Evening star., 1905-10-22

established themselves accordingly, were all
but starving at the end OF their first year
for lack of patients. In less than half that
time we had put our anxious days and
sleepless nights BEND US. and. at the end OF
that period were able to fit up coy sitting
room and q guest room besides.
Sometimes the young physician who aims
too high makes a miserable mess of 1t,
while his brother who starts out modestly
wins out. For this is the way Of the world
often the inexplicable way.
Smith, when he left college, went to
section of Pittsburg populated by hard
working. wage-earning Germans. Just
about the time that he was gaining recognf-
tion he got an idea that he would make
decided hit in the fashionable East End,
and began looking about for what he con-
sidered a suitable location
While he was thus engaged, Jones, fresh
from hospital, began casting about for
an opening, and incidentally learned that
Smith was desirous of moving He went to
the latter, and after looking over the field.
offered to take the lease of the house off
his hands and pay him couple of hundred
dollars to boot. Smith eagerly snatched at
the Offer and soon put UP his nameplate In
the golden region of his dreams.
In less than a year he was at the end OF
his rope, and in all that time his services
had not been solicited once Sick at heart
and discourag ged, he took to drink, his office
furnishings were pawned, piece by piece,
and today he is clear down and out.
But Jones-modest Jones-is fast becom-
ing prosperous laboring among the work.
men that Smith despised He has married.
has bought the house he started in, and is
laying aside money with which to take
two years course of study abroad-his
hearts fondest professional desire.
What becomes of the young physician
who gets clear down and out? The follow
ing incident. vouched for by a reputable
surgeon of New York partly answers the
question:
my wife was laid up with severe case
of measles last winter, and SO the care Of
the children and the house temporarily fell
into my hands. One afternoon after office
hours / went to department store to pur-
chase some Undertaking for the children
I was waited on by young man OF. per-
haps. thirty years. He was attentive. ana.
as thought at the time. somewhat more
intelligent than the average clerk. 3
+ "After selecting the underciothine re-
ouested that 1t be sent to the house. and in
giving him the name prefixed 1t with my
handle.
'.The next moment I was astonshed to
hear the clerk exclaim with Unsurpassed
excitement:
For Gods sake, doctor, won't you give
me a job?"
why, my dear man. answered, when
I could catch my breath, I haven't any
thing that you could do
But you have, DOCTOR he insisted,
pathetically I'm graduate physician,
like yourself
And then, as I looked at him in sheer
amazement. he explained.
"It seems that after leaving school and
hospital he set up an office in the upper
west side. Two weeks passed, and no pa
tient. Two months, and no patient. Six
months, and only one patient-and he was
well In a week. At the end of eight months
the young fellows slender supply of money
had given out, and he was not in position
to borrow another cent. Following in the
footsteps OF more than one physician, he
began pawning his instruments, hoping that
before long his luck would turn. He hoped
in vain and with the last thing of value in
an 'uncle's' clutches and his rent two
months behind, and his stomach gnawing
relentlessly, he gave up the struggle
For a week he wandered the streets.
dazed and living he scarcely knows how.
but 1t must have been by begging. or pilfer-
ing from fruit and vegetable stands. At
the end of that time his self-respect reas-
in a Sunday paper that he found discarded
in park. learned that the department store
in which I ran across him was In need of
extra clerks, applied, and was taken on.
.A
"He had been there nearly two years
when he made his truly pathetic plea to
me. But, poor fellow, could not help him
in the way he wanted me to, and daresay
that he is still selling underwear in the big
Broadway store.
Not all the graduate physicians who are
engaged in non-professional work are to be
numbered among those who are down and
out.
Not long ago a friend Of the writer was
having some electrical work done in his
home. He got to talking with the young
man sent to do the job. and was surprised
to learn that he held certificate emitting
him to practice medicine.
"But it is impossible for me to practice
until have sum of money sufficient to
carry me through my first year" he ex-
planned. when I left medical school L
had just enough money in my pocket to pay
my board bill for two weeks In half that
time / did some pretty hard thinking, let
me tell you. with the result that during ale
second week I landed job with this cleo
trIcal company. I've been with them nearly
eighteen months now: in that time my
wages have been raised twice, and now [
am able to lay aside neat little sum each
week. When I have $1,000 saved up L
shall quit the job and then begin my real
work. Sure of enough money with which
to keep starvation away while my practice
is starting, 1 shall have no fear of eventual
success"