Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-08
CITY DISCOYERER
And A FINANCIER

One pleasant afternoon last week the CITY
Diseoverer was returning hogneward from a
| long and pleasant ramble around the out
| skirts or washington when, on a shaded
| road In Rock Creek Park he came upon
an elderly gentleman, irreproachably clad
and of sleek and prosperous appearance.
| who was evidently In great mental distress.
The sleek and elderly person was walking
from one side of the road to the other
wringing his aristocratic hands wildly and
| choking heavy sobs into an all-linen hand
| kerchief
| My dear sir" cried the Dscoverer. his
milo blue eyes beaming with sympathy be-
hind his goid-rimmed glasses. what 10 the
matter! Is there anything I can do?"
| Sir, said the sleek and elderly person In
ouavery tones. as he gased upon the Dis
coverer with tear-dimmed eyes. ARE you a
| father"
| am, replied the Discoverer in soma
! establishment ''''
DO you love your SOM" aueried the dis
| consulate stranger
II Is daughter" replied the Discoverer
difldently. bat +"
| 1T makes no difference" replied the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES man as he sobbed three
times In succession. "You love your child
do you not?''
| or course" replied the Discoverer with
increasing Amusement
Is 1t Forbidden" questioned the sad
stranger again. "for a father to provide for
| his own3'
Certainly not replied the Discoverer
| confidently. ''in fact. II is"
| then symDathize with me-" cried the
sleek and elderly stranger as he began To
pace back and forth.
Won't You tell me the circumstances of
the caser' the Discoverer asked after a
pause
| The sleek and well-dressed stra,psr
| stopped and clutched the Discoyerer by The
arm. Listen" he said, "and take warn
ing. for many years 1 have been at the
Ieaa Oh great business concern; In fact.
l may truthfully speak OF It as one of the
sreatest business concerns In the city OF
| new york, and have been its head In fact
as wen as In name. 1t has always been
l grow too old to handle the retns Com
sequentiy, when my son came out of col
iese gave him modest position In the
"A very proper thing to do" commented
the Discoverer.
Thank you,' said the sleek and elderly
slrahseI sratefuiiy As l was saying. I
gave him modest place as my private
secretary at salary of $4,000 a year He
hadn't much business talent, l regret to
say, or should have started him or with
good salary"
Gracious" cried the City Discoyerer
Yes, continued the elderly stranger II
am glad you appreciate my motives. But
of the routine business quite Satisfactorily
and In the course of a year / was able to
give him slight advance, making his
salary $4,000 a year."
Heavens" cried the Discoyerer
know l might have made It more"
continued the elderly stranger apoIosetIc-
any; but my duty to the company's stock
mot
son above others. But some time after
that was able to fix it so that he could
get commission on all the company's for
e1gn business. While / haven't been able
to carry out my plans with regard to his
future as well as I should like, he now
makes between $4,000 and $4,000 a
Fury" cried the Discoverer and then in
calmer tone he inquired, Did your son
eign busness?'
The elderly stranger smiled for the first
time OF course not he replied. but
what difference does that maker"
But the City Discoverer was past the
power OF speech and stared at the sleek and
elderly stranger In open-mouthed amaze
ment
Then" the stranger continued. ''as my
son was fixed in a modest little way, I
thought I would try to do something for
my son-in-law. He was a young man with
out any experience and with but little COM
mon sense. according to my strict judg-
than $4,000 a year to start"
But he gets more now, doesn't her" in
quired the Discoverer in dream voice
"Oh, yes" replied the elderly stranger
gravely, II managed to fix It so that he
now gets commission on all domestic
business and he makes between 100000 and
100000 year IN addition to his salary"
Does he have anything to do with the
domestic business?" inquired the Discover
er. moistening his lips and breathing heav-
ily 70, course not" replied til. elderly
stranger. smiling for the second time He's
studying stenography, though. But what
difference does that maker?
Did you provide for any more Of your
relatives?" the Discoverer at last managed
to inquire.
ooh, yes. replied the elderly stranger,
but wasn't able to do much for them.
I've got couple Of cousins in the COM
pany at $4,000 year and several more
distant relatives receive between $4,000 and
$751; 900 apiece. I'd promote them. but they
don't take much interest in the business
And may I ask said the Discoverer.
wrinkling his brow In a puzzled way. why
you were SO sad?'
Sir" said the sleek and elderly stranger.
lat the present time a state commission is
inv estigating my company and 1 am afraid
that the sensational manner in which the
facts are being exploited around the coun-
try will bring to naught the plans l had
made for providing for my family. Is 1t
not enough to make father weep?'
1.-The people who put their money into
your CohccTh VIII DC quite angry, WON
they?" inquired the Discoverer
II fear so.' replied the elderly stranger,
sobbing anew into his ali-lnen handker-
chief. They will not consider a fathers
feelings and faith
May l ask you who you are?" inquired
the Dfscoverer CURLY.
Il am President McCurdy OF the New
York Life Insurance Company" the sleek.
elderly stranger replied
And what was your salary?" the Dis
coverer inquired as he started on down the
read.
II haven't got any salary: Just help my
SELF the sleek, elderly stranger replied
Heavens, who would have thought II,
muttered the City D.scoverer gioomily, az
he walked swiftly homeward.