into the
office of the head of the firm. Mr.. Smith,
he said, we boys would like to see Jim
have something to eat tomorrow. His faith
er hasn't been out of bed In good while,
and 1 don't believe either of them has had
a square meal in a month. They live in a
shed that's mighty near tumbling down,
and every time 1t SHOWS you could go sled
ding on the bed
Rides in His Own Auto.
well, of course, the basket of grub was
handed to Jim and some other little things
were done for him. But there weren't any
grand stand proceedings that I'm aware Of
and so far as know the head Of the firm
didn't clasp the lame boy to his bosom and
adopt him. That was only five or six years
fnd1V W