Carney Enterprise. (Carney, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, July 2, 1915 Page: 10 of 12
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CARNEY. OKLA.. EN
TER.PRISE
■ ' ■ «" ." '-j
HIS OPPOflTUNITY
By GEORGE MUNSON.
John and Cynthia were to be mar-
ried when John was raised from twen-
ty to twenty-five. But Christmas came,
and John received no notification of
an increase.
"I think it's a shame, John," said
Cynthia, weepily, as she contemplated
another year of spinsterdom. ''Why
don't you go to old Hart and tell him
Low badly you need the raise? I am
sure you are doing two men's work
in that old office."
"Why, dear!" exclaimed John,
aghast. "If I were to do that they
would simply give me my discharge.
Nobody ever goes to Hart. He Is un-
approachable. He has no more sym-
pathy than a stone."
"Oh, John, are you sure you have
pnough initiative?" wailed Cynthia.
^ ou know, they never, never pay any-
body more than he is willing to take."
"I tell you it's no use, dear," John
answered. "You see, I understand
conditions there, and so—"
And so that was the way it went.
And John toiled at the office all
through the dreary winter, and he had
never had to work so hard before. It
was as Cynthia had said. He was do-
ing two men's work for Hart.
He began to grow desperate. Hart
was becoming more and more unsym-
pathetic. He practically told John
he was not worth his salt. He hinted
at change^in the staff. John began to
study Sunday newspaper adver-
tisement columns.
4 "n the very first Sunday he saw an
{ advertisement which seemed to have
been inserted specially for him.
"WANTED," it ran, "an expert in
the wholesale stationery trade, with
complete knowledge of stock. A
young man of not more than five and
twenty years, who Is willing to work
up with an old-established firm. Sal-
ary to start^$125. Apply by letter,
with full particulars, to P. Q„ Box
195."
That was John's line. Moreover, he
was sure he knew who It was that ad-
vertised under the initials P. Q. That
must be Quincy, Hart's chief business
rival, who had been engaged in a cut-
throat competition with him for years.
How he would welcome a man with
John's experience, especially when he
was taking him away from Hart!
Cynthia lived with her mother in a
tiny uptown apartment. When John
had read the advertisement he hurried
round to consult with the ladies. John
was a favorite of Mrs. Barton's; she
had been as eager as a girl about the
marriage, and its postponement had
been a bitter disappointment to her.
I m going to write Quincy a strong
letter," said John. "I feel sure that I
can get that position, only—I'm not
much of a hand at blowing my own
trumpet."
^ are too diffident, my dear
J°hn," said the old lady. "Let us put
our heads together and see whether
we can't show up your good qualities.
If we can't, nobody can."
A little praise from Mrs. Barton, a
little tender love from Cynthia, a little
eagerness on John's part, and a touch
of bitterness at the memory of Hart,
and the following letter was produced:'
"In answer to your advertisement I
beg to say that I think I am Just the
man for tho position. I am twenty-
five years of age and wish to make a
change. I am at present employed in
a wholesale stationery house and have
a complete knowledge of the business.
I am planning to leave because I am
worth at least $125 a month and am
getting losb. I wish to enter tho serv-
ice of an enterprising firm that knows
a good man when it has him, and if
you will accord me an interview I be-
lieve we can come to terms."
The last sentence, to which John
demurred, was the product of Mrs.
Barton's brain.
It seemed to the women Just the
sort of letter calculated to appeal
psychologically to Quincy. They said
so and John was forced to agree.
He watched Hart narrowly the next
morning. Somehow he felt as if a
vast load had been lifted off his mind.
He no longer feared Hart, he no longer
dreaded to go into tho little booth
where he had his desk. Threats would
leave John unmoved. He dreamed
away the morning, in fancy seeing
himself at the altar with Cynthia, and
in his pocket the price of an extended
honeymoon tour through the South.
At lunch time the office boy told
John that Hart wanted to see him.
When John entered there was a frown
on Hart's forehead that boded ill.
