New-York tribune., 1921-05-01
When the Average Kid Is Summing in a Go-Cart,
Steeplejack Jr. Is About Ready for the Bo'suns
Chair His First Lesson May Be Hanging BY His
Fathers Wrists From a Fourth Story Window

happiest when we are together high up on the
rim Of some chimney stack. Most Of my work
is on chimneys. I am sort Of stack special
ist. The baby keeps her home now, but be-
fore long hope to have both OF them with
me on the job The youngstsr ia going to be
the greatest steeplejack that ever lived.'
Louis il. is fifteen months old. He is a
blue-eyed child and happy one. His career
is being planned by his dad as carefully as
the Prince Of Wales is being fitted for his lob.
MIR. and Mrs Mccarthy are agreed that a
good steeplejack may be as independent as a
millionaire. Nobody ever heard Of steeple-
jack strike.
Louis jr., is inclined naturally toward the
work." boasted his father recently. stHis
mother tells me that he had been playing
with rope and trying to climb up the back
Of chair. We encourage him to climb. He'll
need good climbing muscles.
II give him other tests, too. Sometimes I
hold him out Of fourth story window by his
wrists. He never shows any sign Of fear.
he likes it. The first time tried that he
just smiled. Then he espied little dog in the
backyard and said, sBow-wow.' I'm going to
take him up a pole with me pretty soon and
have our pictures taken. figure it will be
memento for him in after life if his dad should
kick OH before he grows up.'
There are many things young Louis must
acquire besides sense Of security in insecure
situations. He must become literally lack
Of all trades and master Of rigging. He
must become painter, glider, learning how
to handle the delicate gold leaf in strong
winds; sign writer, slate roofer, a brick
pointer, riveter, an all-around iron worker
and, finally and most important, he must learn
all the tricks Of riggers.
Steep1ejacks Not Likely
To ReceiUe Callers
Steeplejacks have one advantage over ord;-
nary folks besides their wages and their non-
chalance in the presence Of extreme danger.
Insurance agents never bother them. Re-
Gently an industrious insurance writer who was
canvassing the Fitzgerald Building, at Forty
second Street and Broadway, entered the eighth
floor Office of Alfred Dow. There is nothing
on the door to indicate that it is the head
quarters of a steeplejack.
"Is Mr.. Dow in?" he inquired Of the Ste
nographer there.
mo. He'll not be back until o'clock"
Where could / see him, please?"
Just now,'' replied the stenographer, "you
will find him over in Forty-second Street be-
tween Eighth and Ninth Avenues at Holy
Cross Church,
''I'll go right over If you think can catch
him." interrupted the insurance agent, hav-
ing decided in mental flash that when man
goes to church in the middle Of the week it
is an excellent time to sell him insurance.
'-on the steeple," finished the stenogra-
pher. "You know, Of course, that Mr.. Dow
Is a steeplejack."
II didn't" replied the agent, and retrieved
the business card he had placed on her desk.
II couldn't let your Mr.. Dow have dimes
worth Of Insurance. Thank you. Goodby."
They get themselves killed frequently,
steeplejacks do, but even so there have been
some whose obituaries have explained that
death was due to the diseases incident to old
age. Nevertheless, all Of them count narrow
escapes from death or injury as part Of the
days work.
Louis McCarthy's brother Matthew has