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Show 1 Tm Pro gqess fA GeNmriAx I PAm n ceqrce riMioN , Ha 'II vLX &J 1 rITEN r becamp familiar with the work JV 1 A in niv n?w position I was surprised ml Vy to find the methods prevailing in that office were antlqualbd. Tn w Hlaudlin- the work that had formerly per-, per-, llwaincd to CIouh'p oftico the utter lack of sys-Vttem sys-Vttem appalling. Cortright toon suggested ! Iisevrral improvements, hut Rail, who lucked k fcdecisioTi and initiative, failed to put them into hr.1. in ' IF Our ofli.-e was nexl Lo that f Mr. Clarke, Slkhe genrrnl manager, who frequently strolled Ithrongh our room watching the clerks at their jlheork. One dav ho stopped by Cortright s 4 dek for several moments. Suddenly he "How aTe you -jetting on witli your new I work?' ' 1 J "All nflil . sir. I belie, r. "(.letting lamilar with Mr. (. lous's &ya-fBeni, &ya-fBeni, are ; on ? " '"His what?" Forlrighl s tone was uiimis-'takable. uiimis-'takable. bul tho manager did not under-1 under-1 gtand. "I- i ' 1 1 1 ' d-d t In I lie did not-',W not-',W "Vhv. n system, his method,'' he re-jlfteated. re-jlfteated. 'wf "I was not aware that he had any. said ' Cortright. calmly. S it secin-il like impudence, but Cortright l toTfl mc .-ilt.rward that the chance was too 'good a one to lose. Ilowevor, nothing came ipf ,i;,t least, for Ihe.u for Mr. Clarke ifstood for a moment in silence, then walked nn. k 1'or soni.- months things moved along in Alt heir usual course, and then one day the ((tenographer who did Mr. Clarke's work 'Bailed to .ijipear. A letter came staling that lKe was i'l Out ame Mr. Clarke into our Bice. I "Mr. Hall, can any of your clerks do type-IKriting.'" type-IKriting.'" he demanded, 'fc "I can, sir spoke up Cortright f "Shorthand'?'' t "Yes sir: though I'm a bit out of prae-Wk-e. ' ' 1 "Come along, then, Mr. Ball. I shall need kfinni the i ' -i of i he day. i lly But in an lion: Cortright was out again laud ham on 1 1 n j away at the typewriter so 'fast that 1 iniilil imt do my work, bul Hat fcarii)': .it him in stupid wonder. In an t hour : i t j a aall move )Te had his letters all i wtra !)-'! i I !) in another fifteen minutes Cort-I Cort-I fright had gotten thent signed and was back f Iwfgaiii at his desk. Mv own work kept me ImmiMiallv late that night, and as I rose from kfev desk Cortright was just quitting his. f iVTnc other girls had gone. ; "So you've worked at stenograph-, have ft won .' ' ' I .. I. i-il i- Ills laugh rang out loud and clear. ' 'Xo, ' lllpoii mv mi, ii I never did Picked M up. i I It hough home sl.udv, vou know. 1 was afraid I Wil flunk today hut I carried the bluff f hrough. didn 't I ' ! ft! "Flunk l;luir: ' cried ' ' Don '1 pla v fUie hypoi rite to in'.-. You knew well von lWero ht ami you've just been sitling there k awaiting for vnur chance." W,".nd if I h.ie. what then.'" ? nothing Onh I don't see how you S trer managed to Income so perfect without I iM'''V I"7"'' '' ' reminds me. you've never been up mv room-. Have ..u anything on for (tonight 7 ' f. " N " W e!. riMiii ip. then, and I'll vliow vou by talisman. KT ctiiniol ,i- w.iy surprised at what I -j A)Uiii i i : i ' ' i - ro"io-. I'm one naturalK' jJyperle.l lit;. , id eg., of hi-; Would lie differ- lfct. from n.-e o! i he loinmon herd. T I i mP' room- . :. .. .. .- ,ionm and one ni.i,-,. Bjlftrllicli aipe:ired :,, he parlor, -ail ing n'Oin. jfiBPd Work- op neniiiiied In thia lattpr room was a bay window of goodly Rir.o, in wdiieh stood a couch of ample proportions, overhung with oriental draperies and literally smothered in Cushions of all shapes, sizes and colors Upon the wall hnng pictures of men, women, dogs, horses, and boats, all mingling indiscriminately together. to-gether. Above a picture of ,-i most villainous villain-ous looking bulldog hung a dainty girl's glove; over a photograph of an exceptionally lrottv girl WBH a pan of soiled and worn boxing gloves, while beneath the picture of :i seriate and clerical looking gentleman reposed re-posed a pair of foils. In one corner stood a guitar and a banjo; in another a typewriter. type-writer. In the center of a largo library table rested a family bible, and next to it an open box of cigars. Upon a pile of christian Heralds reposed re-posed a cop;- of "Hoyle's Games," while against, the, wall stood a cabinet containing wine and spirits, upon which, however, was displayed a card bearing the legend, "To be used only in case of fire." But what interested me most of all was Curt