University of Oregon monthly., May 01, 1908, Image 12

U n iversity
of
O regon .V o N t u l v
je
the benches; and I, by my appearance and dress, diametrically dif-
ierred from them. Owing- to long trip from Vancouver tb Chicago,
my clothes were dirty and my face black with coal; and more than
that, instead of a fashionable valise, or suit case,, 1 had an old
ta^hioned iron trunk, which* alone convinced me how far we were
behind, the times.
Hbwever, I had not, to wait long for the desired information.
A gentleman came to me and asked:
*s “Are you waiting for anybody r”A |
*
1 ' / ‘Where do you want ,to go ?”
“I don’t Jmow.”
“A‘ Stranger !?”
“Yes, sir?’'
/W e ll, better go to 'Y . M. C ./A ; that is the place for the
Strangers.”
Very kindly he led me ¡out of the depot where several coaches
were ready for service, | With his instructions I hired one, and was
off.
A few minutes’ drive brought me before the room's’of Y. M.
C. A, Ȁs fopfiL as I got down frbm the coach, a boy * approached
in order to carry my trunk. But when he observed my dress, he
stopped and I saw smiles on his face, Nevertheless, I hurried in
the building, and on the second floor I saw the sign board. The
secretary asked me whether I was a Christian and of what, denom­
ination. Of cdurse, my answer was a direct negative.' Then, with
his introductory note, I went to the information office,', and the
man in charge treated me amiably. He advised me to go to any
hotel, but the Oriental was afraid of high charges; I soiight some
Oriental restaurant where I could get something to eat to my
taste. At least he gave me some names of Oriental firms and I
started to find them.
With my strange attire, I was walking in the streets of Chicago
and was wondering at the sight pf sky scrapers. Not only buildings
but the American life in general was wonderful. What a rush!
It seemed to me as if the people were running a race on the side­
walks. Yes, this was American “hustling” as-I learned afterwards.
The spirit of “hustling”, which I call Restlessness, was breathing in
the whole atmosphere. What a noise! Carriages, carts, electric
cars were enough to disturb an unaccustomed mind, but the elevated