The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-02-25

WoodT" asked Miss Arabella Stevens
a wealthy young lady much interested
In charitable work "He doesn't look
like a 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 who
loved the poor so we'll as to saw wood
for them. II was hard enough TO get
the men TO give money, and when a
man hadn't that to give he gave moth.
ing.
isn't 1t perfectly loveIyT said Miss
Stevens.
"such true charity" remarked the
president.
Reminds one OF the sacrifice Of the
widow who gave her mite" observed
the secretary.
II wonder who he is anywayT' asked
a director
Hes aristocratic looking even while
doing work so far beneath a gentle
man." put In another director
HE ennobIes the work." added a
third.
When after month had rolled
round and the board met again at the
same place and hour, there was Billy
bending over saw buck getting him
self in shape to gorge himself again at
dinner. Tie board was thrown into
autter of admiration compared with
which the original discovery Of the
friend of the'po0r was as nothing. How
could this charitable wonder be utiI-
iEed in the world of philanthropy 1t
was like finding diamond in the mud.
Billy was sent for to appear before the
board and, without being given an OPP
poPtunity to give true account of him
self, was obliged to listen to adulation
that astonished him. Then he blushed
and said that saving wood was excel
lent exercise.
did you ever see such modesty?"
whispered the secretary to the treas
urer.
'"Fhe only genuine exposition Of Let
not your right hand know what your
left hand doeth' have ever met with,"
replied the treasurer
Then the president asked Billy IL he
would accept the position of supeffn-
tendent OF all the charities under the
direction Of the bureau Billy was too
astounded to reply. Then the preai.
dent told him that his charitable ma
| ture was only equaled by his modesty
| and he should have week to consider
! the matter.
Before the end of the week Billy re-
celyed an Invitation TO dine with Miss
Stevens and ate so enormous n, dinner
that the lady remarked:
Poor man! He works so hard for
others it's no wonder he needs to ear
heartily"
Every man needs opportunity, ana
Billy Bentley had found his. Whether
he would have grasped 1t had 1t not
been for the interest Miss Stevens
took in him Is another matter. Certain
II Is that Billy, seeing a possibility OF
possessing her and her fortune, CON.
| centrated his faculties on hts work.
Naturally he turned to labor saving.
Now, some managers will work very.
hard and accomplish little. OtlR-
ers will work very little and accom-.
pllsh a great deal
Billy was one og the latter kiIh
Though he sat at htS desk skarpening
his pencil, be managed tbs United
l Charities remarkably WELL But th1l
was merely starter. Mr. Bentley d.
veloped an administrative talent tbRt
was truly surprising. One OF his old
acquaintances calhd 1t "a genius foI
finding ways Of d0Ing nothing where
there was much to- be doneswithoutriR
convenience or other evil result
Bentley was offered one position 1ftel
. another. each a step higher than thu
laa, until he became president o. I
mammoth trust
or course Mr.. Bentley married Mis-
stevens. and this was one OF the sec
Nndary causes Of his remarkable. ris,
Ia the world. But. on me other hand
his fortune IL now 80 great that besid
: Il his wife's ~ Insignificant.