Newspaper Page Text
10
ROMANCE OF SUCCESS
IS THIS CLEVER STORY
HOW S. S. M’CLURE, THE MAGAZINE
MAN, WON HIS WAY.
Bl* Labowious Boyhood on an Indiana
Farm—Through College With a Buck
Saw—Schoolteacher, Peddler, Bicycle In
k atructor —Syndicate Pioneer.
I
[Special Correspondence.]
New York, Nov. 9.—This is the
Story of a plucky country boy’s fight to
win his way from the farm to a place
of his own in the great world. His
name is McClure. He was born in the
north of Ireland 40 years ago. He was
baptized Samuel S., and he is now ed
itor and publisher of the magazine that
bears his name. If ever there was a Hfe
story the perusal of which should en
courage every ambitious young man, no
matter how great the obstacles with
which he has to contend, here it is.
A circumstance of that early period
stands out bold and distinct in his mem
ory. He was taken to a large town by
an older member of his family, and the
i .WjlSb
I
i AWfe. i
5 W
I
s. S. M’CLURE,
two put up at a hotel. A Catholic
priest, who read a good deal from a
Latin book, was a guest of the house at
the same time. The Latin book had a
strange fascination for the lad, and be
fore he slept that night he made a sol
emn resolve that some day he, too,
would learn to ,re;id in Latin.
The McClure family removed to the
United States when S. S. was 9 years
old, settling on a farm in northern In
diana some 16 miles from Valparaiso.
It was a good farm, but it had to be
paid for, and the McClure boys, of
whom S. S. was the oldest, had to help
every summer in the fields. As a result
he was able to enjoy not more than four
or five months’ schooling each year.
But he thanked his stars for what he
could get and buckled down harder to
his work in the hope that sooner or later
he would be able to realize his am bition
with regard to learning Latin. He help
ed plant and harvest the corn. He held
the plow handles day after day every
spring and fall and could draw as long
a furrow between sun and sun as any
man in the neighborhood. He did every
sort of farm labor before he was 13, ex
cept the very heaviest, such as pitching
hay and grain, for which, of course, he
lacked the weight and muscle. But he
“loaded” the hay, which is the same as
“trimming” cargo on shipboard, and
stacked the grain and straw, and thus
practically filled the place of a man on
the farm. This sort of life went on till
he was 14, and then he determined that
the time had arrived for a change.
Education Begun.
So. bidding adieu to the farm, he
Is there any reason
for dodging and ig-
V? A noring a great and
V? < vital fact simply be-
cause a few preju
-p/ diced, misguided
people have anti
/'NX I 1 ' & quatedideas of what
/. ’ —constitutes morality
(I an( l mo d es ty? Rea-
/!k son and honesty say
►rl JHRs'-A —certainly not. Men
\ \ an d women are at-
\ tracted to each other
\ because they are men
I ail< l women and be-
tause it is right and
necessary that they
jtwfflSSSf'S&S' ' should be so at
tracted. The things
that make a man at
tractive are the char-
. acteristics caused by
Bl 'W his inherent manli
ness—by the strength
w which makes him a
X perfect man. Th c
same is true of wo
man. There is strong
JwbflHw attractiveness in per
feet health. There is
fascination and mag
'^■^^■^P* Re tism A wo-
cannot be en
tirely womanly—she
cannot be a perfect
woman—if she is not
in perfect health. In
just so much as her
sickness affects the organs that make her a
woman, in just so much she loses attractive
ness. This is the vital part of her health.
If anything is wrong there, it may result in
all manner of ills all over the body, Care
less. or too busy, physicians frequently treat
the symptoms of this kind of disorder as
separate and distinct ailments. The symp
toms are many and varied, so much so that
when a woman is sick in any way, the first
thought should be given to the organs dis
tinctly feminine. About 9 times in 10 the
cause of the trouble will be found there.
Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription cures all
disorders of this kind. There is no guess
work about it. There is no chance about it.
It is a fact that has been demonstrated in 30
solid years of extensive practice.
