The jute mills failed of its agreement to increase my pay to a dollar and a quarter a day,and I,a free-born American boy whose direct ancestors had fought in all the wars from the old pre-Revolutionary Indian wars down,exercised my sovereign right of free contract by quitting the job.
I was still resolved to settle down,and I looked about me.One thing was clear.Unskilled labour didn't pay.I must learn a trade,and I decided on electricity.The need for electricians was constantly growing.But how to become an electrician?Ihadn't the money to go to a technical school or university;besides,I didn't think much of schools.I was a practical man in a practical world.Also,I still believed in the old myths which were the heritage of the American boy when I was a boy.
A canal boy could become a President.Any boy who took employment with any firm could,by thrift,energy,and sobriety,learn the business and rise from position to position until he was taken in as a junior partner.After that the senior partnership was only a matter of time.Very often--so ran the myth--the boy,by reason of his steadiness and application,married his employ's daughter.
By this time I had been encouraged to such faith in myself in the matter of girls that I was quite certain I would marry my employer's daughter.There wasn't a doubt of it.All the little boys in the myths did it as soon as they were old enough.
So I bade farewell for ever to the adventure-path,and went out to the power plant of one of our Oakland street railways.I saw the superintendent himself,in a private office so fine that it almost stunned me.But I talked straight up.I told him I wanted to become a practical electrician,that I was unafraid of work,that I was used to hard work,and that all he had to do was look at me to see I was fit and strong.I told him that I wanted to begin right at the bottom and work up,that I wanted to devote my life to this one occupation and this one employment.
The superintendent beamed as he listened.He told me that I was the right stuff for success,and that he believed in encouraging American youth that wanted to rise.Why,employers were always on the lookout for young fellows like me,and alas,they found them all too rarely.My ambition was fine and worthy,and he would see to it that I got my chance.(And as I listened with swelling heart,I wondered if it was his daughter I was to marry.)"Before you can go out on the road and learn the more complicated and higher details of the profession,"he said,"you will,of course,have to work in the car-house with the men who install and repair the motors.(By this time I was sure that it was his daughter,and I was wondering how much stock he might own in the company.)"But,"he said,"as you yourself so plainly see,you couldn't expect to begin as a helper to the car-house electricians.That will come when you have worked up to it.You will really begin at the bottom.In the car-house your first employment will be sweeping up,washing the windows,keeping things clean.And after you have shown yourself satisfactory at that,then you may become a helper to the car-house electricians."I didn't see how sweeping and scrubbing a building was any preparation for the trade of electrician;but I did know that in the books all the boys started with the most menial tasks and by making good ultimately won to the ownership of the whole concern.
"When shall I come to work?"I asked,eager to launch on this dazzling career.
"But,"said the superintendent,"as you and I have already agreed,you must begin at the bottom.Not immediately can you in any capacity enter the car-house.Before that you must pass through the engine-room as an oiler."My heart went down slightly and for the moment as I saw the road lengthen between his daughter and me;then it rose again.I would be a better electrician with knowledge of steam engines.As an oiler in the great engine-room I was confident that few things concerning steam would escape me.Heavens!My career shone more dazzling than ever.
"When shall I come to work?"I asked gratefully.
"But,"said the superintendent,"you could not expect to enter immediately into the engine-room.There must be preparation for that.And through the fire-room,of course.Come,you see the matter clearly,I know.And you will see that even the mere handling of coal is a scientific matter and not to be sneered at.
Do you know that we weigh every pound of coal we burn?Thus,we learn the value of the coal we buy;we know to a tee the last penny of cost of every item of production,and we learn which firemen are the most wasteful,which firemen,out of stupidity or carelessness,get the least out of the coal they fire."The superintendent beamed again."You see how very important the little matter of coal is,and by as much as you learn of this little matter you will become that much better a workman--more valuable to us,more valuable to yourself.Now,are you prepared to begin?""Any time,"I said valiantly."The sooner the better.""Very well,"he answered."You will come to-morrow morning at seven o'clock."I was taken out and shown my duties.Also,I was told the terms of my employment--a ten-hour day,every day in the month including Sundays and holidays,with one day off each month,with a salary of thirty dollars a month.It wasn't exciting.Years before,at the cannery,I had earned a dollar a day for a ten-hour day.Iconsoled myself with the thought that the reason my earning capacity had not increased with my years and strength was because I had remained an unskilled labourer.But it was different now.
I was beginning to work for skill,for a trade,for career and fortune,and the superintendent's daughter.
And I was beginning in the right way--right at the beginning.
