IT'S UP TO YOU, YOUNG MAN.
There are two trails in life, young man.
One leads to height and fame,
To honor, glory, peace and joy,
And one to depths of shame;
And you can reach that glorious height—
Its honors can be won—
Or you can grope in shame's dark night.
It's up to you, young man.
Stern duty guards the upper trail—
Exact obedience, too—
And he who treads it cannot fail
To win if he be true.
But tickle folly, gay with smiles,
Rules o'er the other one,
And leads to ruin with her wiles.
It's up to you, young man.
At parting of the trails you stand.
At early manhood's gate;
Your future lies in your own hand—
Will it be low or great?
If now you choose the trail of Right.
When you the height have won,
You'll bask in Honor's fadeless light—
It's up to you, young man.
[A HEARTLESS FRAUD.]
SCHOOLS TO TEACH SHOW-CARD WRITING CATCH MANY VICTIMS AMONG THE POOR GIRLS.
December 5, 1905, J. H. Bell, the proprietor of a SHOW-CARD COLLEGE at 21 Quincy St., was arrested and the place closed. Bell advertised for students to learn to write show-cards and signs. He is said to charge $1 for a course and to promise positions at large salaries as soon as the course is completed.
After the course has been finished and the tuition paid Bell is declared to have refused to give the graduates employment on the ground that their work is unsatisfactory.
A great many girls are attracted to the scheme, and sign contracts to pay Bell for the instruction in the belief that they will be benefited. Bell tells them that he has customers who will purchase all the cards they can make. They are to receive a few cents for each card as soon as they learn the business, but they are required to pay a fine of 2 cents for each card they spoil.
"They are set to work painting gold borders such as are seen in the windows of the department stores, but the task is so difficult that only a finished artist can do the work. Bell has a woman accomplice who hustles into the office when it is filled with women and girls and tells how she makes from $25 to $30 a week painting cards. Her talk encourages the girls to keep on spoiling Bell's cards and increasing his income.