The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-01-29
THE: VENEER Of THE YEARS
CHAPTER Nv.
MERLIN MEETS A SURPRISE.
BY WALTER CREEP.

.
one aim In view ami one object e.
fuifIl--to achieve Succecs! Sue
cess That word is the keynote OF
endeavor, the ultimate goal OF
goals. Few of the many thousands
who use this word in their daily
conversation realize its potency. 1t
is the password of intellectual and
Industrial gfeaVness-the word
that admits one to the presence of
kings, captains of industry, the
seers and the sages. 1t is the
crown that comes after the strife
and the laurel of the conqueror.
When our dreams come true! When
we shall win success! How many
Of us have waited long, have wept
tears of blood, have agonized in
the Gethsemane Of sorrow, have
climbed inch by inch along the
pathway, seeking realization of our
youthfuQ visions. How many-ah,
how many! And then-to find
that we have been chasing a rain
bow and the tabled kettle of gold
is yet unbound. The word Success
has caused more grief than any
other word in the language for this
reason. 1t has rended souls, brok-
en- hearts and made martyrs of
men.
And Merlin, after the fashion of
youth, went into the world with
he determination to win success,
no matter what the cost. And like
most educated young men he firmly
believed that world was waiting to
receive him with loud acclamations
Of welcome. He was to build his
career on a sheepskin and as mat
ter of fact, most men consider a
diploma as a business recommended
lion about as they would state
ent from some farmer recon-
ending one as good horse doc
rSAs the train pulled into the city
ilr saw the busy throngs, hur-
,;g traffic, heard the clang of
bells and the scream of whistles,
his spirits rose in exultation. He
was in the city! This, he thought,
was life-many-sided, varied md
Energetic And it was with a thrill
bf pride that he realized that he
WAS a part of this life, spoke in
he wheel OF industry. However
when he stepped from the train no
sne came to carry his valise as he
! ad expected the porters to do, nor
id anyone seem to notice him or
are 10 make his acquaintance. On
u tall, gruff policeman called out
10 him to stand aside as he en-
cred the gate and when he failed
o understand, pulled him roughly
through the entrance while great
hrong surged after him. When
With trembling voice he meekly
skeG the policeman where he
ould find a boarding place, he was
old that it was not an officers bust
hess to find boarding places for ev-
hyone in the city of Chicago.
lhis sent Merlin away abashed.
Iurely these policemen were very
hide. Then his blood boiled to
ink that an illiterate hireling
kould be allowed to insult a high
educated young man and offer
lch indignities. He would like
wiring such a fellows neck, he
.ought. The crowd jostled and
tshed PIN along until he came to
e waiting room. Here he decid-
he would sit and rest while for .
iere was nothing else to do. He
Elected an empty seat in the cor
err OF the room but when he seated
tmselfYe bunch of giSghng girls
anne and seated themselves beside
an. So he moved again. He
hund another across the room and
laced his suitcase on the seat be-
ide him to prevent intrusion. But
LARGELY had he placed 1t there un-
gigantic negro woman sank
Iown in the seat, painting like a
locomotive. Then to his surprise
md CONSERVATION she began talk
bg to him in angry tones. "Heah,
on take dat satchel down" she
as saving. "Haint you got no
TO- mammals than to crowd a lady
Il dc seat?" Merlin looked at
err in wide-eyed wonder. She was I
different from Janey, his. moth
RS cook and the other colored
,lks who lived in Deyondale. He
rev angrier and angrier as he
bought of it. He jerked his suit
Ybse from the seat, spilling on the {
Dor several packages which she
|Iad piled on top of it.
"There, take the whole seatl" 4