The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1910-05-05
The RISE OF A
MESSENGER BOY
How BeIVidere Brooks Became
Western Unions Manager.
TELLS HOW HE SUCCEEDED.
Feels Responsibility to Big Telegraph
Company That Employs Him and
Does His Duty as Well as Ho Can.
Full Pledged Operator at Twelve.

Company That Employs Him and
Does His Duty as Well as Ho Can
Full Pledged Operator at Twelve.
From a messenger boy earning So a
month to general manager of the whole
! Western Union Telegraph company.
with salary said to equal that Of the
president of the United States. is the
span just crossed by Belvidere Brooks.
ut took forty years to climb that
ladder. but reached it by telling the
truth and always having in mind the
interests Of my employer" said the
new general manager in his Office, at
New York. the other day.
So unaffected is the new head of the
10000 men of the Western Union that
one would think him still a telegraph
operator and ready to send a message
for you for quarter. His rise is all
the more remarkable for the reason
that when he was eleven years old he
had to go to work, and his only edu-
cation was the teachings of his mother
and what he picked up from the oper-
ators.
Mr.. Brooks is now just past the fifty
year mark, but he still maintains the
round, boyish face that is known from
California to Maine. He is ever smiling
and apparently getting the best out of
life that he can. Even as he talks
and he doesn't say much-his face is
wreathed in smiles.
Comes From Texas.
I'm long horner," said Mr.. Brooks,
having been born in Robertson coun-
ty, Tex. nearly fifty-one years ago.
When little more than eleven years old
| got place as messenger boy for the
Western Union company at So
month. 1t was not much money. but l
was prouder of that than / am now of
my place. After working six months,
during which time | studied telegra-
ply day and night with the aid of the
operators, | could send a message. but |
it took longer TO be able to take one. / |
got over that difficulty. and though / |
was bit slow at first. | picked up |
enough to do the work when the oper-
ator was away, and when was
twelve years old l was a full fledged |
operator.
'In those days telegraphy was little
known away down in my town, and
when | walked home at night | re-
the neighbors saying: There
he goes He can use that darn thing
that you can talk through with your
fingers l tried to explain it to my
but they looked upon it as
very mysterious. One day
was showing friend how it worked,
and he got a shock. OF course it did
not hurt him, but he never touched
mother telegraph instrument as long
rs he lived. He said the devil was in
t. l was then operating in Navasota,
md from there l went to Waco as
Of the office, and soon after
hat-to be exact. in 1881 was mar
led. Then went to Ell Paso, thence
o Galveston and finally to Denver.
where l was made general manager
# the western district until $780,
when | was transferred to New York,
md on May l. 1902, l was made gen
raj superintendent of the eastern di-
'ision. and today the board of direct
RS named me general manager. /
m very proud of it. and l owe most
f my success to Colonel Robert G.
lowry. our president. whom | have
nown almost since l became identi-
ed with the company.
Felt Responsibility.
at was on April 1 that | first went
D work for the company, but it was
o April fool joke had to do it, and
did it WELL From the first day |
Fit responsibility to the company.
nd the feeling has always been my
uiding thought. Work first and play
fter, but always get enough sleep.
as been my motto. / have been a :
ard worker. and my new responsible :,
y. though far greater than any l I
ave previously assumed, seems no I
reater than when | first went to I
ork as messenger boy. l am re- Z
inded of those days every day l go +
)me. for the first one to greet me is I.
Y mother. She is now eighty-three +
ears of age. and we often speak Of I.
lose days down in Navasota." +
Mr. Brooks has four sonS-Gerald, Z
elvidere junior. Bruce and Joseph. +
r. Brooks is a member of the New +
Drk Athletic. the Lawyers, Railroad, +
,lumbia Yacht and the Lotos clubs. +
e lives at 125 Riverside drive, New +