The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-03-10

REWARDS
Mr.. SMITH

FRIDAY Sharon, Pa, Telegraph
speaks Of Dabney Smith, sef, Of NJ.
N. Swith, of this city, in the follow
ling very pleasing manner:
! With William A. Brady's musical
comedy, "Girls VIII be Girls" at
| THE Morgan Grand opera house last
might, playing the leading role in
the male quartette which rendered
some very fine singing, was a bright
young college man whose appearance
on the stage with the company
marks chapter in a rather remark
able adventure.
The young man referred to is
Dabney Smith, the son of prom
inent and wealthy resident Of
IClarksburg, Harrison county, West
Virginia. Three years ago Dabney,
who is quite wealthy in his own right
decided that he was cut out for
public career on the stage, Leav-
ing home of luxury and refine
ment, relinquishing temporarily his
rights to use any of his money OF
proceeds of his estate, he went out
into the world to demonstrate that n
Young man could win his way up the
ladder of fame far better with his
pluck, grit and determination alone
than with wealth at his command Ia
assist or retard him.
The story of Dabney's first year
from home is one characteristic Of
those young American lads who have
climbed up the long and wearisome
ladder to fame and renown. He Of
course met with difficulties and ex-
|perieticed all kinds of i'll fortune.
With spirit Of "never say die till
YOU have to- he kept a stiff upper
lip, refused in his pride to send back
to his home for money to assist him
land fought his way on.
When he first went TO New York
Mr.. Smith had Just enough money
to land him there and pay for his
board, for week. He arranged
this purposely, for he could have had
enough to keep him in fine style as
long as he wanted to. but his mind
was made up. Pretty soon his
money ran out and he couldn't get
an engagement. He said he would
go to work but work wasn't so easy,
to find in New York City as great
many people believe. Then follow
ed a period of disappointment and
actual poverty. He secured a job in
u newspaper Office finally, having
had some experience in a newspaper
venture in his home town, and start
ed to work with such vim that he
won no less than four promotions in
five months, meanwhile he had been
trying to get an engagement with
one of the operas or a musical con-
cert company. He has a fine rich,
powerful, melodious baritone voice
which he had trained and cultivated
and as soon as he demonstrated his
ability to the proper people he got
a minor engagement. He did so
well and worked so earnestly that
promotion soon came. On return
trips TO New York he was sought for
with the big church
choirs of the city. These engage
ments he had now filed in number
Of the large city churches and last
summer he was choirmaster of the
Protestant Episcopal church at Far
Rockaway, Long Island, church
which has one Of the wealthiest con-
gregations for its size in the country.
Mr.. Smiths present engagement
with Girls VIII Be Girls calls for
a large salary and his success is nov
assured.
At the close Of the present season,
before going to take utj the choirnas-
tership of a large church in New
York, Mr.. Smith will make the first
visit to his old home which. he left
several years ago. After attending
TO his property interests he will re-
turn to take up his work.
Mr.. Smith has resolved To 90 yet
farther and in proper time he ey-
pects to enter the ministry. He viii
likely enter theological seminary
next winter and become d minister.
He has a fine voice and is d speaker
of great force and eloquenee and he
lhas determined to take up work in
lChrist's cause. For some time past
he has been preparing himself IN
Theological studies in the spare mo-
lments he gets and Is very enthns-
liastic IN it. There is a bright fu-
lture before Mr.. Smith and he has
1.-THE gift in him to attain 10 a position
lofiprominenee IN the world.