Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-07-08
"C0me Home"

OCsCldl years dSO young hidii "dihSH
into the office of the largest ivory and
spice importing house in the United
States. He was looking for clerkship.
In due course he was admitted to the
presence of the senior partner. Now the
senior partner had curious way OF test
ing young Tan whose general appear
ance was promising. His plan was to
offer something entirely unexpected-a
chance TO make good in position that
the applicant never anticipated. His de-
cision was determined by the manner in
which the applicant responded-whether
or not he showed alertness to grasp the
opportunity. In this instance the senior
partner offered the young man the posi-
ton of supercargo on ship loaded with
cotton goods scheduled TO sail for NADIA
gascar within forty eight hours. The
young man hardly knew where NADIA
gascar was, and had almost no idea OF
the duties of a supercargo.
But these considerations he swept
aside, for he saw his opportunity. He
accepted the position. So the young
man went to Madagascar, and sold the
cotton goods to such advantage that he
was appointed by cable the firms agent
in Zanzibar. II was a place OF great
responsibility. On his Judgment de-
pended the organization of caravans into
Central Africa to search for ivory, the
maintenance OF friendly relations with
Arab chiefs, including the famous Tippoo
Tib, and the purchase OF the annual Zan-
zibar Glove supply for America. Zanzi-
bar was then virtually the only Glove
producing spot on the globe.
The young man found the business Of
the firm disorganized because capable
men could not be induced TO stay in the
deadly climate of Zanzibar. BY careful
living he preserved his health, and, thanks
TO his hard work, he was eventually graf
flied to see the name Of his firm again
rank high in that part OF the world. But
as years went by the natural longing to
be called home grew within him. His
success, however, was the very thing
that seemed to defeat that object. His
firm, expressing their complete conf
dence in him, said not word about his
return on leave or permanently. And
he, appreciating that confidence at its full
worth, never hinted at either.
AT last came his opportunity and his
reward. For three days Zanzibar was
swept by terrible hurricane. Much OF
the city was destroyed, wreckage was
piled up on the harbor beach, and nearly
every tree on The island was torn up by
the roots. The last fact was the all-im-
portant one when the American agent
crawled out from his shelter. The Glove
groves had been obliterated, and for
three years there would not be another
full Glove crop in the world market.
Clearly his duty was TO gel the news to
his firm. But the cable between ZanZi-
bar and Alden had been severed by the
storm. If he waited for the mail steamer,
the news would become public, and OF
little advantage to the firm. Amid still
bowling gale he crept down TO the harbor
front. There he saw that single tramp
steamer had kept afloat. The idea flashed
into his mind to charter her to carry his
message to Alden, where telegraph con-
nection could be made with New York.
BY his handkerchief tied to a stick he
attracted the steamers notice. Then by
the marine signal code he contracted
with the captain TO run for Alden with a
message TO his firm of just two words:
"Buy Cloves" Ii was one of the cost
liest messages ever dispatched, for il
was the only cargo Of "a steamer chartered
to make full speed over a course OF two
thousand miles.
Some days later the firm in New York
received the message. To them its ex-
treme brevity was sufficient in the light
OF the confidence they had come TO place
in their Zanzibar agent. They did not
pause TO question, but bought cloves in
New York, London, and Paris-all the
cloves on the market. They had hardly
completed the operation when news came
OF the terrible hurricane and the destruc-
ton of the Zanzibar Glove groves. At
once the price of cloves went up and up.
Then the New York firm put as brief
message on the cable TO their Zanzibar
agent: "Come home" You can imagine
with what Joy he received it. He was
no longer young man when he reentered
the office TO grasp the senior partners
hand ard TO accept the position OF gen.
eral manager of their whole Oriental
trade. To ay he is member OF the
firm. But when anyone asks him how
he managed to reach the top OF the lad
der OF success, this is the story that he
ali