Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Oct. 25, 1901, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I THE IDLE AMANUENSIS. I 4 BY CHARLES II. WHITE. A There. Now we can be comfortable and free from interruption while I tell you that little story I promised. It seems good to be sitting with you once again, after so long a separa tion. Calls to mind the times we used to hava in 76, when you were slaying for Boynton & Blackman, and I was learning the rudiments of the business that I followed until about a year ago. Now I am independently situated owing to certain fortuitous circumstances which happened to come my way; yet I feel old and care worn and my hair is tinged with gray. Let me see; it was in '81 that I left Syracuse to take a position in a brok er's office located on Broad street, in New York City. The atmosphere of my surroundings was entirely in ac cord with my heart's desire, which ' was to become a potent factor in the financial whirlpool that annually whisks away the fortunes of thous ands, to place them at the feet of the lucky few. The room assigned to mo by my new employers was a small one, in the rear of the principal offices, and lighted from a court. The solitary window reached to the floor, and opened out upon a balcony which en circled the court, communicating with the elevator shaft at the back of the building. The chief offices had doors which led to this balcony. I was the sole occupant of the little office. Directly opposite my window was the window of another room, the coun terpart of mine, and similarly con nected with the other suite on the eame floor. It was occupied by a young lady, evidently employed as a stenographer, a3 her typewriter was visible through the glass. From the first glimpse I got of her she attract ed me strongly. She was pretty, and I always possessed a fondness for feminine beauty. In addition to that fact, she seemed to have almost noth ing to do, and that peculiar condition piqued my curiosity. Hour after hour she would sit by the window with a book in her hand. Only on rare oc casions would I see her doing any work and then for a few moments at A time. I could not comprehend the reason for this, inasmuch as the con cern employing her (the eastern agen cy, of a large beef house), seemed to transact a good business. I marvelled that any man should pay a salary to and reserve a room for a clerk, and then allow her to fritter away nearly all of the time. It was not long be fore I had privately conferred upon my sweet neighbor the title of "the idle amanuensis." I soon discovered that the girl was not a stickler on certain points of etiquette. Se did not wait for an in troduction, but began to smile and bow to me on the third day of my oc cupancy of the little office. I re sponded with alacrity, and soon felt that a personal interview was on the cards. We did meet in the elevator once or twice within the first week, but others were present on each oc casion, and I made no advances. Doubtless the girl was of a similar mind, for she offered no active en couragement, merely nodding and be stowing on me one of her charming smiles. These smiles were sufficient ly dazzling to captivate any man who .was not already happily married or engaged. It was during my third week that events began to draw in toward a fo cus. While working at my desk one afternoon, I heard a light tap on the window pane. Looking up I saw that the girl was standing on the balcony. She smiled and pointed to the bal cony floor just outside my window. Following the direction with my eyes, i observed a folded paper lying there which I lost no time in securing. It proved to be a note written by herself. The wording of the com munication was brief but to the point and it set my heart to beating wildly. "Dear- Sir Here's to our more inti mate acquaintanceship. Shall be at home this evening, at No. West Forty-second street. Please indicate through the window whether you will call. Sincerely, Ethel Thompson." Would I call? I gave a series of most emphatic nods and had the sat isfaction of seeing that their mining was evidently understood. I called on Jlisa Thompson that very evening. She bore herself in an Intelligent and vivacious manner, as her appearance had led me to expect; and her demeanor was characterized by a refinement not in keeping with the unconventional nature of her in vitation. During our conversation she in formed me that she was glad her of fice work was . light, as she disliked the duties of an amanuensis. "I have noticed," I said to her, "that 3-0U are not often busily engaged. How is it that eo large a concern conducts so small a correspondence?" This query provoked a laugh. "Why," she exclaimed, "we have another stenographer, who occupies one of the larger rooms. I do only the work dictated by Mr. Blossom, the iaanag.?r The regular run of the of fice mail is dictated by Mr. Pennoyer to the other stenographer. Mr. Blos som is away most of the time, and has very little for me to do. I am really not needed there at all, but Mr. Blossom is aristocratic and wants to have a private secretary." Then she added, in a different tone of voice, "The truth is that my position was created for me personally. I have what some persons denominate a 'pull with the powers that be." Toward the latter part of the even ing she seemed suddenly to have thought of something. "By the way." said she, "I was near forgetting a question I wished to ask of you. Your stockbroking business is a scaled book to me, and I am eager to learn something about it. I have been reading a good deal in the pa pers of late about .'D., K. & E.' stock, and what the bulb and bears are do ing with it. There seems to be great interest manifested in that stock, and I wish you would explain to me what id means." It happened that just at that time "D., K & E." occupied a peculiar po sition in the market. It was being manipulated by rival factions in such a manner as to render