Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-17
The Directors Report.

The Green Anchor line colossus, Siroc-
co, homeward bound from New York, was
feeling her way in the thick fog ike a
blind man without guide. On the
bridge the captain and chief officer com
paved anxious notes; forward the men
dis1a rged profanity and tobacco juice
Win equal fluency. and kept on the qui
yive, They knew they were not hun
dred miles from the celebrated Barnacles
"a cruel reef, cemetery of many a stout
ship. The engine room was aware of
the fact also, and babe no more rejoice.
In the saloons, however, all went merry
as the marriage bell. The first-eIass
men passengers had got to the coffee and
cigar stage of an excellent dinner. and
conversed among themselves with the
fine, full-blooded confidence of men who
had done themselves well.
Septimus @. Browbetter, million
aire, ship-owner and director of the
Green Anchor line, sprawling in a big
leather chair, chewed the end of his Ha-
vana contentedly. The world went very
well with him. He was. strong and ford
and healthy, with pulse as ''reg'lar as
quarter day, sir, and digestion like a
sausage machine"
A little quiet man had just asked Mr.
| Browbetter what was the secret of his
success in life Here was a theme which
the millionaire loved. 1t lent itself to
post prandial eloquence. He settled the
bulk of his double chins in his capacious
collar, took long puff at his cigar and a
sip at his green Chartreuse, and replied,
in loud, masterful voice:
Resolution, sir-iron viii and resolu.
ton. That's the recipe. A determine
tion never to let things stand in my way
| always settled the line | would take.
and ! always settled anybody who inn
peded my progress. They'd got to 60
sir, every time, Push hustle scrimmage,
sir Shove men and circumstances over
| Shoulder 'em out Of the way That's
my advice to young man starting M
/ life. Make up your mind, go for the
goal, and stamp on opposition There's
your chart for success IN a nuts shell,
sir!"
is that your advice to every young
fellow?" asked the quiet little man.
Certainly. You can't beat it,
And you would like every man to
follow it?"
I've said So"
Doesn't it seem to you rather inhu-
mann"
do YOU'RE talkin' rot. Life's a
scrap-a shindy--a Rugby scrimmage
| Every man for himself is my motto,
an the devil take the hindmost I've
taken care OF myself; let others take
care of themselves, Every tub ON its
own bottom, l say!"
But that's rank anarchy" said the
little Taan. Society would break up if
everybody acted on those lines. There
would be no order-no method. If peo4
pie went about stamping ON each other
with determined resoutionif they all
adopted your chart of SUGGESTIVE pres
ent muddle of diluted bogus collectivism
and semi anarchy in which we live would
be even more complicated and impossi-
BILE"
/ We'll, you've heard my game" said
Mr.. Browbetter, brutally. LET them
| play ii as can. Them as is too weak can
90 to the wall--an' the"
/ The sentence was not completed. At
that moment Mr.. Browbetter and the
rest of the people on the Sirocco felt
terrific shock There was series of
nerve -wracking thuds and bumps, hor-
rible cracking, grating noise, a splinter
ing and crashing, shrieks and cries of
distress, and loud wailing cry of THE
ships struck"
The Siroceo was on the dreaded Bar
nacies.
Stewards ran about warning passen-
gers to get on deck with all speed. The
well trained, disciplined crew were mus
tered. and took their allotted stations
The boats We're got ready and lowered,
and coolly and calmly the captain shout
ed his orders to his lieutenants, who as
calmly and eoolly saw them carried ont.
The ships officers busted themselves
forming the passengers into squads. The
women and children gathered in one pale.
huddled group, Gained by the steady,
calm demeanor of the stewardesses. The
men, however. We're more difficult to
handle and only the stern determination
of. the officers prevented a number of
them from rushing the boats.
Septimus @. Browbetter was one
II the ringleaders His rudy face had
grown CHASTITY with terror, and in his
panic he was gestieulating and dashing
about the deck like q mailman.
Suddenly the vessels bow parted and
went down, and a shower of spume and
spray broke over the company gathered
in the waist and stern.
1t was more than Mr.. Browbetter
could stand. He made rush toward
the boats, but was Immediately brought
up and checked,
'Do YOU know who / ann" he bel
lowed I'm director of the Green An.
Choir line and I'm not going to be
drowned like rat in a trap for all the
captains that ever sported gold braid"
MIR, Browbetter,8 replied the captain.
steadily. you may be director on
shore but I'm director here. I've 400
lives to save-yours among them-and
can save all There are boats enough.