The Colorado statesman., 1921-06-04
FROM TWO POINTS
One May Consider the Meaning
OF a Handicap.
Uncle Jim, From the Mountalntop OF
Experience, Hands Out Some
Words OF Wisdom to
impatient Youth.


Bob and two of his friends drifted
into the library where Uncle Jim was
reading his newspaper, and sat down
to talk. They were discussing very
personal matters, but no one minded
Uncle Jim.
THE trouble with my job" Tom
Seymour was saying. els that there's
not the slightest chance of getting
ahead. Why, the fellows In the office
say that the older men just stick there
to keep the younger ones down. There
hasn't been promotion-I don't know
when. And fussyl Whewl Why, a
fellow couldn't get on in that office
1t isn't possible! And yet Mr.. Bates
tells dad that he'd be only too glad to
move them up; and dad believes him,
of course, and puts 1t up to me-"
"Well. my troubles exactly differ
ent," said Henry Norton. There are
promotions all the time over at my
place. But If you notice, it's always
somebody that has pull. l haven't any
pull, so of course that settles my
chances. l got the Job by answering
an advertisement, you know. Pretty
nearly every other fellow there Is
somebody's nephew or grandson or
something"
"You fellows make me tired" said
Bob. "You don't even know your luck.
You may have some troubles, but look
at me! You're in business, at least,
aren't you? Made a start, anyway.
And look at me Not even started
yet! And going to college this fall for
four years. Why, anybody could get
to be a millionaire in four years! And
most business men say that college
education is nothing but a drawback,
too. Dad didn't go to college himself,
but he thinks 1 ought to. Uncle Jim,
of course, did go-but he's lawyer.
That's different. l want to go in for
business"
As If in response TO his name, Uncle
Jim put down his paper and turned to
face the little group.
"Hellow he called genially. ITS
pleasure to hear somebody talking real
business these days. oh, that reminds
me. Did you get out to the golf tourna-
ment at the club?"
Inc DOyS luGlE ihSt'
own interests were in the direction of
tennis rather than of golf.
"Too bad you missed it. 1t was
very good tournament" said Uncle
jim; "the most interesting that the
Country clubs ever had, think. Jack
Partridge won the cdp, as usual, and
Thayer Stevens won the second prize.
But I don't think either of them was
half as pleased as old Mr.. Painter; he
those links"
"Why?" asked Bob. "Did he win
anything?"
mo, not thing; except what you
fellows would call a drawback, 1 sup
pose. For the first time in all the years
he's played there they handicapped
him. He went round telling every
body about 1t. That proves that I'm
beginning to be real player, doesn't
it?' he'd say over and over again"
An understanding look came slowly
into Bob's face. "Oh," he said, 80
that's why you switched off on golf
tournaments But we weren't talking
about games. We were talking about
business-about real life-and real life
isn't a game, Uncle jim"
NO" admitted Uncle Jim, sit isn't
But the laws that govern work and
play are the same. Fair play is what
everybody asks for, isn't it? And
they don't mean just in games, either.
Think over some of the recognized
principles of good sport: teamwork
and hitting the line hard and keeping
your eye on the ball and not knowing
when you're beaten. oh, a score of
little catchwords. They work out
pretty well in business and in other
walks of life, too, don't they? Even
the matter of handicaps applies. AT
first that seems different, maybe; but
when fellow has the right idea about
it-when he sees, like old Mr.. Painter
that handicap is a complimentary,
there's nothing in the world that
brings the right stuff out like good,
stiff handicap. You fellows just try
looking at it that way, and see how 1t
works out. I'm sure that the best
thing that ever happened to me was
having to work my way through col
lege.
"You must permit me to add, Bob"
he said. turning to his nephew with
smile, that you have to know handl-
cap when you see one. never heard
old Mr.. Painter speaking of the les
sons that he took from Sandy McTag-
CART as really serious handicap. So
I have my doubts whether he'd regard
four years at college in that light
either."-Youth's Companion.