Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-24
YOUNG RUSSIAN VS.
ITS WEBSTER CITY
Young Man With Interesting History
Was Here to See His Uncle,
Nathan Boynoff.

Geo. Boynoff of New York, nephew
of Nathan Boynoff, spent Sunday
here with the latter and family. Mr..
Boynoff is in Chicago on business
and took the opportunity Of running
out into Iowa for short visit with
his uncle, whom he had not seen for
ten or twelve years. He came over
here from Odessa, Russia, after the
outbreak of the war, but had never
been west before. Needless to say,
the meeting of uncle and nephew
was a happy one. Nathan Boynoff
is very proud of his nephew, who is
young man of 25 years of age. He
was his brothers only child and was
given every opportunity to improve
himself during his school years. TO
converse with him shows that he has
not failed to take advantage of the
opportunities given him by his IA
ther and mother. After thorough
schooling in the common branches,
Mr.. Boynoff was given university
training and after the mastery of
some eight difficult studies he was
sent to Bern, Switzerland, where he
studied medicine for two years. His
medical training is such that Column
bia University professors have told
him he would be entitled to two
years credit should he wish to enter
this American school of learning.
Aside from his schooling, the young
man has acquired much from travel,
for he has been practically all over
Europe-Switzerlan Italy, Ger
many, France, Norway and Sweden,
and the British Isles.
Upon coming to this country, Mr..
Boynoff had mastered several Ian
guages, but had never studied Eng
lish. y This he took up at once, at
tending night school and studying at
home. Within four months time he
had almost mastered our language
and spoke it quite fluently. His
next object after learning English
was to get job. knowing he could
do something worth while if given
the chance, he went into a large
bank in New York and asked for en-
ployment. Among other questions,
he was asked how long he had been
in this country. -Four months" he
replied. -Four months!" exclaimed
his questioner. "You don't mean to
tell me that you have only been in
the United States four months and
can speak English fluently?" Eyes,
SIR" replied the young man. Were
you ever here before?" "No, sir"
We'll, then, you had studied English
in Russia "No, sir, l had never
studied English until came here
four months ago. well, swan"
said the banker, and walked off,
lASo'AAS IhC youAS A1oh oIohoAh6
there. Two or three of the bank
officials talked the matter over, but
were not careful to speak in sub
dued tones and the young Russian
| boy heard nearly every word they
said. 1t seemed they did not believe
his statement. They were in great
need of boy and he filled the bill
all except his story about learn
ing English in four months. How
Ipreposterous!" they said. ''All bosh!
Nothing to it," And in spite of all
he could do he could not dissuade
them and-didn't get the job. He
got work, however, because he had
the right stuff in him. And do you
blame him for telling the next man
to whom he applied for job that
he had been in this country three
years?
Today this young man is secretary
to the Russian commission in New
York and is drawing $3.50 a month.
He had only been In the United
States eight months when he secured
this splendid position. He was on
| the lookout for something good and
he was willing to make every effort
to secure it. His application among
some 200 was favorably received.
Tho Russian Oobleman to whom he
had applied wrote him saying he
would like him to come to Boston to
see him. He answered that, unless
it meant permanent position, he
could not make the trip for he was
unable to leave his present position.
The nobleman wired back, Come at
once" And he went Before he
had begun his new duties, however,
man higher up in the Russian
commission decided he wanted him