The Harvester World: Volume 3, number 8, August 1912

              20

The Harvester World

L. M. Larson, Regina, Sask.
APPLICANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT
By L. M. Larson, Collection Agent, Regina, Sask.
The employment application files at general and col¬ lection agencies in Western Canada are interesting reading. Many of the application forms are filled out by recent arrivals from various countries in Europe, as
Russia, Germany, Austria, Holland, France, Scandi¬ navia, and especially from England, Scotland and Ire¬ land. Most of the appli¬ cants ask for jobs, posi¬ tions, situations, but some want "berths."
Some applicants have certain points to empha¬ size, selling points as if were. One Englishman had been secretary to a duke. From his appear¬ ance he won out in compe¬ tition with the duke for the John Barley-Corn prize. Another had held some l>osition with a long name, under a distant relative of royalty. Reduced to com¬ mon terms, the position was probably third assistant potato peeler to the king's cousin. Still another, who plainly showed his lack of appreciation of the colonies and colonials, was greatly impressed when we showed him the Duke of Bedford held first mortgage on a piece of Canadian land, where we held the second mortgage.
Several applications are by, men born and reared in India or the Straits settlements. They are usually sons of missionaries. East Indian traders or civil ser¬ vants. One, the son of a former trader at Madras, told us how his father, a Scotchman, located in Madras, accumulated a swollen fortune from East Indian trad¬ ing, retired to Scotland, invested his entire fortune in a banking institution, which failed completely, leaving him penniless at an advanced age. The father bor¬ rowed enough from friends to get back to Madras and to start again. He accumulated another fortune before he died. That part of the fortune which our applicant inherited must have evaporated, as he was very anxious for a "berth."
Three or four years ago we had more applications than now from South African veterans. One who had served under Colonel Baden-Powell, and gone through the siege of Mafeking, explained how he helped during the siege to eat up the horses, and after the horses, the oats, which the horses would have eaten had they been allowed to live.
While most of the applicants from every country and every condition of life are honest and of good inten¬ tions, there are exceptions. One applicant, a young man from a certain state, was welbdressed, of bright appearance, and made a splendid impression. He wrote a good hand, and, according to the application form was a college graduate, had been admitted to the bar, and had practiced law about a year. We wanted him for traveling collector and explained that on account of the proposed bond, we woi-ld have to in¬ vestigate, but for him to call in a few days. Each reference letter coming back said he was an embezzler, and that the sheriff was hunting for him with a warrant
to arrest. Another applicant from one of the states, according to the application form, had been a cashier of a bank several years. He was of good appearance, made a good impression, and seemed to be a first-class prospect for traveling collector. We asked him to call again, but the reference letters came back informing us that the board of directors had discharged him, that he was short several thousand dollars, that a warrant was out for his arrest and detectives were on his trail. Neither the ex-lawyer nor the ex-banker ever called again.
Another Englishman, a well educated, middle-aged maji, s])ent several years in Western Africa at interior posts as branch manager for a tratling company, with general offices at London, England. The trading com¬ pany must have been principally a stock selling scheme. He had faith in it on account of the names of a prom¬ inent general and a prominent duke on the board of directors. After having successfully operated in, West¬ ern Africa among the natives a few months, he noticed more and more delay in arrival of trading supplies from London. Soon supplies ceased to come and soon no salary received. Failing'to obtain replies to his urgent letters, he made his way as best he could to the coast and somehow got back to London. Upon looking up the magnificent offices of his West Africa trading company, he was amazed to find the offices strijjped and empty, the manager having skipped wilh the funds to parts unknown.
Some years ago a young lady called and applied for office position. The application form showed her to be nineteen years of age. At that time we had all the stenographers needed. Three years afterwards, she again applied to us for a position, apd filled out another application form, age nineteen.
M. J. ROBERTS
M. J. Roberts, blockman at the Oklahoma City agency, died suddenly at Clinton,, Oklahoma, Friday, July 12, at the age of fifty years.
Mr. Roberts had been connected with this Com¬ pany and its predecessors in various capacities for nearly twenty years, his work extending over Ar¬ kansas, Texas and Okla¬ homa, the last six years of which were spent at Okla¬ homa City in the capacity of blockman.
Mr. Roberts was pecu¬ liarly fitted for this work, having the Company's wel¬ fare at heart always, sup¬ plemented by dauntless en¬ ergy, aggressiveness and alertness. His character combined all the virtues of the Christian gentleman and typical American citi¬ zen, a combination respon¬ sible at once f orhis success¬ ful commercial career and happy home life. By his death tht Company loses one of its best men whom it will be difficult to replace.
Mr. Roberts leaves a wife and five children. He was buried at Oklahoma City, Sunday^ July ;4, 1912.
M. J. Roberts