New-York tribune., 1905-04-09


into Mr. Shonts's Office instead OF to the cashiers
department AS soon the visitor was well
inside the presidents Office he heard the key
turn in the lock.
Good morning. said Mr.. Shonts. rising as
his caller hesitated 7 understood that you were
looking for me. so I left orders for you to be
shown right IN as 500 as you came 20 the
Office. I have heard thai you intended to do mo
up for some grievance that you think you have.
Is that cOrrect?'
That's right said the contractor; 7 said It.
and 1 meant It, II you'u step outside of your
oface I'll show you that meant what ] said.
too. by giving you the best licking you ever had
In your life
Mr.. shonts took or his coat Wen settle
1t right here he said The outside door Is
locked and there VIII be no interruption. Take
off your coat and do It pretty quick
The contractor shed his coat. and IA about
three seconds there was the prettiest mtE-up In
that Office that you ever saw, It lasted about
five minutes. possibly. and when it was ended
the Clover Leaf president was top and the
Clover Leaf contractor was underneath. with q
countenance that looked like Hamburg steak.
Have you got enough?' asked Mr.. Shontss
seserving that his antagonist had ceased "a
struggle, and seemed about to lapse into Uneons
sciousness-
"'Yes: let me up; I've got all wantssgAsDs1
the other.
Mr. Shonts allowed his visitor % rise. handed
him his coat. and rang the bell for the dooEuau-
"'show this gentleman OUT said he. az ths
door was unlocked and the porter uaadar hls aD4
pearance He viii not be back
"And no wasn't.
when a man in any walk OF Hfs gosz acsas
things as shonts does" concluded his admiEsE,
"he can accomplish anything. The consHuctioEs
Of the Panama Canal viii bo child's play tor
HIM"
On another occasion Mr.. Shouts did n0e> faza
so weI though the incident did not have any
OF the features OF a fight. even row. The
railroad chief simply sought to teach an N bred
fellow lesson in pOliteness. but the bore turned
the tables on him. AS the story goes, AIE shont8
was seated in his Office one day when. unan.z
uounced. roughly clad fellow entered
"shonts imp queried the intruder.
''Who?'' asked the magnate.
why. Shonts. the main guy OF De goaASsEsz
turned the newcomer
"Oh. I'm Mr.. shonts." said that Individual,
what do you want?"
I'm brakeman and want Job n yom
road"
"Oh is that au?' returned the railroad head.
he sized up his visitor. 'Well. III tell you. my
friend. you don't go about it right. You should
have better manners. That isn't the way TO
come into this Office and ask for position. Let
show you Now you sit there. and watch
me-"
Mr.. shOnts arose from his chair. picked uD
his hat and walked out into the hall. Then he
knocked on the door and re-entered his Office.
Good day. sir began the big railroader. "Is
Mr.. Shonts in? Yes sir; what is it you wish2
I'm looking for employment. and would like a
position as brakeman on your road.
That's the way TO do it." said Mr.. ShOnts.
turning to the would-be brakeman. as he fin
ished the lesson In poIiteness. Now. you do as
did. and Wen see the outcome"
The visitor took UP his hat and went out into
the hall \ moment later there was knock on
the door Mr.. Shonts. in a firm but kindly tone.
said: Come in and in staIked the job hunter.
rs Mr.. Shonts in?' ne asked. very politely.
YES. sir" answered Mr.. Shonts, with smile.
and we'll pleased with the aptitude Of his pupil
in politeness. What can I do for you?"
You can so 10 -P' retorted the rude Job
hunter. as he quickly bolted out
And the railroad president laughed loud and
long.
Up in Beverly Hills. a little vine-grown sub
urb OF Chicago. there is no joy over Mr..
Shonts's sudden rise to prominence In a gray
one and a half story cottage live the venerable
parents of the man who is TO dig the canal. and
every word they see in print about the isthmus
is like knife thrust in their hearts
When Thedss mother heard OF his gettin'
that job" said Henry d. Slonts. the father OF
the commissioner. "she wept tears that We're
big as saCcers- There's too many mosquitoes
and fever germs down there. No. we don't
think much Of Theds's new job and We were a
hOpin that he would turn it down"
Mr.. and Mrs. ShOnts are each more than
eighty years old. and. though "Theds" stands
six feet In his stockings. he is stiu to them tho
little yOungster who filed their souls with pride
when he repeated more than two hundred
verses from the Bible"
Once the boy went TO sleep IN church. ard
there was great search for him. His father
and mother did not miss him until bedtime that
Sunday evening. and. after hunting the whole
high and low. he found
curled up in the family pew. snoring Justify.
but 'Theds' was a good boy-once." his mother
says BY once" she means. probably. before
be accepted job in fever ridden Panama.
The strong religious spirit in the family dates
back to the early feudal days OF the sixteenth
century, VIXEN the ancestors OF the present
Canal Commissioner in their wars captured q
pretty. golden haired maid. This little maid
was always reading. They found the book
hidden one day. Il was the Gospel oG St. Johls