The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-05-01
Ambition
and Ability
@0
By r. RAY BAKER
Copyright. 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)


Syndicate.)
Ralph Long lacked two essentials to
success-ambition and business ,abil-
ity. At least his fiancee, Esther Rem
ington, said he didn't have them. And
those two essentials were among the
things she admired most in smen.
"How do you ever expect to get mar
ried on $1S week?" she wanted to
know when they had their final reck-
Oning" on the night he asked his en-
plOyer for a 50 raise and was told 1.-THE
firm can't afford it besides you're not
worth it."
ut can't be done,' Esther went on.
jabbing a loose pin back into her. fluffy
red hair. IF old Wilbur won't give
you raise, why don't you dig out and
try New York? Cut loose from this
dead town, Ralph, and show them
what you're made of in a regular city.
"You've been holding down that of
fee sob in Wilbur's canning factory
five years for that same measly '$18
week, and if you'd had any ambition
you would be manager by this time
or you wouldn't be there at ALL
Ralph demonstrated. He had worked
hard, but simply had been unable to
make the grade" he asserted. '"This
is pretty good job, anyhow" he said,
land l might not be able to get any
where in the big town."
Esther's attractive red lips curved
downward in disgust, and she forth
with severed relations. There was no
ring to hand back, because he had not
been able to procure one, but she let
him know in. words that could not be
misinterpreted that their engagement
was thing of the past.
''You can keep your good job for
ten years more if you like" she said,
"but I'm going to the big town myself,
and I'm going to make good in .regu-
lar position"
She resigned her place as saleswom-
a week later carried handbag and "a
suit case to the, railroad station, re-
solved to bid Brown City good.by for
ever. Ralph was there to see off and
to ascertain if her decision was iirre-
vocable.
"Come or, Els; forget that big talk
and settle down here" he pleaded.
"Never," was her reply, steely gilt
ter in her blue eyes. '''It's all over be-
tween us, Ralph. like you; in fact,
I'm very fond Of you, but I must for
get you, because my husband must be
man who has enough ambition and
ability to get to the front in the bust
ness world.''
He set his lips firmly and shook
hands with her and went back to his
desk in the canning factory, but made
miserable failure of his work that
afternoon and for several days there
after. He did deal of serious think
ing, and his jaw seemed to become
tirmer and resolute light shone from
his gray eyes.
Things went wrong with Esther. She
arrived in New York with thirty dol
lars in money and a fortune in .ambi-
ton. In one month the thirty had
dWindled and the fortune was .ebbing.
If she had had "folks at home" she
would have written for assistance, but
her parents were dead and the only
relative she could claim was an uncle
whose address was somewhere in
America, just where she could not tell
because he was wanderer.
True, there were many good friends
back home-Ralph among them-but
she preferred starvation to letting
them know that her prospects, which
had been so alluring from a distance,
had turned out to be a mirage.
For there seemed to be no position
not even a mere job-for Esther
Remington in all New York. Her writ
ten recommendation had no effect, be-
cause experience was what counted
and experience in Brown City was not
the same as experience in New York.
Although she answered every "help
wanted" advertisement that seemed to
tit her abilities even remotely, she
could not find work. Either she was
too late with her application or she
lacked training for the job Thus, at
the end of months weary search,
Esther was in dire straits.
beIore long, however, fortune ia
vored her. The goddess didn't smile
at her, but she did lend helping
hand, and Esther obtained work in
Misunderstanding dirty clothes
She kept this job month. in lieu of
something better, and lived from hand
to mouth on $6 week, eating cold
food in her dingy room in a dilapidat.
ed house on a dismal street.
Then something better turned up. It
was 50 week, with meals thrown in.
as waitress in a restaurant, where the
food was given a liberal coat of grease
to make it slip down easily, instead of
being cooked. However, the patrons
OF the place appeared to like it that
way, for they came back for more
each day. Esther was allowed to keen
all her tips, but the tips were incrat-
iating smirks from the male eEuttons
and an occasional cold thank you'' or
pleasant day" from the feminine
diners.
IF Esther had been ahla RI SOW,