S.S. McClure

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 687.

Hunting for a Job

Whose theory proved to be right?

Why did the author explode?

What made Mr. Prosset give Richards a sharp look?

How did they cope with it?

5) Why did the author call his colleague stupid? Did it
annoy Richards?

6) Why did the young men find themselves in the com­
pany of Mr. Prosset?

7) Why was the author unable to answer Mr. Prosset's
questions?

8) What did Richard do and how did he explain his
behaviour to the author later?

10) What opinion had Mr. Prosset formed of the two
young men, judging by the way he said good-bye to
them?

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Discuss thefollowing:

1) Explain why Richards took little trouble to do his
job properly. What was Richards' ambition? Do you
approve of his behaviour? Give your reasons.

2) What to your mind is more important: to have good
knowledge in the field you work or the ability to be
equal to the situation?

3) Can we say that Richards was a good "phsycologist"?
In what way did it help him?

4) Who had more advantages to win the top job:
Richards or his friend? Do you agree that hard work
plus knowledge always leads to success?

5) Give a character sketch of

a) Richards, b) the other young man, c) Mr. Prosset

6) Whom do you think are the author's sympathies
with? Prove your choice.

Retell thestory on thepart of 1) Richards, 2) his friend, 3) Mr. Prosset

I reached Boston late that night and got out at the South Station. I knew no one in Boston except Miss Bennet. She lived in Somerville¹, and I immediately started out for Somerville. Miss Bennet and her fa­mily did all they could to make me comfortable and help me to get myself established² in some way. I had only six dollars and their hospitality was of utmost importance to me.

My first application for a job in Boston was made in accordance with an idea of my own. Every boy in the Western states knew the Pope Manufacturing Com­pany, which produced bicycles. When I published my first work "History of Western College Journalism" the Pope Company had given me an advertisement, and that seemed to be a "connection" of some kind. So I decided to go to the offices of the Pope Manufacturing Company to ask for a job. I walked into the general of­fice and said that I wanted the president of the com­pany.

"Colonel Pope?" asked the clerk.

I answered, "Yes, Colonel Pope."

I was taken to Colonel Pope, who was then an alert energetic man of thirty-nine. I told Colonel Pope, by way of introduction, that he had once given me an ad­vertisement for a little book I had published, that I had been a College editor and out of a job. What I wanted was work and I wanted it badly.

He said he was sorry, but they were laying off hands³. I still hung on⁴. It seemed to me that everything would be all up with me⁵, if I had to go out of that room with-