Mr. Darrell, we have been thinking
of making some changes in the office,"
said Hart. "I have been under the
impression that you were not alto
gether satisfied with your position
here."
"No, sir," said John.
"Eh? What's that?" snapped Hart,
looking at him menacingly. "You
aren't? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I think I am worth more money,
sir," said John, respectfully. "In fact,
I—I am sure of it." ^
"Then that is the cgipljfJTation of this
letter whi^h <*nre^eived from you this
mvniTig," said Hart, flinging John's
missive down on the table.
John felt his blood run cold. It was
one thing to leave Hart triumphantly,
"I want to ask for a couple of
weeks' vacation first, sir," said John.
\ ou see, I—I'm going to be married."
"Why, certainly—certainly, Darrell,"
said Hart, hastily. "Congratulations,
I'm sure. Er—good-morning, then."
When John was gone he leaned back
in his chair and smiled. He would
give the new man John's salary. And
John, a married man, would never
write such a letter as the one that had
terrified him that morning.
Hart's reasoning was sound enough;
only he did not reckon on John's
mother-in-law. For a wise mother-in-
law Is a man's good providence.
(Copyright. 1915, by W. Q. Chapman.)
COULDN'T SPEND HER MONEY
American Girl in Paris Was Entirely
Willing, But the Government
Interfered.
NOT AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT
"Marathon Run" Has Been Duplicated
Many Times by Sprinters With Nc
Great Claim to Fame.
"Then That Is the Explanation of This
Letter."
to go to Quincy; it was another to be
kicked out before he had secured an-
other position.
"Of course, if you are not satisfied,
Mr. Darrell," continued Hart, more
blandly, "you are at liberty to leave
us. But we are enlarging the depart-
ment, and I wanted to get another man
as assistant preparatory to advancing
you to a higher position at $125."
Which was not strictly true. Hart
had advertised for another man, but
he had Intended to keep John in the
same position at the same salary, and
all his expressions of discontent on
previous days had been directed to-
ward frightening John lest he should
make a demand on him. The new
man was to have superseded John.
"If you like to take the position It
is yours, Darrell," continued Hart.
John looked at him in stupefaction.
It seemed too good to be true. He
was appreciated, then. His employer
had recognized his years of service!
Hart turned on the reproachful tap.
"If only you had let me know that you
wanted more money, Darrell," he said.
"Why, sir, doesn't everybody want
more money?" asked John.
"They do. But those that get lt-
ask for it. Not that I intend to advance
you further—for a year, at least," he
went on, hurriedly. "But if you would
like to start in at $125 next month
you may."
Historians differ by two days in
relation to the date of the battle of
Marathon, but the weight of opinion
has been in favor of May 30, 490 years
before the beginning of .he Christian
era. It was a small town, but like
many of the small towns of great
wars, it became famous through all
time in history as the turning point
for the forces of the Athenians.
Marathon is about twenty-eight miles
northeast of Athens, the modern town
being in the midst of a beautiful plain.
Circuitous roads lead around spurs of
Mounts Pentelicus and Hymettus, fa-
mous in Grecian history and poetry.
On this date Miltiades, the great lead-
er of the time of the Greeks, met, as
the tale is told, lOO.Qoii l'''^£ t'°
only 10,000 Greeks.' "'i'nestory of the
battle is one of the most thrilling in
all history. The Greeks drove the
Persians out of that part of the coun-
try.
In recent years the battle has been
remembered by rather absurd "Mara-
thon races," the reason for them be-
ing the story of a runner who sped
those 28 miles without stop for a rest
to bring the story to Athens of the
wonderful victory of the little army
of Miltiades, which changed the whole
face of affairs between the contending
Greeks and Persians. The story had
been disputed of the feat of this run-
ner, but it was challenged by athletes
in various parts of America as being
no groat feat, as Ixird Byron proved
that the story of Leander swimming
the Hellespont was no unusual accom-
plishment for any good swimmer. Many
an American young man has dupli-
cated the Marathon race in various
parts of this country, proving that the
Greek of about 2,500 years ago, whe
brought to Athens the news of the
victory of Miltiades, was merely an or
dlnary sprinter.
