Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-07
DAILY. STORY Y.
THE RISE OF WILLIAM BENTLEY
[Original.l

tOriginal.l
William Bentley, having an enor-
nous appetite, was driven to exercise
or death. He reluctantly chose ezer-
else.
No one ever thought of calling him
Mr.. Bentley or even William. He was
universally known as Billy Bentley.
When Billy announced his intention to
take exercise every one laughed.
great many kinds of exercise were Of
fered to him. most of them for the pur-
pose of guying him. One day the do
mimic said to him:
Billy. if you wish to take exercise
and don't care to benefit yourself by it
except in health. why not do something
to benefit others
How" asked Billy.
AT the bureau of united charities we
need men to saw wood. Wood saving
is the best remedy "A dyspeptic can
take Go up there every day and give
Your services to the poor, and perhaps
the Lord will return them to you null
| tiplied.
Billy took the hint. Arrayed in
! frock coat. white waistcoat and
| silk hat. he went to the bureau and
sawed wood from > till >. Then he
went home. took bath and ate din
ner that required another two hours
work To digest. He felt so much bet
ter that he kept up the wood saving
| with great regularity.
One day soon after Billy commenced
to saw there was Il meeting of the
| lady directors of the bureau i'll the
building overlooking the woodward.
Billv was engaged in digesting his yes
terdays dinner.
who's that out in the yard saving
wood asked Miss Arahella Stevens,
a wealthy young lady much interested
i'll charitable work. He doesn't lOol.
like Il pauper.'
! The manager was called in and queS
toned. She reported that the gentle
mans name was Bentley and that he
sawed wood. she supposed. from an in
tereSt in the poor.
Now, the ladies present had husbands
or brothers or sons. but none of them
had ever seen or heard Of man whI
loved the poor so well as 10 saw Wool
for them. 1t was hard enough to gei
the men to give money. and when !
man hadn't that to give he gave moth
ing.
Isn't it perfectly lovely?' said Mis-,
Stevens.
such true charity" remarked the
president.
Reminds one of the sacrifice of tho
widow who gave her mite observed
the secretary.
Il wonder who he is anyway?' asket
a director.
Hes aristocratic looking even Will,
doing Il work so far beneath gentle
man. put in another director.
He ennoblcs the work." added
third.
When after Il month had rollct
round and the board met again at tn
same place and hour. there was Bill
bending over a saw buck getting him
self in shape to gorge himself again Il
dinner. The board was thrown into
flutter of admiration compared Wit
which the original discovery of til
: friend of the poor was as nothing. HOY
, could this charitable wonder he uti
) lied in the world of philanthropy?
was like finding a diamond in the mut
J Billy was sent for to appear before til
board and, without being given an OF
! pOrtunlty to give a true account of hin
self. was obliged TO listen to adulatio
= that astOnished him. Then he blushe
and said that saving wood was exec
lent exercise.
Did you ever see such modeSty
e whispered the secretary to the trea
$ urer.
$ THE only genuine exposition of IL
+ not your right hand know what yol
+ left hand dOeth' have ever met with
& replied the treasurer.
S. Then the president asked Billy if l
would accept the position of superb
@ tendent of all the charities under Il
Il direction of the bureau. Billy was &c
=. astounded to reply. Then the pres
/, dent told him that his charitable III
- ture was only equaled by his modest
. and he should have week to consid,
the matter.
= Before the end of the week Billy T.
ceived an invitation to dine with Mi
Stevens and ate 50 enormous a dnn
u that the lady remarked:
: Poor man. He works so hard f
i others it's no wonder he needs to e
g. heartily
y Every man needs opportunity. al
10 Billy Bentley had found his. Wheth
he would have graSped 1t had it II
Il been for the interest Miss Steve
IT. took in him is another matter Certa
It. it is that Billy, seeing a possibility
! possessing her and her fortune, co
Id centrated his faculties on his wor
Id Naturally he turned to labor savin
I'd Now, some managers will work We
err hard and accomplish very little OF
ed ers will work very little and accol
at plSh n great deal
ne Billy was one of the latter kiI
at Though he sat at his desk sharpeni
his pencil he managed the Unit
lie Charities remarkably well. But Il