Carteret Academy - Carteret Yearbook (Orange, NJ)

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THE CARTERET 25 Although Robert escaped punishment at the hands of the law, his father, now fully aware of Robert's Waywardness, lost no time in consulting with the Captain of a sailing vessel about signing up Robert as ordinary seaman for his return voyage. This sailing vessel was bound for several ports in South America. Robert's father expected his son to go to Buenos Aires and return, for he thought that the hardships of such a trip would knock the nonsense out of his perverse son. The day of Robert's departure came, and the poor boy left home, friends and all. He now felt sorry for all his misbehavior, but it was too late. , For many days, the vessel experienced fine weather on the long voyage to Rio de Janeiro, but the favorable weather did not last. lt was during one of the most severe storms that Robert had his first taste of hardship. Now, for the first time, he realized what a soft life he had had at home. After this experience, Robert decided to disembark at Rio de Janeiro. At last, the small vessel reached Rio de Janeiro, after a very hard and perilous voyage. Robert was glad to get off that craft, but he was never more homesick in his life. He missed his father and the others at home. There he was, down in South America, with very little money, for his father had given him only a small amount, as he thought he would remain on the schooner for the entire voyage. Robert's grief was much added to when the schooner that he had made the voyage in set sail again, leaving his friendless. Robert was now left entirely on his own resources. As he had very little money, there was but one thing for him to do, a.nd that was to work. Robert had never before had to earn a cent. Every- thing had been given to himg and, as a consequence, he did not know how hard it was to make a living. Robert's first job was in a general store on the outskirts of Rio. This work he found drudgery, and soon gave it up. After this, he drifted from one job to another, for he could not adjust him- self to the hardships every job seemed to hold. Robert came of a fine family and inherited many of their good quali- ties, but he certainly had been ruined by his lax bringing up. In spite of all this, however, Robert had inherent ability which only adversity could bring out. One day, while he was strolling aimlessly about, his eyes rested on a discarded newspaper printed in English. As he glanced over it, he saw, to his horror and amazement, that the schooner which had brought him from America had been wrecked in a bad storm, with the loss of its entire crew. This sorrow added to his homesickness and loneliness, for he pictured his father's feelings on learning of the disaster, since he might believe Robert to have been on board the vessel.

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24 THE CARTERET I Went to the telephone and called my bank. Yes, ....,. this is the bank, ...... What do you want? ...... To cancel payment on a check? . . . . . .Certainly,. . . . . . . . To whom is it payable?. . . . . . What is that? .... . . John Caseworthy?. . - - . . All right,. . . . . . Certainly, . . . . . Good-bye I That was that. The next thing I did was to send the writer of each of the two letters a telegram, asking what they had said in their letters. I also asked them to hurry, as I was waiting for a reply. The first I re- ceived was from Chicago. It ran like this: 'fLetter was to inform you of portrait counterfeiter. Selling por- traits of Washington, supposed to be Gilbert's. Do not buy any. Signed: James R. Dyke, of the Dyke Art Galleries. A few minutes later I received another from San Francisco. It read as follows: Man by the name of Sidney Martin selling Gilbert's Washington. Fake, can tell by the nose. Don't buy. Signed: Thomas H. Pittley, of the San Francisco Art Galleries. After receiving them, I Went to my bank. I found that Caseworthy had presented my check, but had been refused payment on it. On in- quiring how he had taken the news, it seemed that he had been quite sur- prised but had gone out of the bank without saying anything. Neither Mr. Sidney Martin, James Humphrey, Cas he called him- self in Chicagoj, nor Mr. John Caseworthy has been heard of since. But I don't care. I have a perfectly good picture of Washington, even if it isn't by Gilbert. And I didn't pay a cent for it either. On writing to the librarian of Congress later, I found out that he had never heard of any such person, under any of his various names. MAKING GOOD I By Gilbert C. Fonda-2nd Prize Carteret Short Story Contest. Robert Tilford, jr., was a spoiled boy, according to the verdict of the Tilford's neighbors and Robert's teachers. He was not inherently a bad boy, but over-indulgent parents, too much money and too little religious training had, at the tender age of sixteen, combined to make Robert a selfish, inconsiderate boy. Robert Tilford, Sr., had been so engrossed with business that his son's shortcomings had not impressed him, until, one fine day, he was called on the telephone to come to Police Headquarters to give bail for Robert, who had been arrested for driving his father's car without per- mission or license, and failing to stop after running down a little child. It required all of the standing and influence of the Tilford family to keep Robert from a long jail sentence.

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26 THE CARTERET Robert was now in a desperate situation, for, if he did not get a steady job pretty soon, he would starve. An idea suddenly came to him, as he was sitting in a small public park of Rio, which was his only refuge. He had experienced just what he needed. He had undergone so great priva- tion that his self-respect rose in rebellion, and he determined to find a way out. Suiting the action to the will, he made straight for the business center and instinctively entered a counting house which bore the name of his father's firm. He had at last overcome his scruples and decided to apply for a position in his father's house, under an assumed name. Here, Robert started work with enthusiasm that he had never before displayed. He began at the bottom of the ladder and, in a short time, was head of the department in which he had started, for he showed a natural ability in business. He was known as Bill Alban. His good work was recognized and duly rewarded. When he earned his own money, Robert was not so free to spend it. At the end of three years he had acquired a thorough understanding of the banana business, and had been gradually promoted, until he was now assistant manager, and had made a host of friends, for he had become very popular. Robert's chance to make a name for himself had come. He had con- tracted for 'a large shipment of commodities that the firm had not hereto- fore handled, and the resident member of the house had his misgivings as to the wisdom of Robert's undertaking. But, as everything in Roberts early life had seemed to go wrong, conversely all his endeavors seemed to turn out right after he had come to himself. These shipments proved very profitable, and Robert got into considerable correspondence with his father regarding them. When the last vessel had discharged its cargo in New York, Mr. Tilford, Sr., concluded that Mr. Alban was needed in the firm, believing what he had done to rejuvenate the South American house, he could do with the New York end, if he were transferred and given the management of the business. What was Robert's surprise, therefore, to receive a cable to report to the New York house at once, as he had been made a member of the firm and would be given charge of the entire management. Robert could hardly hold himself in bounds, so de- lighted was he to contemplate meeting his father under these conditions. One morning, therefore, about two weeks later, a handsome well- dressed young man appeared at the office of Tilford 85 Co., and presented his card bearing the name William Alban. This gentleman was immedi- ately shown marked deference while he waited for Mr. Tilford to dispose of a caller. He wa-s finally ushered into the presence of his father, who. at first, failed to recognize him, for he was now some four years older, had gained weight, and looked older than he was. It was not until Robert