its future more than ordinarily uncertain. Further more there was a wheel within a wheel, "D., K. & E." being merely a speculative centre, around which re volved interests more important still. The fight going on between the hea;y operators was being participated in by many small investors; and, inasmuch as shrewd men with long pocketbooks were pitted against one another, the result would necessarily be that some wealthy operators would lose their fortunes, while the little fellows who happened to be on the winning side would be rewarded in proportion to the size of their investments. It i more or less that way in all stock deals, but this one was of so stupen dous a character as to outclass most of those that had preceeded it. I knew very little about the Inner history of the affair, but what infor mation I possessed was entirely at Miss Thompson's service. She ex pressed herself as delighted with my imperfect explanation, and I was so well pleased at finding that I could interest her, that I determined to learn all I could about "D., K & E.," for her edification. The chief clerk in our office was an approachable fellow, and he seemed to have taken a liking to me. His name was Fenton. Mr. Fisk had asked him to help me all he could, that I might gain a rapid insight into the businesa Now. with my mind full of "D., K. & E." I applied to Fenton for informa tion. He seemed pleased with my thirst for knowledge, and gratified it to the extent of his power. Every particle of fact or premise thus ob tained was passed over to Miss Thompson. We met frequently; I be came a regular visitor at her home, and notes were exchanged by us across across the court. She had completely enslaved me, so that I was wondering how soon I might, with consistency, ask her to become my wife. On ac count of the low condition of my finan ces, I dared not yet broach the sub ject Hence, nothing in the nature of love making was indulged in, though I was eager to advance beyond the stage of friendships, and she seemed willing to acquiesce. Matters went on in this way for s.ome weeks. We called one another "Ethel" and -'Henry." This departure from orthodox formality had been tak en at her suggestion. "We know each other so well now," she had said to me, "that we may as well make use of our Christian names. It will seem more friendly. You are acting in the capacity of a brother to me; and you know," she added arch ly, "that I stand ready to be a sister to you." However much I objected, privately, to the manner in which the privilege was granted, the concession itself was delightful, for it seemed to draw me closer to her. One morning Fenton appeared to be excited over something. "I tell you what, Walton," he said to me, " I'm in a devil of a quandary. I've just had a glorious tip on your favorita stock, 'D., K. & E.,' but can not see my way to take advantage of it. If I only, had from $1000 to $5000 just now, I could make a lucky strike." "Would you mind telling me about it?" I asked, in as calm a voice as I could command. "Certainly I will tell you." Fentcn replied. "Of course you won't breathe it to a soul." (I maae no reply to tins observation). "I have it on the best of authority that 'D., K. & E.' is to be heavily unloaded tomorrow pushed down to zero, in fact. The holders who cannot put up margins will be forced to sell out. Under ordinary cir cumstances, you know, this would mean that it was time to get from un der; but in this case the man who has any 'D., K. & E.' stock would better hang on to it. If he ha3 none, h3 :;liould place his order to purchase as ?,oon as it reaches 28. I have private information that it will drop rapidly and stop at 24. A man buying at 28, you see. would have to put up a short margin of four points. Immediately it reaches 24 there will bo a rush for it, and it will shoot up like a rocket. As soon as it strikes 9G, the holder should sclL All this comes from the fact that 'D., K. & E.' is being used as a blind to cover operations on 'P., T. & Q.' While the struggle is going on over "D., K. & E.' some quiet work will be done with 'P., T. & Q. which will result in a grand coup. I am satisfied that my information is cor rect." Well, I am ashamed to confess it. but I lost no ime In conveying this information to Ethel, by means of an unsigned note. I was so proud of my ability to secure information, that I wanted to deliver it before it was rtale. There would be no glory in telling it after it had become public property. Possibly my action in the matter was hastened, however, by a little note which I received from tho girl shortly after my conversation with Fenton. It merely contained the question: "Anything new today about 'D., IC & E.'?" My message containing the "glori ous tip" which Fenton bad communi cated to me brought iorth a reply. It contained these words: "Please do not come up tonight I have another engagement." During the remainder of the day. I noticed that Ethel was absent from her office.' The next day and for sev eral clays thereafter it was the same. I became alarmed. Finally I rushed up to her house, only to be met with the Information that Miss -Thompson was not at home. Meanwhile matters had transpired as Fonton had predicted. "D.. K. & E." hr.d fallen with great rapidity to 24. A scramble for it had ensued, ana it had risen with equal celerity to 97. ft was a matter for public comment that a man named Thompson un known on the ftreet had purchased at 28 and sold at 96, thereby reaping a snug fortune. I saw no more of Ethel, but a lcttfr received from her explained the mys tery. I have it here, and will read it to you. "Dear Brother Henry You have earned the title I bestow upon you. I felt satisfied ycu would secure some valuable information for me, Papa made use of it He is rich row, and we are to start for Europe immedi ately. I made him promise me a for eign trip when I could find him a way to make the needed money. He supposed It was a joke, but has