A SUCCESSFUL REPORTER--THE EDITOR DECIDES TO SEND HIM AS CORRESPONDENT
TO THE PHILIPPINES--LEAVING NEW YORK--IN CHICAGO.
AT three o’clock in the afternoon Archie was seated in Mr. Van Bunting’s
office, together with Mr. Jennings and several of the chief members
of the editorial staffs of both editions of the paper. The editors had
spread out before them, on the large table, several maps, and most of
them were busily engaged in making notes on little paper pads. All the
time, however, an excited conversation was being carried on, for some
editors wanted Archie to proceed to the Philippines one way, and some
thought that the better plan would be for him to go by some other route.
But the important fact with Archie was that he was really going to be
sent to the Philippines as a war correspondent, and that he was going
to start very shortly. He had called on Mr. Van Bunting early in the
afternoon, and had then learned for the first time what the new plan was
to be. When the managing editor asked him how he would like to go to the
Philippines, Archie could scarcely reply, so delighted was he with the
brilliant prospect before him. He managed to stammer out a few words,
though, in spite of his surprise. “I always thought war correspondents
were selected from the most experienced men in journalism,” he said,
but Mr. Van Bunting only laughed. “That’s what we have already done, my
boy,” he said, “and so far none of our distinguished correspondents have
sent us a thing worth printing that we didn’t already know. You see they
can’t send any more to us in the way of news than we can get from the
War Department in Washington, and most of these men are too old fogy to
send us anything out of the ordinary line of war correspondence. Now,
what we want is for you to go over there and have some adventures, and
write us something which will be different from what we have had before
from the Philippines. We are sending you, because you have had no
experience at such work, and will be sure to send us something unusual,
and that is what we want. If you can only do as well in the tropics as
you have done here in New York, we shall be more than satisfied with
your work. I am sorry that I won’t have time to give you very complete
instructions, but perhaps it will be as well. And now some of the men
are waiting outside to come in and talk this matter over, so we’ll have
them in now.”
And Archie found himself in the midst of an editorial conference, during
which many things were discussed. The meeting lasted more than two
hours, and finally it was decided that Archie should travel from New
York to San Francisco, and go from there to Manila on the army transport
which was to sail on the twenty-fifth of the month. This meant that he
would have to leave the city in two days’ time, and Archie announced
himself as quite willing to do this, as he had few preparations to make.
The editors gave him many instructions about how he was to address his
correspondence, and how he should proceed in the event of finding it
necessary to send despatches by cable. And at the end of the conference
he felt that he knew all that he would need to know, so that he could
start off without fear of not being able to fulfil his mission. As far
as Archie could understand it, his chief instructions as to duty were to
the effect that he must have as many experiences as possible of as
many different kinds, and that he must write about them in a perfectly
natural way, just as if he were writing a letter to the folks at home.
And he thought, of course, that this would be very easy to do.
Mr. Van Bunting gave him a letter of credit for six hundred dollars,
which amount, he said, would probably be sufficient to pay his expenses
while he was in the Philippines, and he also gave him a cheque for three
hundred dollars, which was intended to pay the expense of getting to
Manila. “Of course,” said Mr. Van Bunting, “you can spend as much or as
little of this as you please, and if you need more, and we find that
the venture is paying us, why, we will send it on demand.” Archie was so
overcome with the knowledge that he possessed nine hundred dollars, that
he could hardly thank the editor enough, and he made up his mind that he
would spend as little as possible of the sum, and bring back part of it
to Mr. Van Bunting upon his return. He couldn’t imagine how it would be
possible for him to spend so much money, and he felt that, after some of
his experiences since he left home, he ought to be able to economise in
many ways where other reporters wouldn’t know how to save at all.
When the two days were up Archie had made all his preparation, and was
ready to leave New York for Manila. He had sent a long letter home
to his mother, telling her of his great good fortune, and enclosing a
cheque for a hundred dollars, which she was to spend while he was gone.
He told her that he would send her more money from time to time, and
felt very proud as he mailed the letter. He told her, too, that if at
any time she didn’t hear from him on time, she could write to Mr.
Van Bunting, and he would let her know of his whereabouts. This was
something which Mr. Van Bunting had very thoughtfully advised him to do.