Thousands of women have written grate
ful letters, who have wished the whole
world of women to know the wonderful
things the “Prescription" has done for
them.
went to Valparaiso, wbtire a new public
school system was just being inaugurat
ed. He arrived there quite a stranger,
but after some inquiries found a place
where he could “do chores for his
board” and attend high school, having
passed its examination without diffi
culty. He did not leave Valparaiso for
good until he was nearly 18, but every
summer he went out to earn money for
his winter expenses. The summer he
was 15 he taught school for sl4 a month
and boarded round. Ahother summer he
worked in a grocery store. While in
Valparaiso he spent a good deal of time
around the office of 'the local paper,
where he learned to set type, to turn
the crank of the printing press and to
“lock up” a “form. ” Before he left
the place he was “doing” local news
items and occasional “editorials. ”
When he was 17, his stepfather died,
and he had to go back to the farm an’d
help his brothers carry it on. He re
mained there only half a year, but it
was a great six months for the farm,
for, owing to good weather and the
vigorous way in which it was worked,
it that year yielded the biggest crops of
oats and corn and hay in its history.
When fall came, he left the farm for
the second time, his purpose being
strong to continue.his education, and
went to Galesburg, Ills., the seat of
Knox college, 200 miles from his home.
When he reached Galesburg, young Mc-
Clure had only-15 cents in his pocket,
and he knew not a soul in the whole
town. His plans for the.future were ex
tremely misty as to detail, but there
was one idea strongly dominant in his
mind.
“I knew,” he .said the other day,
“that Galesburg was situated in the
midst of one of the most fertile coun
ties in the United States. I knew that
no one would be allowed to starve when
surrounded by such plenty, and I knew
that if I did not starve I should surely
succeed in getting through college.”
It was young McClure’s intention to
work for his board while attending col
lege, as he had at Valparaiso, but it
was a full month before he was able to
find a home. In the meantime, having
passed the examinations and been en
rolled as a student, he occupied an un
used, unfurnished room in one of the
dormitories. He made an empty box
serve as a chair, but he cannot now re
member where he slept. He lived on
bread, crackers and grapes at an ex
pense of not more than 50 cents a week,
which he earned by sawing wood with
a buck saw.
“I lost a good deal of time hunting
for wood to saw and other work to do,”
said Mr. McClure "in telling the story,
“and so when 1 became a trustee of
the college some years ago I inaugurated
a plan . by which townsfolk who have
work that students can do to give out
are registered and classified. Students
at Knox college do not now have to
waste time looking for odd jobs, and
any student who is willing to do a lit
tle wholesome work can get through
easily on SSOO for the entire course.”
Before the second month was over he
had found a place where he could work
for his board. At the end of the college
year he had paid all his own expenses
and had $6 to the good. The year he
was 18 he worked all summer on a farm
at S2O a month. He was offered $25
monthly if he would work eight months,
but he declined this dazzling proposi
tion, as it would interfere with his col
lege work. One summer he peddled
needles and pins and tape. Another
summer, after having mastered short
hand, he taught that mystery to who
ever desired to learn it. Owing to some
dissensions in the board, he served as
editor of the college paper, The Knox
Student, during his last year at Gales
burg. No one thought he could edit it,
but his selection healed the quarrel,
and to everybody’s surprise he got out
a very creditable little journal. He also
acted as publisher, and in that capacity
he secured advertisements and looked
after the printing and the general ex
penses. While conducting The Knox
Student he got up a history of western
college journalism, which was much
and favorably commented upon in west
ern colleges generally.
S. S. McGlure had no definite plans
for the future when his college life was
ended. Some of his classmates were go
ing to study law, some intended enter
ing journalism, others meant to teach
and other to go into business.
“What are you going to do, Sam?”
qpked a friend one day.
“I—why, I am going to Boston,” he
replied at random, not knowing what
else to say.
And so it fell out that in June, 1882,
when he was 25 years old, S. S. Mc-
Clure stepped off a train in the Boston
and Albany depot one pleasant, sun
shiny morning. He had no personal ac
quaintances in the town and his purse
was light. After several days’ hard and
unsuccessful search for a job, he noticed
the name of a famous bicycle maker on
a window and concluded to seek a place
there. After a little parley with a clerk
he succeeded in seeing the president of
the company. He told this man that as
publisher of a college paper in Gales
burg he had printed some advertise
ments of the company’s bicycles. The
money for the same had been promptly
paid. He had then liked the way the
house did business; now he wanted to
enter its employ. He was perfectly will
ing to do anything that was offered.
