The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-20


THoRATIo ALGER's books nave
III kept well within the poSslDii.
49, of American life. His stories o.
moor BOYS rapid rise to fortune 0"'S
90 nonular in juvenile circles are
duplicated time and again IN '"'
1rn;ted States and published with "
wealth Of Glowing detail in the news
papers. -
"Mattv Brush, once newsooy III
Chicago, is now, at the age Oh 4o' ="
desirable bache-
Another Newsboy lor of Boston ana
Who Succeeded president OF the
Boston elevated
railway, property valued at sl2o'-
ooo 600 which he is paid $4,000 a
year to manage.
There is nothing spectacular IN
"Matt" Brush's career. He simply
made his mark by steady and persist
ent Flooding, rising step by step 10
one of the most responsible positions
in the country. He started his career
with some education, it is true, nav
ing graduated from Armour lnsti-
tute and the Massachusetts lnstl-
tute of Technology, but his practical
experierce as a traffic man began IN
the machine shops of the Union Pacific
at Omaha, where he was an appren-
tice. His success in life is due entirely
to his own efforts.
The stories of such men are insplr-
ing to read. They point the way to the
Younger generation, to whom the
world lies open.
wv army under the recent re-
organization net many field officers
and hundreds of new lieutenants Will
be needed at the start, and the ques-
ton presents it
Can Lieutenants self as one Oh
Afford to Marry? timely concern,
can young Of
ficer marry and keep out of debt?
Army pay from private up to major
general was raised appreciably sew
eral years ago--quite enough for Of
ficers to meet the higher cost of liv-
ing-but those below the grade of cap
tain who have families to support and
who manage to make both ends meet
must have wives who know how and
are willing to economic.
United States regulars are far bet
ter paid than those Of any other coun-
try. In England a commission pre-
supposes a fixed income on the part
of the officer. What the British gov
eminent pays lieutenants is scarcely
sufficient to keep them in pocket
change. But under our democratic
system a young man without money
has the same opportunity that a lich
mans son has.
At West Point all cadets are on an
equal footing and all draw pay from
the time they enter the academy, but
the lieutenant is wise who waits until
he has saved few thousand dollars
which he can easily do, but which he
seldom does, before entering the
matrimonial state.
A second lieutenant's basic pay il
$500. That, like the pay Of all Of
ficers below the rank of brigadier
general, is increased 10 per cent aftel
the first five years, 20 per cent aftel
the next five and so on until the in
crease reaches 40 per cent after q
years; and if an officer is Yves
Pointer his four years as a cade
count in the computation for the five
year increase.
A writer in the Army and Nav.
Journal discusses the ability of sec
dnd lieutenant to support wife, ant
takes the view that it is inadvisable
to say the least, for him to get mar
ried. In addition to his pay, the lieu
tenant, il he be married, is provided
with two rooms and kitchen; but al
the uniforms he is required to buy
every year cost $500, and as certain