learned to his entire satisfaction that I was in earnest You have my bless -sing. I shall think frequently of you and should I ever marry, I will Invito my brother to the wedding. Au re voir. Ethel." "Blossom has decided to employ but one stenographer hereafter. I havo no further use for my 'pull.' " Wa verley Magazine. AN ELECTRIC DRY DOCK. The Current Pnt to a Novel Use at South Brooklyn. The very latest adaptation of elec tric power is to the operation of the pumps for dry docks. What is said to be the largest and most powerful dry dock in the world has recently been built in South Brooklyn, New York, and so equipped that the port of New York from being the last on the list of ports where repairs to large ves sels could be made has taken its prop er place in the front rank, in keeping with its commercial importance. The dock is built of five pontoons, each 80 feet long, with two exten sions at the end each 36 feet long, al though the final size of the dock is to be 700 to 800 feet, capable of taking care of vessels of the very largest size. The advantage in using elec tric power Is Its great flexibility, and the fact that it can be obtained from the public lighting circuits of the dis trict, making the maintenance of a power plant unnecessary. There are two large centrifugal pumps, electri cally driven, which have a capacity of from 5000 to 0000 gallons per minute. The great speed of operation of the dock is evidenced by the fact that a 9000-ton vessel was recently docked in exactly 51 minutes. Another peculiar construction of this dock i3 that it is built in sec tions as before noted. Owing to this arrangement ft is possible to use only the number of pontoons neces sary to accommodate the particular ship to be docked. If it is a small ship only two sections need be em ployed, and larger vessels accordingly. The pontoon design of the dock also enables a vessel to be docked which has a decided list, which in the ordi nary docks cannot be done. By tilting the dock until the pontoon has as sumed the same angle as the listed vessel tho latter may be floated in and secured to the dock, when the latter is made to assume a level po sition. The pontoons have wings at either side, the top of which are 56 feet above the bottom of the pontoons, all the pumps, etc., being placed on the platforms at the top of the wings. The girl who is cultivating her voice can't expect to cultivate many friends. Sample JTlcliirays lUiIlt. ARTIN DODGE, Dir ctor of Public Road Inquiries Office, wrUc'3 as follows In Municipal Journal and En gineer: The rclez influence of the bicycle and tho automobile has finally created a public sentiment that is crystalli lug into betterment of the public highways to an extent that Is most gratifying to the good roads enthusi ast. Many States which have failed to make any appropriation for tho im provement of roads in the past year yielded to tho public demand and made fcr them liberal appropria tions. The good example of Massa chusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and other States is bearing fruit la the aggregate, including the fcra&ll appropriation made by the Gov fiTupasnt, millions cf dollars have jpti ajt aside for the betterment of tho "country roads during this year. Canada la" by no means a laggard, but rather well i.i the lead, when all things are considered, for she has ap propriated 01,000,000 to be expended upon the improvement cf tho high ways Curing the season. The good roads train which has been touring the South during tho last three months, was made up at Chi cago through the co-operation of tho National Association of Good Roads, the Illinois Central Railroad and sev eral manufacturers of road-making machinery. The train started from Chicago on April 20, equipped with eight carloads -of the best and most important roadmaking machinery, ex pert operators, roadmakers and en gineers, arriving in New Orleans on April 22. The following week an object les son road, about two mile3 in length. was built in the suburbs of New Or leans, over a low plain, formerly sub ject to overflow. It was desirable to raise the roadbed higher than usual to get above the action of the water, which softens the surface of the road so rapidly; therefore, earth handling machinery was used to advantage. The New Era grader, propelled by twelve animals, was first put upon the work, and earth was transferred from the sides' to the centre, at the rate of four cubic yards per minute. Within the short space of two days the undisturbed earth was trans formed into a smoothly finished road way, over which automobiles could pass with perfect ease. During the week a State convention assembled for two days in pursuance of a proclamation issued by the Gov ernor of Louisiana. Every parish of the State was well represented, there being about one thousand delegates In attendance. As a result of this convention a permanent State organ ization was formed, which will oper ate In co-operation with the national association, to carry on the work al ready so well begun. On the first of May the train left New Orleans for Natchez, Miss., where it remained a week building another object lesson road and hold ing a district convention for two days, at the close of which a permanent or ganization was formed for carrying on the work In that vicinity, and for the purpose of co-operating with the State association, afterward formed at Jackson, Miss., and the national as sociation, formed last November at Chicago. We had here the hearty co-operation of the city and the county authorities, the object lesson road be ing built partly within and partly without the city of Natchez. Our next stand was at Greenville, Miss., where we arrived on May 16. This is in the midst of the famous Yazoo Delta. The soil is an alluvial deposit, subject to overflow and in undation. A portion of this soil Is known as "buckshot land," and is ex ceedingly difficult to handle and more difficult to retain in