Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-05-25

when II is necessary for
him to make a choice of
his life work, that the occupation of
fireman presents certain attractive
features? This is especially the case
when your boy is of a temperament
which demands a certain amount of
excitement In order Sc 5ring out his
best effort. Despite its dangers and
life of rigid>discipline there is sufl-
cient adventure attached to 1t to make
1t satisfactory to one who prefers to
live in condition of almost constant
expectancy.
So, If your boy is of venturesome
turn he can find in this work plenty
of opportunity for the exercise OF his
bent--more even than would be likely
to come to him IL he should enlist in
the army or navy. Ii he is lacking in
nerve and stamina he should take up
quieter calling, but If he has courage
he might look farther and fare not SO
we'll.
Since fire departments in all large
American cities are conducted under
practically the same rules and regula
tons, and because New York's fire
control system is regarded as a model
for all others, | shall make use of 1t
to illustrate what | am about to offer
in regard to the mode of procedure for
young man who wishes to become
PROFESSIONAL fireman
To get into the fire department of
New York your boy must be twenty
one to thirty years of age, between
feet " and 6 feet inches In height
and weigh between 140 and 1876
pounds. His education need be only
the most ordinary, in arithmetic, in
GLIDING long and short division, which
is practically all there is to the test,
except some questions showing that
the applicant knows his city fairly
we'll and has a general knowledge of
its government. There is also phys
ical examination, which is reasonably
but not excessively strict.
Having passed this test, your boy is
put on the eligible list, and as soon
as there is vacancy he Is made a
probationer fer 80 days. He spends
this month learning to tie knots, climb
ladders, use scaling ladders, rescue
people from burning buildings, etc.
Then II his progress has been salts
factory he is sent from headquarters,
where he has been In training, to one
of the company fire houses to don his
uniform and go to work as full
fiedged fireman of the fourth grade. If
from feet III to feet 8 inches In
height, he goes to an engine company;
II over feeb 8. to truck company.
His pay for the first year, including
the probation month, will be $500.
All firemen, from the highest Off
cials down, sleep in the fire houses.
They are on duty constantly day and
night. except during time allowed for
meals. II they go out to eat three
times day. they are allowed an hour
and a quarter for each meal; If two
meals. two hours each II only one
meal, three hours. Other time off
duty for firemen is four periods
month OF SO hours each and two of "a
hours, and they are also allowed two
weeks year under full pay. Lieuten-
ants and captains are allowed three
weeks annual vacation and battalion
chiefs and deputy chiefs month.
Their duties, besides handling the
hose, ladders, standpipes and other ap-
paratus and doing all that is to be
done al fire, are to take care OF the
fire house horses and equipment; In
short, to do everything about the place
except washing the clothes and TAX
ing care of the beds. All firemen pay
for their own uniforms.
The pay is advanced to $1,000 the
second year, to $1,000 the third, and
to s., 400 the fourth. They are known
as firstgrade firemen after having
served three years, and after working
six months In this grade they are
perMitted to take an examination for
promotion to engineer or assistant
foreman (known as lieutenanD. This
covers, to quote the civil service rules,
"the writing of a report to a superior
officer on some designated subject;
knowledge OF the administration, or
ganization and discipline of the fire
department; knowledge of the admin
istrative relations of such department
with other branches of the city gov
srnYnent. knowledge of laws or ordi-
nances relating to fire duty; knowl-
edge and construction Of departmental
rules and regulations; and such other
pertinent subjects al the commission
may prescribe
II your boy should aspire to be az