The bicycle maker said that help was
plenty and places scarce. Still he seem
ed impressed.
THE HOM a TRIBLNE. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 11. 1897
‘ • Would you wash windows and sweep
floors?” he asked.
The young man said he would will
ingly and was told to sit in the office
for awhile.
This was on July 3, and McClure
was told to wait on the supposition that
more help might be needed than usual
on the 4th at the bicycle rink controlled
by the company. Late in the afternoon
he was informed that he might work
next day and that his pay would be sl.
His duties would be to teach greenhorns
how to ride the wheel. Now, McClure
had never bestrid a bicycle in his life,
and it was necessary that he should
learn before the next morning. He was
so anxious to work that this seemed an
easy task. Indeed had any one asked
him that afternoon whether he could
navigate a transatlantic steamer he
would have said yes, and tried it. He
might have succeeded too. At all events,
he fell off the wheel but once, and in
less than ten minutes was sailing round
and round the rink as though he were a
veteran wheelman. Next day when he
went to work he was a veteran.
Syndicate and Magazine.
The job was to last only one day, but
McClure stuck to it for weeks with a
tenacity born of desperaton. When there
was no one to teach how to ride the
wheel, he washed windows and swept
floors. After awhile his employer, who
often stopped to talk with him, suggest
ed that he should edit a monthly period
ical, to be called The Wheelman. Mc-
Clure undertook this task and performed
it creditably for some time, but at the
end of a year and six months in Boston
—in December, 1882—decided to come
to New York.
Here he got work in a big printing
house, where he had to look after proofs
and attend to kindred duties. But he
could see no future in that place. So,
after fpnr or five months, he found a
minor situation on the business staff of
The Century Magazine writing circu
lars, advertisements, etc. Progress was
slow there, too, and feeling that it would
always remain so for him, he determined
to start a syndicate for the furnishing
of fiction and other general matter to
newspapers.
He got this notion from Mr. Dana of
The Sun, who had purchased serial
stories from Henry James, Bret Harte,
W. D. Howells, etc., and sold them for
simultaneous publication in several pa
pers. This was in the fall of 1884, 13
years ago, and ever since that time the
name of S. S. McClure has been famil
iar, alike to authors and publishers, as
a dealer in literary wares. He had no
capital at the beginning, and the money
question was often a most serious prob
lem with him. But he stuck to the line
he had marked out, worked early and
late, systematized his duties, econo
mized his minutes and won the fight.
Four years ago, in 1893, he started
his magazine. Today he is on the high
road to really phenomenal success.
Dexter Marshall.
Tutt’s Pills
Cure All
Liver Ills.
Vo those living
•n malarial districts Tutt's Pilis
e indispensible, they keep the
“.•stem in perfect order and are
absolute cure
icr sick headache, indigestion,
iirdaria, torpid liver, constipa
i'onand ail bilious diseases.
Tutt’s Liver PiJJs
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION
OF THE
ANIMAL
EXTRACTS
four years ago greater advance has
been made in the cure of Nervous
Diseases than was obtained in the
previous half century. Prejudice, ig
norance and incredulity have all been
swept aside and the medical profes
sion and public alike now recognize
io this line of medication the most ef
fective means within human power
to combat disease.
Quickened Circulations
Bright eyew/dmproved
SpiritsMhese follow witlv
in 24 hours after using
the Extracts.
Cerebrine, from the brain
For diseases of the nervous system.
Medulline, from the spinal cord,
For epilepsy, locomotor ataxia, etc.
Cardine, for diseases of the heart.
Testine, for premature decay in men.
Ovarine, for diseases of women.
Thyroidiue, for obesity and ekin dis
eases.
Musculine, for gout and rheumatism.
Sold in small triangular blue bottles,
dose. 5 drops.
Weak, nervous men who have tried
all the quack remedies, may turn with
confidence to the Animal Extracts.
They cure.
Free Book, with medical advice,
upon application to the manufactur
ers, Washington Chemical Company,
Washington, D. C. For sale by Tay
lor and Norton.