right's books. Histories, novels, and works of science there were, but the majority of them were books pertaining to modern business and its "attendant sciences,'' as Cortright a pleased to call them. Books on commercial law, book's on accounting, on stenography, a large business encyclopedia, several periodic als devoted to the interests of various trades, all wero there, together with innumerable circulars and catalogues of card systems and loose leaf book sys- ' t cms "This," said Cortright. with a comprehensive comprehen-sive waive of his hand, "is my playroom." " nd these, T suppose." indicating his Looks, "are your pla things, ' ' "Correct. And glorious playthings they are. The studv of modern business and its methods is a most complex and fascinating one. Once a devotee at the shrine of (his art i hero is no recanting. My goddess is an exacting one no half-hearted worship for her yet how generously she rewards nor tine followers. ,J Then he dived into his books and began explaining their purposes with great enthusiasm. enthu-siasm. And I, carried away by the fascination fascina-tion and novelty of it all. was no loss eager than he, so thai it was long past midnighl when l started for home. As we parted Cortright held out his hand to Die in his frank, boyish fashion and said cordially, "All my belongings are at your disposal, old chap. It you care to turn un here and make use of my books, you will be very welcome. Conn; every night if you will." nd so it came about thai I became an almost night ly visitor at. Cortright ;s rooms. Many weTe the topics we discussed, many the rese;i rrh.es- wo made. If 1 became involved in-volved in an intricate problem Cortright was ever ready and able to help me through it. Acting upon his suggestion. I took up stenography sten-ography and sonn, with his help. 7 began to make progress- One night, feeling bow much benefit I was receiving and nor wish ing to ieeie all the good unto myself, I ventured a suggestion. ".Frank, there is a voting fellow of oui acquaintance who is full of ambition,'" I said. "I m suro he would be mighty glad oi such a chance as vou've given me, lie's a capable chap, and is., moreover, a great ad mirer of you. ' ' ' A man of greal discernment," he smiled. "Who is he?" "Cub Calker." What. Cub, fche irrepressible! Well, T'll a-l him up Some nighl Procrastination was unknown Lo Cortright et evening Cub was admitted to our circle. cir-cle. I had not misjudged his desire to im prove himself, for he entered upon our Ftnd-ies Ftnd-ies with such zeal that he soon caught up with me About this time the business of the Carle-ton Carle-ton Iron works increased largely, and Cort-right's Cort-right's services as stenographer came more and more into demand, until soon we saw him installed as secretary to Mr. Clarke. A vacancy thus occurring in the office, Cub Calker was brought in io fill it. lie soon found favor with Mr. Ball, and gradually came to stand in much the same relation to him as Cortright had formerly occu I. And Cortright so well availed himself of his opportunities foi grasping every detail of the management oi! the business that when eighteen months after he became Mr Clarke's secretary the Oarleton works absorbed another' plant and Clarke became superintendent superin-tendent over all, it followed as a matter of course, thai Cortright should become manager mana-ger at Oarleton. Gratification and pride an poor word' to describe the sensation 1 felt when he called me to become Ilia secretary and confidential man. I felt sure that as soon as Cortright Could effect ii, a change in our office methods: would be made l'"r a month he made no -ign, b.ul one evening when we were at Cortright'a rooms, he turned suddenly to Cub and Baked, "How would von like to become chief clerk?" 'Why, what'"5 to become of Ball.'" cried Cub. " J couldn't push him Out, VOU know " "I appreciate y0UT feeling. It does yon ' credit," snid Cortright, gravely, "But Ball has been offered another position and has decided to accept it. Yen will therefore become be-come chief clerk. CummingS, you will continue con-tinue as my secretary, but T shall expect you to co-operate with Calker and myself in i e forming our office methods." Whenever Cortright addressed us by our surnames we knew he was speaking as chief to subordinates. In this mood he was as far removed from us as the sun is from the earth. We realized the gulf which separated us. and sought not to pass it. Accordingly it transpired that Ball retired and Cub Calker