held by either. One of the men had a good job, the place of assistant to the head of a department. The other was only a clerk. The first man got $30 a week, the second was paid only $18. When the time came for the head to look around and select the man for the new position his eyes fell on the two under consideration, and he began to sum up their merits.
"My idea of a man for this new place," he said, "is one who has proved by his steadiness, industry, and economy that he is ambitious, that he wants to and means to do well, and who, generally speaking, has shown that he's a strong character. Now, while Johnson, at $30 a week, is obviously first choice for the place, I won't give it to him until I've compared him with Nagle, who's only getting $18. I'm going to look them over first and find out who really is the bigger man of the two."
A week later the office was surprized and shocked to see Nagle, the clerk, get the coveted place.
"Why in the world did you do it?" a friend asked the boss.
The answer was short and to the point. "I looked 'em up, and found that Nagle was a better man than Johnson, in spite of the fact that the latter had the bigger job. Johnson has been getting $30 a week for two years. He's single, but he hasn't got a cent of savings in the bank. Nagle has been getting $18 for the same length of time. But Nagle has been taking care of his money, and now he has $300 to his credit in his savings account. Johnson goes out and blows in his money and doesn't give a single thought to the future. Nagle plants a few dollars every week. Do you suppose there can be any question as to the ability of these two men?"
And when you think it over this is about as good a test of worth as any that could be made.—Chicago Tribune.
(3517)
WOUNDS, CURIOUS
Simon Stone was shot in nine places, and
as he lay for dead the Indians made two
hacks with a hatchet to cut his head off.
He got well, however, and was a lusty fellow
in Cotton Mather's time. Jabez Musgrove
was shot with a bullet that went in at his
ear and came out at his eye on the other side.
A couple of bullets went through his body
also. Jabez got well, however, and lived
many years. Per contra, Colonel Rossiter,
cracking a plum-stone with his teeth, broke a
tooth and lost his life. We have seen
physicians dying, like Spigelius, from a
scratch; and a man who had had a crowbar
shot through his head alive and well. These
extreme cases are warnings. But you can
never be too cautious in your prognosis, in
view of the great uncertainty of the course
of any disease not long watched, and the
many unexpected turns it may take.—Oliver
Wendell Holmes, Jr.
(3518)
Wounds of Christ—See Stigmata.
WOUNDS THAT SPEAK
The advocates in ancient Rome gave effect
to their appeals by producing on fit occasions
the living image of the client's misery, and
his claims on the compassion of the courts.
Thus, when Antony was defending against
the charge of pecuniary corruption, Aquilius,
who had successfully conducted the campaign
in Sicily against the fugitive slaves,
and was unable to disprove or refute the
charge, in the midst of his harangue, after
appealing in impassioned tones to the services
rendered to his country by the brave soldier
who stood by his side—he suddenly unloosed
the folds of his client's robe, and
showed to his fellow citizens who sat upon
his trial the scars of the wounds which had
been received in their behalf. They could
not resist the effect of such a sight, and
Aquilius was acquitted. (Text.)—Croake
James, "Curiosities of Law and Lawyers."
Many a heart, like that of Thomas,
has been softened and convinced by the
sight of the marks of Christ's passion.
(3519)
Writing Life Records—See Records, Living.
WRONG RETROACTIVE
For he that wrongs his friend
Wrongs himself more, and ever bears about
A silent court of justice in his breast,
Himself the judge and jury, and himself
The prisoner at the bar, ever condemned.
(Text.)—Tennyson.
(3520)
Wrongs, Little—See Little Sins.
X-Ray as Detective—See Detection; Exposure.
