“Well, what’s your strong point?” he demanded.
I was staggered, but it made no difference.
“Now mine is the platform,” he continued confidentially. “Yes, I’m at my best on the platform. It took me a long time to find it out. I tried business and I tried the law, but I was always restless and felt that I wasn’t in the right place. Then I got interested in social questions, and thought I’d give myself up to public effort.”
I wondered if this young man were one of those who, finding the duties of citizen difficult to perform, condemn society.
I repeated my question.
“Oh, do anything you are interested in. Just begin where you choose, and I’ll try to help you. It doesn’t make much difference.”
Here he smiled encouragingly.
“May I ask in what way you learned my name?” I inquired.
The slight reproof for his intrusion passed unnoticed.
“Oh, I’ve heard everywhere in the city about what you’re doing. I’m trying to get acquainted with everybody who is working for the general good, and I thought that if you would co-operate with me in some way it would be better than for us to work alone.”