reigned in hi- stead, nd then came the upheaval. The first things to go were the old low desks for the clerks and accountants, they being replaced by broad, high desks at- which a man could work more comfortably aud to better advantage. Then the old books and files disappeared, and in their place c ame modern loose leaf 'books, card Bystems, and filing cases, to suit which our entire method was changed, so that within with-in a month we had fewer clerks in the office, but thoso few" -were turning out the work more promptly and better done than ever before. be-fore. The next step was to advance the sala rios of those clerks who remained, whereupon clerks became more cheerful and energetic. Our system worked like a huge clock and the office became a source of satisfaction and pride to all concerned. During tho noxt two years no material change occurred; nor did any event transpire beyond what might bo expected in Cue ordinary ordi-nary course of conducting a great business; but in tho third year of Cortrighl 'a man igo ment the United states steel corporation was formed and our plant, became one of its integral in-tegral parts. l tirst I was a trifle uneasy, fearing thai changes whereby 1 would lose rather than profit might be made; but I soon found that Cortright a management was satisfactory to the higher powers, and as long as he remained re-mained at the helm 1 felt secure. ,lv fears were reawakened, however one afternoon when Cortright summoned me and announced thai he was leaving for Now Pork on the 7:05 train. "I must have some one with me," he said. 4 ' Can von make it ? " nciruvcu neirner lenr nor nope, ' nun nooi and get our bag We'll dine on the train." We dine, jo BllencOj, and in silence we sat and smoked through the long evening hours as the train rushed on. Finally we sought our berth-, but little could I .-leep, for 111) soul wa-i filled with foreboding of disaster. Changes would be made, I was sure, and the policy of the corporation tended toward a reduction of expi OSes, To my mind the conclusion con-clusion was obvious. Our train had hardly come to a standstill in the Grand Central depot next moning when Cortright had me in a cab and soon we were whirling downtown through the pulsing puls-ing heart of the great city. Arrived at the company 's offices. Cortright left me in an anteroom, while he went to consult with some one who was expecting him. I waited an almost interminable time, every moment growing more nervous and apprehensive, and had just about reached the conclusion that my path thenceforth would be down hill when Cortright appeared In the doorway and beckoned beck-oned me. Mechanically T followed him and soon found myself standing in a handsome office room, where Cortright, after a hasty word of introduction, left me So nervous was 1 that I tailed to catch Cortright 's words, but the moment T glanced at the man to whom he had presented me I realized that r was in the presence of him who had beeu chosen to bear the burden of the chief executive office of this giant among industries. With a smile the great man rose and extended ex-tended his hand cordially. "I am glad to I, now you Mr. CummihgS Sit. down." I gat. In fact, my knees were so shaky it is a wonder I did not collapse sooner. But Ss I -at before hini f found myself growing aimer. The president sat regarding mo for sonic moments, his eye seeming to penetrate the secrets of my life, yet was" there nothing disquieting in the gaze. His very person seemed to exhale 0 spirit of confidence and. strength. Those who came jn contact with this man could not fail to unconsciously mold their minds in soino measure to hi? qualities. And he was gravely courteous in manner, as I have ever found those men to be who are really great; for it is only the small natured incompetents who never have time for politeness. polite-ness. Vou have been some time with the Carlc-ton Carlc-ton plant. 