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When the Wife’s Away By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX Copyright, 1913, by Star Company. A YOUNG man employed in one of the many p<aees which contribute to the welfare of the public, in one of the greatest new railroad stations in the United States, was asked by a patron of his department whether certain trains went from the upper or lower level. He answered brusquely that he did not know; that she could find out by going to the inquiry bu reau on the floor above. His department was separate from that, he said. The patron turned and found an official within a few feet of the young man, who indicated the way. “If I answered all the questions asked me in a day,” the young man said, “I would have no time to attend to my own business.” But the man had taken more time and breath and energy in being disagreeable than he would have required in obtaining in formation about all the trains in the station. There are two levels in that station, the upper and the lower. A Correct Reply. The train inquired about are an important line, and almost any youth of ordinary in tellect, or less than ordinary, would naturally learn in a few days’ time from which level they started, especially if his business was In sight of these trains. Not to possess such information Y.i his position betokened a lack of observation and interest in oc currences continually taking place about him that bespeaks failure for the young man in anything he undertakes; and if he knew and refused the information be cause he did not like to be ques tioned on subjects not pertaining to his business, then his disposi tion is one to attract failure, not success. It took many words for him to tell the lady that he did not know and that it was not his business to know what she wished to know. It would have required just two w ords to answer her question, had he known, “upper level” or “low er level,” and, with a smile added, the lady would have gone her way, thinking what a pleasant youth he was, instead of think ing what she did think about him. In ten years’ time this youth will be a man in his full prime— somewhere in his thirties—and he will be wondering why he has not got on in the world; and ne will say he has had no “influence,” no “pull,” and that others have been advanced over him through “favoritism,” and he will make a hundred excuses for his failure to arrive, when the real fault will lie entirely with himself. He Had No Excuse. The work this youth was doing required no great concentration. He was not absorbed in some dif ficult mathematical problem, and he had many moments when he was doing nothing at ail save wait ing for people to serve. There fore he had no excuse for not us ing his eyes and ears to learn a small yet important fact about the big station; and he had no ex cuse for not imparting the infor mation asked save a lack of de velopment of kindnes and cour tesy. Courtesy a Great Factor. No matter what may be one’s position in life, from the most menial to the most lofty place, kindness and courtesy are most valuable assets for human beings to possess. They are great factors in success. Observation is another factor; and the habit of using odd, unoc- Better be careful when we take Columbus’ bones through the Pan ama Canal. He might wake up and lay cialm to it. • * * One way to judge the effective ness of a Sunday sermon is to count the coins in the contribu tion box. * * • By arresting a fair wearer, Richmond, Va., police take a few stitches in the slit ski**. • • •* Just as soon as the Mexicans are through fighting we’ll see that order is restored. • * • It is never necessary to borrow trouble. You can get plenty of it for keeps any time. • • • It is easier to lay out a scheme than to land an angel. cupied moments in learning some thing that will be of value to one’s self or others later—that, too, is a habit w'hich leads to the road of success. It is a better habit than that of watching the clock for fear of working five minutes overtime. And still another habit is of vast value on that road—the habit of smiling and speaking in an agree able tone of voice in the small daily occurrences of life. Each one of us is subject to an noyance by having people ask questions which it is not our prov ince to answer; but when we fail to give the information desired we can give something better oft- times by the bestowal of a pleas ant look and manner. If opportunity would kick in stead of knocking, a lot more of us would improve its visits. • • • When truth and falsehood en ter a race, the lie appears to travel on a thousand legs. * * * Man may build a windmill; but the Lord must raise the breezes. Huge Demand for Them. Salesman—Here you are, gentle men; the greatest invention of the age! Passer-by (stopping to listen) — What is it? Salesman—A magnetized keyhole plate for front doors. It will attract an ordinary steel key from a distance of two feet. All you have to do to find the keyhole at night is to take out your key and hang on to it. (Three men were injured in the crowd that rushed to buy.) PERTINENT PARAGRAPHS