The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-13


up his nameplate in the golden region
of his dreams
In less than 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 discouraged, ne TOOK
to drink, his Office furnishings were
pawned, piece by piece, and today ne
is clear down and out.
But Jones-modest JoneS-lS last
becoming prosperous iaDorlng among
the workmen shat Smith despised. He
has married, has bought the house ne
started in, and is laying aside money
with which to take a two years course
of study abroad-his hearts fondest
professional desire
Clear Down and Out.
What becomes of the young physi-
clan who gets clear down and out :
The following incident, vouched Tor by
a reputable surgeon of New orks
partly answers the question:
MY wife was laid up with a 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, l went
to a department store 10 purchase
some Undertaking for the children
1 was waited on by a young man of,
perhaps, thirty years. He was atten-
tive and, as I thought at the time,
somewhat more intelligent than the
averaC- clerk
requested that it be send to the house
ana in giving him the name prefixed
it with my handle.
'eThe next moment I was astOnished
to hear the clerk exclaim with i'll sup
pressed excitement:
For Gods sake, doctor. won't you
give me a job -
/" Why, my dear man. I answered,
when l could catch my breath, l
haven't anything that you could do.
But you have DOCTOR he insisted,
pathetically I'm a graduate physi-
clan, like YOURSELF
And then, as I looked at him in
sheer amazement, he explained.
st seems that after leaving school
and hospital he set up an Office in the
upper West Side. Two weeks passed,
and no patient. Two months, and no
patient. Six months, and only one pa
tient=and he was well in week Al
the end of eight months the young fell
/ lows supply Of money had given out
and he was not in a position to borrow
another cent. Following in the loot
steps of more than one physician, he
| began paWning his instruments mop
/ ing that before long his luck would
turn. He hoped in vain; and with the
] last thing of value in an uncle $
! clutches, and his rent two months be-
hind, and his stomach gnaW1ng re
I lentlesslv he gave up the struggle.
For week he wandered the
streets, dazed and living he scarcely
/ knows how, but it must have been by
begging. or pilfering from fruit and
vegetable stands. At the end of that
time his self-respect raasserted itself;
he looked over the want ads in q
Sunday paper that he found discarded
in a park, learned that the department
store in which I ran across him was
/ in need of extra clerks, applied, and
was taken on.
He had been there nearly two
years when he made his truly pathetic
plea to me. But, poor fellow, 1 could
not help him in the way he wanted
me to- and I dare say that he Is still
selling underwear in the big Broad
way 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
a certificate emitting him to practice
medicine.
But it is impossible for me to prac-
tice until have a sum OF money SUI
| ficient to carry me through my f1rsl
rear. he explained When left
medical school had just enough