1 understand," he said at last. ' ' Twenty-eight years,'' I replied. nd vou began, i believe, ns a timekeeper timekeep-er and have worked up to your present po-sil po-sil ion ? ' ' I noddod assent. ''That is a point in your favor," Ho is trying to let me down easily, 1 thought. "You are a young man.' "Forty-six," 1 retorted. T wished I could hae said ti6. But he waved my answer aside. "oung men are what we need in some positions," he continued. Minor positions, thought . "We are well satisfied with Mr. Cortright Cort-right ' management, but " 'ow it was coming! J wondered if J had not better bolt. " But wo need him here." Hurrah! It was all right, theD. Would they keep me here with Cortright? I leaned forward in breathless eagerness. "It is our wish that the management of the Carleton plant bo continued along the same lines as followed by Mr. Cortright Ho informs me that you are thoroughly conversant conver-sant with all the details of his methods. The question, therefore, is whether you will accept ac-cept the positon of manager at Carleton?" Would 1 accept it? Imagine St. Peter asking some poor lost soul if he desired admission ad-mission to Paradi.3e. "Very well, then.'' smiled the president, rising, "Hunt up Mr. Cortright now. He will give yon definite instructions. And drop in here again before you leave.'' It. is not my intention to set forth a list of the difficulties that beset my new path, nor vet to record the blunders that 1 made but there were many of both, you may believe so we will come down to :m event the mcm-orv mcm-orv of which will ever remain with me. The occasion is a dinner to which Cub Calker has bidden us on the eve of his becoming be-coming a benedict. At the head of the table sils Cub. no longer chief, clerk at Carleton. but superintendent of another plant in a distant dis-tant city. At the other end sits old Barley, stem and grim no longer, but a genial, mallow mal-low old gentleman who has retired to live upon the savings of his years of frugality and toil. Around the board sit Watson, Mullius. Hughes. Henderson, a tew other old comrades com-rades of former years, and myself. The dishes have been cleared away, cigars lighted, light-ed, and Cub Calker rise to address us. "Boys, I have a letter from one 1 had expected to be with us. He says: ' '1 cannot tell you how disappointed I am at being unable to attend your farewell dinner din-ner to the friends of your bachelor day. I had expected to be present, but the stern finger fin-ger of duty is pointing me in another direction, direc-tion, and I may not disobey. But. while a cannot be a1 the dinner, T shall surely arrive in time for (he wedding. 1 would come clear across tho coutinent for that event, and I 1 1 ;i 1 1 expect no less of von on the occasion of my own wedding, which will occur at no distant date. Some New York society bud, did you say? Wrong, my boy. She lives in dear old Carleton, the home of my youth, wherein rest the sweetest. ' memories of my life. I shall defer my congratulations until T can again grasp your hand. Bemember me to all the boys. Cod bless you all.' I need not tell you the writer's name," goes on Cub. "He is the one who above all Others we are, proud and happy to call our friend tho man whom we have seen rise from a small beginning to the position which his genius and sterling worth entitle him to occupy. "Genius nothing!" breaks in Mullms. "Why, the man is simply " "Snut up, Tom!" commands Cub. "We all know how steeped your soul is in pessi mism. Enjoy your own sordid thoughts if you will, but don't inflict them upon us." And now old Harlev is on his feet, wine glass in one hand; the other raised to command com-mand silence. "Gentlemen," he says. "T rise to propose a toast toasts. T was about to say, but, as 1 am an advocate of abstemiousness, T shall name them together and let you drink thpm in one glad's. Old codgers like myself take greal pride in watching the successful careers ca-reers of those with whom we have labored, whom we have helped to guide, in their youth. I count no man more fortunate in his young friends than mvself. May the futures ofthee moo be no I'-ss glorious than their past and present. Our interests, our good wishes, our affection go ever with them. Goutlemen. T give vou Frank Cortright and Leonard Calker Calk-er the one as true and loyal a gentleman, the other as grave and bonny a lad as ever trod the face of God's green earth." With a shout we are on our feet. Our glasses dick agninst each other. We raise them to our lips but no, old Harley is wav ing us down frantically, and we, who huvo not forgotten how v e used to tremble at fail frown, sink buck into our chairs as he ghonts. "Down! Sit down, you guz.iers. Are your throats cracking with thirst that you can not wait until I finish my toast? 1 wn about to say, when you so rudch' interrupted ine, that to these two names T would join the name of him who has shared in their toils, their struggles, and their triumphs a man whom we have seen rise from tb lowest position 111 the Carleton iron works to the " But here, gentle reader, modesty impels nn fo draw t he curtain. |
