The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-03-21
THE OBSERVATORY

He was young fellow, eastern
born, who had wandered to Utah,
where he worked in an assay Office,
and became quite an expert; then
the wandering spirit attacked him, he
got as far east as Wisconsin, started
on boat trip to New Orleans, but
his companion fell i'll at St. Louis, and
went home; for many days he wander
ed the streets in vain search for en-
ployment; when he had less than five
dollars his pocket was picked, and he
had to pawn his over-coat; a passing
friend spoke a good word for him,
which resulted in his getting a posi-
ton in the works of the Armour Pack
| ing Co., at Kansas City, but at boys
job and pay, although he was past
| voting age. Because of his assaying
work and some chemical knowledge
he was made the assistant of the
chemist of the works; he was quick to
learn, attentive to business, willing
and obliging, with an attractive man
ner, making friends easily and keep
ing them. The chemist was an able
fellow, an Armenian, by race. 1t was
not long before the chemist leaned
on the youngster, who did all but the
most particular work; but his pay did
not increase as fast as his knowledge
and his earnings for three years bare
ly boarded and clothed him, leaving
almost no margin for extras, and thus
he had no time or money for good
times" he could not see what chance
he had to rise in the chemical depart
ment, but determined to get all there
was in that line. Being occasionally
sent into the city on errands to an
old Geman chemist, professor in the
/, pharmaceutical college, and finding
him very busy with other work, our
young man would take hold and help
him without being asked. The Ger
man had the reputation of being iras-
chile, but began to thaw out, dis
. covering the fellows ambition, Of
fered him evening lessons, and he
soon forged ahead.
The Armenian chemist got leave
of absence to visit the Paris Exposi-
! ton, and told the packing house mana
, gers that his young assistant could
probably do all the routine work, but
. on leaving gave him directions, no,
to make any tests of ammonia, large
e amount of which is used in the manu-
, facture of artificial ice, the works hav
ing big plant for that purpose. Oul
quick witted young man ponderet
that restriction, and then recalled tina
he had never assisted in the analyst
e of ammonia; and moreover recalled
also the fact that when the bottles O
that liquid had been sent over from
| the ice plant they had been marke,
o with the date of reception and place,
on shelf; little later they had beer
taken down, marked with anothe
-. date, as though they had been open
ed and analysed, and marked 20. X
: although the jars had not been open
t ed. These remembrances brought t,
d him a disagreeable conviction, whic
however did not surprise him-tha
his chief was CRATER! Weeks passe
and the specimens of ammonia con
tinued to reach the chemists office
l. but were only marked with the date O
h reception and placed on the waiting
shelf. No O. K. jars going back t,
the ice plant, by and by a messenge
came asking why" He replied tina
: such were his directions. Then tn
e officials came and questioned him fur
! Their; he was asked if he could analyz
2 it; he though so, but his boss" hat
!. directed him not to do so;-thc super
II iors OF his boss" told him to try il
which he did, most carefully goin,
over his work and testing his method
again and again. There was a requir
!, ed standard for ammonia for the ic
mandatory, but every test nc mad
OF those specimens sent him showed i
to be much below the standard; M