As Usual.
As nothing is quite as hard on
youth as another youth Just a few
years older, Tommy resented very
severely Jean's foibles at the table
when there was company.
"Mother, please don't let Jean come
to the table tonight," he begged; "she
always acts like we never have ice
cream -'cept when there's company.'
"Honest I won't," begged Jean, so
convincingly that she was allowed to
come.
However, when the time for desserl
came and her favorite strawberry ice
cream appeared, Jean's emotional en-
thusiasm had to find some outlet
"Oh," she crowed, clapping hei
hands ecstatically; then, true to hei
promises, she continued, "We have il
every night. We have it every night/
The girl who was born under the
star of extravagance, whatever that
is, was praised for her unnatural econ-
omy.
-fust '.M.nk," her people said, "of
having all that money over there In
Paris, and not spending It."
"Don't blame me," the girl protested
with unblushing candor. "It was not
my fault. I wanted to spend It, but
I could not; I couldn't get at It In
spite of myself, I was forced into the
paths of economy by the French gov-
ernment
"At the beginning of the war I
solved all the business problems by
making my trunk my banker. What
money I had was drawn out of the
bank and deposited in my trunk. That
seemed a pretty safe place, so mo t of
my money was left there when I went
to London on a visit
"I had made my home in Paris
with an old school friend. While I
was in London her husband died.
V hen I came back it was as much
as I could do to get. into the house.
The government had been in and had
clapped red seals, fastened to the ends
o a piece of tape, across everything
about the place.
"My own trunk had not escaped.
Right across the lock was a band of
tape with these seals of 'Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity,' above and be-
r\ They did not represent much
rty for me; they came nearer to
representing captivity, for I had run up
debts, and the only money I had to
pay them with was in that trunk.
T hen came such a bargain sale.
It consisted of lace and feathers and
jewelry that had belonged to a very
fine lady and were going dirt cheap.
iey were sold at private sale and I
was offered first pick of anything I
wanted.
"For three months, while all the ter-
riiying entanglements of French law
were being unraveled, my money was
imprisoned. When my friend's affairs
were finally settled and the seals re-
moved, the bargains I coveted had
been sold elsewhere, so I had saved
my money."
When We Work Best.
Autumn and spring are the best sea
sons of the year for all kinds of work.
At a very low temperature both men-
tal and physical work are depressing,
Mental work reaches its highest effi-
ciency at a temperature of 38 degrees
while physical work reaches its maxi-
mum at 59 degrees for men and 60 de
grees for women. Recent investiga-
tions show that weather variations are
distinctly good for us and promote oui
mental efficiency
In and Out.
"I work," related a friend, to the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, "in a sash
door and blind factory. Owing to the
unprecedented building boom this
spring we have been unable to keep
up with our orders. People coming
into the office and ordering articles
for Immediate delivery are likely to be
disappointed—they have to wait their
turn. And all this I tell you as an
introduction to a curious example of
the peculiarities of the English lan-
guage which I overheard the other
day.
'A man entered the front office In a
great hurry.
'Is the boss In?' he asked.
"Is there anything I could do for
you?' countered one of our polite
young clerks.
I want to see him about buying
some doors at once. Is he here?'
" 'Well,' explained the clerk, 'he's in
his private office, but he's out of
doors.'"
Situation In France.
Pat, who was out of work, and who
was thinking of emigrating, was pass-
ing by a news agent's shop the other
day, when a placard outside the door
containing the words "Situation in
France," attracted his attention.
Pat (having gone into the shop)—
Oi ve come about that situation you're
advertising.
News Agent—What situation are you
referring to, sir?
l'at ; pointing to placard)—It's the
one in France I'm after.
News Agent-But that's on the state
of affairs.
Pat-Sorra a ha'porth I care whose
estate its on. Bedad! I'll take it
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Herbert, H. S. Carney Enterprise. (Carney, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, July 2, 1915, newspaper, July 2, 1915; Carney, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc87998/m1/10/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.