The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-17

with rafroad prcsrfents, 'inancIgrs,
bankers. capitalists and other men
whose positions we're In a greater or
less degree commanding.
At first he modestly held himself as
nothing more than the tool and servitor
Of these great men, but presently he
began TO suspect that they were not
very great men after ALTO soc that II
was usually no himself who devised
and suggested the enterprises that
these men undertook, and he who saved
them from mistakes In tho execution
Of those enterprises.
Cuilford Duncan had never In his
life kept diary. He regarded that
practice as useless puerillty and usu.
ally an indulgence In morbid self com
munlng and unwholesome self con-
scionsness, but 1t was his practice
sometimes late Mt night to set down
upon paper such thoughts as had In
terested him during tho day for the
sole sake Of formulating them In his
own mind. Often he would In this way
discuss with himself questions con.
cerning which he hnd not yet matured
bis opinion,
"I'ye been IN conference this day"
ho wrote one night. with half doz-
en nabobs-.n0t great nabobs. but sec.
ond rate ones. All this hns put new
thought into my mind. Why should
not |. Gullford Duncan. make myself n
leader. captain or even command.
Ing general Of affnIrsi But the man
who would do things OF any conse.
quence In business ways must have
money. The bank account is his tool
chest.
II suggested some combinations to.
night 10 those nabobs. and they are
going TO carry them out. They would
never have thought Of the combina-
tons but for my suggestion. But they
can and will carry them out. with
great credit and profit 10 themselves,
because they hive command Of money.
I could not even think Of conducting
such affairs, simply because have no
command OF money.
"Very well. then. shall proceed TO
get money, just rs | should study to
acquire skill In n profession or Just as
I should read up the law pertaining TO
q matter with which must deal"
Duncan was greatly admired but III.
tie understood by his fellows In the
service OF the lIalam firm or by the
similar people who thronged the town.
His fellows in and out OF the Office
were commonplace young men. all
looking TO the main chance alone and
pursuing II with only such honesty OF
conduct as business prudence requir-
cd. They felt no further interest In
their work than such AZ was necessary
to enable them to retain their places
and their salaries.
Therefore they did not understand
Guilford Duncan. Neither could they.
They regarded with amazement and
almost with lncredulity his manifesto
tions OF sensitive honor and Of un.
selfish loyalty to duty. They thought
OF him MS sort OF freak or what we
should nowadays call crank.
OF course they could not fail to rec.
ognize his ability. but they thought him
q good deal OF fool. nevertheless. for
not taking selfish advantage Of the op-
portunities that so frequently came to
him. They could not understand why
be should go out OF his way. as he
very often did to render services to
the firm which were In no way requir.
ed or expected OF him. Especially
they conld not understand why, when
he had rendered such services In a
way to attract Captain Hallam's pleas.
ed attention. he didn't strike for
something better" a they phrased
their thought.
In one especial ease their amaze
ment over his neglect OF an opportu-
nifty bred something Ike contempt Of
him In thcr minds. II was the prac.
Continued on page 81
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