Always prompt and reliable. ‘Xvotd Imitations.
Get Catom’bTakit Pillb and bavb bbgrktb.
At drug atoree, or tent direct (seeled), price Bl
Catoh Bpbc. Com Boston, Maas. Pampb Let 4o>
Just as the Flashlight
Pierces Through the fl ight
M’DDNALU-SPARKS-STEWART CO.
LOW PRICE POWER
PERMEATES EVERY MARKET OF MERIT
lidyMrajß k i -
Our P r i° eson Carpets are lower than yoa can buy
them of cost sales elsewhere, no matter what price is
inaddttiontotheGreat• quoted our price will be lowei. Get our prices before you
BUCK’S buy. Our line of Furniture, Mattings, Rugs, Lace and
celebrated Cheneille Curtains, Window poles, Shades. Blankets
Stovesißanges
Comforts, Quil-, Bed Spreads, Baby Carriages and a
housefurnishing goods.
We also carry a full line
of* Cole’s celebrated Hot Our immense Stock is now complete and we are mak-
Blast Heaters. The best * ' „ , x _ . .
heating apparatus on the in £ a display of elegant goods never before excelled in
market. North Georgia.
Come, let us show it to
you.
We want your Trade, and shall endeavor to please you.
Don’t fail to visit and inspect our stock, now in store and ready
for your inspection. This stock cannot be surpassed in detail of
goods and our prices are beyond competition.
McDONALD-SPARKS-STEWART CO
THE BIGGEST THING IN ROME.
Coffins, Caskets, Undertaking Embalming.
GOLD FIELDS.
New Route to Klondike.
How to Reach Alaska.
Stop over in Rome and we will show you the Gateway wherein
untold thousands can be found by calling at
G. J. BRIANT & GO’S
THE ARMSTRONG )• H A H 0
BRIANT CORNER J DMl\O.
The best appointed and most elegant in Rome, saving 50 per cent on your purchases is the first step to
wealth. We are first hands for everything in the Liquor line. We represent the best distilleries and Im
porters in America. With an experience of over 30 years, we feel confident we know the wants of the Trade
and can supply customers to the very best advantage. Don’t throw away your money before you give us a
trial
Look <3 LOOK AT THIS LIST I
J'S
Monogram Hye, Monongahela Murray Hill Club, Clover Club. Old
Rve » Nathan XXXX Rye, Yellow Lincoln County 6 yrs. Old, Jas. E.
/WK} Label Whisky Pepper & Co, Rye.
/wWw? KT , rvp nu-> ci v 01(1 Forrester R J’ e > Watermelon
Nathan’s Old Cabinet. Gold Med- Gin , Gin Pnosphate .
a1 ’ Lewis ’ 66 R y*» Baker ’ 8 Rye. Old Win a Mill Gin, Imported
Old Family Nectar, Golden Age G ns, Scotch and Irish Whiskey,
Rye. Canadian Club V' hisky, Paul Fannin and Pickens County Corn
J « neß & Co ’ 8 Pure Ry e ’ Whiskey,. Jas. Hennessey’s Brandy.
™ -r r,-!. c * T> Otari. Dupu & Co.’s Brandy,
Jn ° Glbßon Sons &Co Rye ’ G. H, Mumm’s Champaigns.
'ijii -il XXXX Acme, Green Briar Lincoln Wines, Imported and domestic,
county Whisky. Tobaccos, Cigars, &c, &c.
Is I Ijw Sole agents for the Celebrated Pabst Milwaukee
w ’ ifJ Beer, the best on the market. Largest ana
V. I IffJ most select stock of whiskeys, Brandies,
\\ lO - Domestic and imported wines. Ale, Porter,
i\\ J• h gin, cigars, tobacco, etc. Bottled and draft
Mj beers, Jos. Schlitz & Budweiser bottled beer.
H c ° rn Whiskey a Specialty.
11 W We makH a specialty of the Jug Trade, and all orders by mail
llnl ll|l| ■—»— I or telegraph will have our prompt attention. Special in-
vil 111 " ducements offered.
B. BRIANT’S CORNER,
Bass’ old stand. ROME, GA.