The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-04
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My son, said the old man - >
dying. = have nothing 10 len sou
but a recipe for gaining the confidence
of your fellow men Confidence is tile
basis Of all that leads on to fortune.
and Il you follow my advice explicitly
you VIII be prosperous and perhaps
prominent The adsic,, is this:
~DoTt expose your Ignorance or stu
pldity Never give an opinion. Look
wise and say uothIng"
Irving Shadrac. the legatee TO this
meager fortune, was Impressed. la.
deed. he began to act on the advice at
once His father had but one intimate
friend, man doIug a large business.
BE called upon Irving and asked him
to express his wishes concerning the
funeral Irving looked at him as
though be had been asked the question
OF his life He made no reply he
seemed to be considering.
IF you ike" said his qnestioner, 81
win attend to everything FOR you.'
Irving pressed his hand without
speaking
The funeral arrangements were well
attended to. and John Andrews or the
firm OF Andrews & Co. was proud OF
his success In having arranged very
impressive ceremony. When he met
the son after 1t was all over and asked
how he was pleased with his manage.
ment, Irving looked unutterable graft.
tude 1t occurred TO him to tell Mr.
Andrews why he so approved OF Il F.
arrangements; but. lest he should not
hit on what Mr.. Andrews considered
the principal feature, he held his peace.
There's good stun in that boy.9 said
the merchant II must get him into
my counting room. He'll never 60 of
half cooked. He'll never slop over"
Irving became one OF the lowest or
der of clerks In the house OF Andrews
& Co Whenever 1t was necessary for
him TO go into the private office OF the
head Of the firm he did what was
necessary, but did not speak. He look
ed as II he were carrying in his head
a solution Of all the various problems
that beset the welfare of the business.
Noticing this. Mr.. Andrews ON one or
two occasions, In order to test him.
submitted TO him some business cues.
ton and asked him what he would do
In the matter Irving at once put on
his visible thinking cap. Mr.. Andrews
asked him a leading question, which
gave away his own opinion. Then
Irving told him the way the thing
should be done-Mr. Andrews own
way. ys-a
Shadrac was made chief clerk and
then became a partner Meanwhile he
was following his fathers bequest In
every department of life. II a gath.
erinE Of citizens met to discuss the
water supply, be appeared to be doing
the thinking for the meeting, but new
er opened his mouth. II the yestry-
men OF his church discussed a ques-
ton OF finances. he, member, looked
at the ceiling thoughtfully and II ask.
ed for his opinion said, "I'm thinking"
Before the meeting broke up he had
learned what the majority wished and
advocated IT with every appearance OF
having reached the conclusion by pro.
found elaboration.
When 1t was proposed to send Irv-
ing Shadrac to congress he really
thought for. the first time In his life.
the subject OF his elaboration being
whether he could best serve his own
purposes by remaining in business or
going into politics. He decided for the
latter and went TO congress. There he
never opened his mouth. But he was
true AmeRlcan. going always with
the majority. Other congressman had
views which they fought for. shad.
rae bad no views except such. as were
Indicated by his dignihed and thought
ful appearance. Fortunately for him
he was getting bald and looked older
than he was. A man who never made
who was always on the right
side Of every qpestion-he could never
be on the wrong side except in a vote,
and then he had the majority with
him-could not but grow in impor.
lance, and Congressman Shadrac step
Peu III uLne from the mouse or repre-
sentatiyes into the senate chamber.
One day the president sent for him.
shadrac responded and sat down with
the nations chief. an expression on
his face Indicating that he was ready
to solve even the question OF the Pan
anna canal.
Senator" said the president, "a
portfolio ia my cabinet Is about to be-
come vacant"
shadrac was sitting with his right
leg over his left he Immediately
changed, putting his left over his
right. He appeared to be ready to
consider the various names concerning
which the president would ask his
preference.
Il find that your state Is behind in
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