, 1935-09-27
School Bluff
Is BddHabit
For Career
by OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON

by OLIVE ROBERTS bAhlON
Il think you had better leave It
here" said Davidis father quietly
as the boy exhibited the newly pur-
chased pony" with which ne hoped
30 gain knowledge at college.
"What2" David stared incredu-
lousy. You neve minded when
I used one In high school,"
X know, and now ] regret II ex-
ceedingly. 1t did help. I'll admit,
"A II 4 v YOU an idea Of what II
was eli about. But I think it's time
TO stop and travel on your own tick
et."
whats eatin' you. Pop2 I have
some wits. I know how TO study
and everything. ] get the other
things eli right, don't II" Lots Of
schools approve Of them. ponies I
mean. and anyway I only need It
now to ave time"
Then you don't need II at all.
Listen, Dave. IL isn't so much that
you're getting help In a subject that
bothers you, but 1t Is for another
Neason that / am asking you not to
take It along"
What's that?" asked the boy cur
iouay.
Il don't want you to be like your
Uncle Mack"
The Fourflusher
Uncle Mack?" NV stars, how
could I be like him2 II I'd had his
good Job. all the good jobs he's had.
I'd be doing something about 1t now
instead of lying around telling
everybody how good I was and
moaning like a sick calf because I
could only get fifteen a week in a
printing office"
Its all Mack Is WORTH" remark
cd his father ~reflectively.
Uncle Mack. All he's worth?
Why, he's made as high as four
thousand q year. He has had lots
OF positions that paid him that.
your Uncle Mack was the sweet
est little boy God ever made" con-
lnued the man as though Dick had
hot spoke. He was the baby Of the
family. But he hated work or any
kind Of worry and ell through his
boyhood things we're excused and
made as easy for him as possible.
people liked him SO well he was
not only permitted TO soldier when
the rest Of us had to work like Tro-
Jams, but II seemed as though some
one was always boosting him be-
yond his desserts. When he got
through school, old Mr.. Wick gave
him a place In his bank over a lot of
ether fellows who knew the work.
Mack DIDN'T know a thing and new
er tried to learn. He had to four
flush his way. He learned what he
thought was more useful than
banking. David. he learned TO bluff
Lacked Background for Success
"He lost out eventually, but the
next job was easy TO get with the
name Of the bank behind MIN. Mr.
Wick kept silence, but 1t would have
been better for Mack II the truth
had been told. One job succeeded
another. sometimes even at a bigger
salary than before. But / always
knew he was skating on thin ice,
that Is, on his good clothes, good
looks and good fellowship. There
was no background, nothing he had
gotten himself. The more he pre-
tended 10 know Il all. the more mon
ey he made for a while.
HE always traded on the big
names OF the firms he had worked
for before. Jones would say. We'll.
II he has worked for Smith and
Co, I guess he must be good" Do
you see what I mean? Mack pom
led himself along and when the
showdown came he had no resource
an himself. I think I'd rather you
failed in Latin and couldn't 20 on
with your law. than to feel that you
need some artificial prop that will
let you down"
Maybe il isn't best for a fell
low" admitted David. II guess it's
silly TO pretend you're smarter than
you are. You'll be found out any
way sometime or other"
| He laid the little book on the ia
phle and went up to finish his pack
irk.