Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-11
Bv DIR. RUSSELL H. CoNwELL


By DIR. RUSSELL H. CONWELL
Alexander Douglas was Scotch
coal.heaver Il must pause here to ask
the pardon of the successful ana no.
ble-spirited clergyman whose Chrls-
tian life and potent influence for goou
has given a sweet taste to my me
through these many years., ana MS
appearance when he first came mt
the little room called the Pastors
study. at Mervine and Berks Streets
was a hopeless exhibition OF undeIer'
mined ambition. He said that DaVl's
had told him Of the interview he hau
with the writer, and he wondereu
there was any possible hope Tor
young man like him to be anything
more than a dwellcr in coal dust
His hands and face were far more
suggestive Of the hot regions or Al
rica than of the heather-coverod mis-
Of Scotland but his hair was consist
ent with the highland life.
The interview with Mr.. Douglas
give as near as / can recall 1t, again
asking his pardon for any errors
which may be found therein.
Lacked Opportunity
Question-"Nou't you tell me why
I have been so disappointed in Amer
lea? Ny parents We're led TO oeleVe
that If they came, or II came 10
America. that there would be oppor-
tunities in plenty to make more OF
myself than could be done in old,
bigoted Scotland. And yet | do not
know of any more hard and unprom-
ising occupation than that OF shoVei-
ing COAL and have not been able 10
find any other employment. VI course
am willing to shovel COAL as
1t is an honorable occupation ana IN
Il one earns an honest living, but l
never wash my face after the day 3
work without thinking how nice II
would be to be white all the time.
Why can't learn something and be
worth more to the people than | am
now?"
Davies told me the other night that
you said that any young man in
America had an open door before hlnl
10 greater things, and ! have lald
awake nearly all night and meditated
! on the matter all day, ana 1 am un-
: able to find anything"
"A
with open frankness, what you would
like to be if you had everything laid
out before you for your acceptance
Question-"It was my parents
ambition, and it has been mine in my
dreams. to be a preacher of the gospel
in some way a proclaimer of good
for all the people. But I regret that
that is utterly beyond the possibility
of attainment. ] have made up my
mind that if by studying evenings or
at the noon.hour can do little more
than 1 am doing now, / will be con-
tent with that
"I would like TO have a place in the
coal office, where will not be obliged
to work so hard and fill my lungs so
full of coal dust. This is what I want
viz: to earn a little more at some
occupation which will give me time
TO study or read"
Answer-"If you can find some
. friend who understands bookkeeping
and who can write shorthand, you had
better apply yourself TO that work
and. as soon as possible, make your
self efficient in bookkeeping and ste
biography. There is always a place
open to stenographers and bookkeep
ers. The market is never fully sup
piled with them"
Question-"But I do not know o.
any friend who is capable of teaching
me, or who would be willing TO do sc
without charging me more than / an
able to pay. When my board is paid
each week. have only $3.50 left over
toward my clothing and general eX
penses. / cannot afford TO ride on the
street cars, and SO am obliged to use
up a great deal of time in walking
TO the store, to the post Office or Ia
the church. This old suit which ]
now have on is the best l have, and
i sneak into church and sit in some
back seat for fear people will notice
me and regard me as a loafer, because
OF my attire.
But, somehow. cannot give VI
, the ambition to be a preacher. Yet
when l hear these evangelists speak
ing upon the street corners, and the
Salvation Army in the streets, I can
not feel that ! could go into such al
occupation unless / had a bette
knowledge of the language than they
seem TO have, and more complete ap
prehension of the importance of tn
message to be delivered. / must know
more before l can do more. Davie
has started in with his books, ant
my dear friend, Mr.. Hall, has don
the same, and l am anxious that the!
should. not get ahead of me. / an
willing TO go without my noon lunch
OF W stay away an
save the money now spent on food AM
clothes If it is worth while TO do sc
Show me a glimmer of a chance am
will leap for it with all my strength.
Scottish Grit Needed
Answer-"If you hold TO that resc
luton, true to your Scotch grit, yo,
cannot fail in reaching as high a plac
t IN the worlds achievements as is eve
i gained by any person with your ma
tural ability.
"When the door does not seem I
f be open, you should push it open. Ge
up. and push!
II have made up my mind, sine
talking with several young men lik
M YOU, TO start an evening class 70
n study. and try my best to assist eac
y CONWELL PHILOSOPHY