“Your mother is sure to worry if the mails are overdue,” he had said,
“and if she writes to me, I will always be able to tell her of your
whereabouts, for we can hear of you through our other correspondents, if
not from your own despatches.” So Archie felt that his mother shouldn’t
worry, since he was such a fortunate boy in so many ways.
The night before leaving he took a long farewell walk up Broadway.
Everything was bright with light, and there was, as usual, a great crowd
of pleasure-seekers on the sidewalks. It was all as fascinating as ever
to Archie, and he felt sorry that he was to leave it so soon. New York
had begun to grow on him, as it grows on any one living there for
any length of time, who is in a position to appreciate the city’s
attractions. He felt that he would almost rather be on Broadway than in
the Philippines, but of course he forgot this feeling when he remembered
the confidence which Mr. Van Bunting had reposed in him by sending him
upon such an important mission. So, after he had passed all the bright
theatres and restaurants, he turned down a quiet side street and
returned to his lodging, so that he might have a good night’s rest
before starting on his long journey.
At seven in the morning he was up again, and at nine o’clock he was
bidding farewell to his many friends in the editorial rooms of the
Evening Enterprise. Every one congratulated him upon his great good luck
in getting such a chance to distinguish himself, and when they had done
telling him that he had a great future before him, Archie felt happier
than ever before in all his life.
The train left the Grand Central Station at one o’clock, and Mr.
Jennings went with him to the station to see him well started upon the
journey. “You may be sure we are all much interested in you, Archie,” he
said, as the train was leaving, “and we shall look forward anxiously to
your safe return.” These words made Archie very glad, for it cheered him
to know that at least one of the editors liked him for himself as well
as for what he could do.
The Southwestern Limited seemed to fairly fly along the banks of the
beautiful Hudson, and everything was so delightful that Archie could
scarcely believe that only a week or two before he had been walking
along country roads, anxious to reach New York, that he might become an
office boy. Every thing in this train was as perfect as modern ingenuity
could make it, and there was no lack of interesting things to be
examined, when Archie tired of the landscape. Then, when the train had
been two hours out of New York, he discovered that the famous president
of this great railway system was aboard, and, mustering up his courage,
he determined to introduce himself. He had long been anxious to see this
famous after-dinner orator and statesman, and here was a chance which
might not come soon again. So he went back to the drawing-room, and
found the great man to be quite as pleasant as he was interesting,
and Archie was asked to seat himself and tell something about his
experiences since leaving home. Everything he said was listened to with
great interest, and this distinguished wit seemed to find many of the
adventures very funny indeed. “You have certainly had some wonderful
experiences,” he said, when Archie had finished, “and I can appreciate
your anxiety to leave school. I had that desire myself when I was a boy
of about fifteen, but my father succeeded in making me change my opinion
on the subject, and without much argument, unless you can call an
ox-team and a stony pasture an argument. I had been asking to stay
at home from school for a long time. I said that I was too old to be
sitting there with a lot of girls and some younger boys, and that I
wanted to work. Finally, my father said that I could stay at home if I
cared to, and that he would let me work on the farm for a time. I was
overjoyed, of course, at the prospect of staying out of school.
“The next morning I was awakened at four o’clock, and had to swallow my
breakfast in a hurry, because I was late, my father said. Then he took
me out to the barn and ordered me to hitch up the ox-team, and when this
was done he took me out to a pasture lot and told me to pick up all the
boulders there. Well, I picked up boulders all day long, and by evening
my back and arms were so sore I could hardly move them. I was too tired
to eat supper, and was soon asleep in bed. When my father awoke me at
four the next morning, I told him to let me alone and that I was going
back to school. After that I was content to stay in school, and said
nothing more about leaving until I had finished the course and was ready
to go to college.”
And Archie thought it very queer that such a famous man should have had
such experiences when a boy. He remained in the drawing-room for more
than an hour, and when he left he felt perfectly sure that he had been
talking with the most charming man in the world.
The train sped on and on, and when daylight came the next morning they
were passing through Northern Ohio. Early in the afternoon they reached
a great smoky metropolis, spread out for miles over the plains. Archie
knew that this must be Chicago, and he decided, as this was Saturday,
and the steamer wouldn’t leave San Francisco until the next Friday, that
he would have time to remain here over Sunday. So he left the train at
the station in Pacific Avenue, and, Finding a hotel near the station, he
started out to see something of the city famous for its dirt and for the
World’s Fair, two widely different things.