the form of a smooth roadbed. It was doubted whether the earth-handling machinery so successful in other soils, ould be able to handle this peculiar buckshot formation, but our efforts were crowned with success, and we left them' an object lesson of great value, in the form of smooth, well rouuded roadbeds, raised well above the water level. We also had a very successful two-day convention, which termin ated with the organization of a per manent association for tho improve ment of highways. I left the train temporarily at this point, and the nest stand was made at Granada and another at McComb City, and from McComb they went to Cambridge, after which the great con vention was held at Jackson, Miss., where an object lesson road was built, as at each of the other places. The Stat? convention was probably tho largest and most successful of any road convention ever assembled la Vmerica and resulted in a permanent ianization for tho entire State. From Jackson, Miss., the train went to Jackson, Tenn., where n similar program was carried out. The next great stand was at Louisville, Ky., where I again joined the train on June 27.. The Governor of Kentucky had issued his proclamation for thtt State convention to bo held here at this time, and continue two days. This was well attended by eminent men from all parts of the State, and wa one of the best convention; evfjfcjii-ul iu the interest of good roads. Governor Beckham was present and delivered an address full of cncouragciiii'ut for the cause and urging the people to in dustrial activity. A fine object lesson road was produced hero just outside the city limits, and a permanent or ganization formed for the purpose of carrying on tho work in connection with tho national association. The train went from Louisville to Ilopkinsvillo and repeated there sub stantially the same work that had been done in the other places. Owons boro, Ky., was reached July 14, and a most enthusiastic convention was held on the fair grounds in that city. From here we crossed the Ohio River Into Southern Illinois, and made a final stand at Effingham. It was ex pectcd that the train would move from here to Mattoon, but owing to a disastrous fire in that city, the en gagement was cancelled, and the great tour of the good roads train was closed. THE PRESIDENT AEROAD. ' The Idea That He rannot Visit I"or:;; Soil a Mere Superstition. There is a popular superstitionJS.t the President of the United StaUV U inhibited from leaving this couiitry during his term of office, but it is su perstition only. The article of tho Constitutlou which relates to the Pres ident contains no provision of the sort, and therefore the President is quite free to do precisely as he chooses hi this matter. The reason why no President has ever visited foreign countries until af ter .hlsjetirement has probably been due? fd the fact that in the" early years of the republic, before the invention of the telegraph and before the laying of the Atlantic cable, and also before tho development of steamships of great speed, absence from the country' would have meant so protracted sev- erance of communication between the! executive and the subordinate officers) f-v tits r r"T tv ftnf no nnn cf f n fa what would have been practically an "Inability to discharge the powers and duties" of his office. When it required a month to make the voyage to Europe . and when letters and orders could be transmitted only by sailing packetR, or, afterward by steamship, it would, of course, have been impossible for the President to visit England with out practically abdicating his office and Installing the Vice-President in his place. But now, when the time re quired to pass from New York to Queenstown Is but little more than five days, and when immediately upon his landing he would be in telegraphic communication every moment with his Cabinet, there exists no satisfac tory reason why he should not feel entirely free to perform a striking act in international courtesy. It is not, indeed, true, that no Presi dent has ever gone beyond the boun daries of his country. President Ar thur, during his term of office, went to Florida by sea, and although he did so on a vessel of the navy, and was there fore technically still upon American soil he was, as a matter of fact, shut off from communication with the ad ministrative departments for several days; and President Cleveland also on one occasion, while shooting in the border, and for sevcial hours was, without knowing It, actually cpon British territory. If, Indeed, the President o? the Uni ted States were now to visit Egypt he need never be so remote from Wash ington In point of facility of commu nication as was President Monroe when, during the era of good feeling, he left the seat of Government and traveled by canal and coast and car riage to the city of Boston. The Book- man. A Eurnlns Question at Erjn 31awr. "Of course, some of our problems ill mathematics are very puzzling," said the Bryn Mawr sophomore, "but there i3 a far harder question which is in nnu way connected with our studies. There" ia an unwritten law i:i Bryn Mawr that a girl must not walk alone with a professor, and we are all very care ful about observing it. There is an other rule, also unwritten, that a stu dent must not walk about alone after dark. Now, if a girl is detained un avoidably in the evening, and while walking home meets a professor going her way, which rule is she to break? There have been a great many bitter discussions about that point, and no body has ever reached a decision." "Yes," said her friend, sympatheti cally, "it must be a very troublesome question. But what does a girl gen erally do when she is caught in such an embarrassing situation V" "Oh, that," replied the young col Iegienne, "depends entirely on how well she likes the professor." New VrL- Tinioa.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 25, 1901, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75