SUCCESS STORYJames Gould CozzensI m

SUCCESS STORY
James Gould Cozzens
I met Richards ten years or more ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about twenty-two. He introduced himself to me on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel and Structure * was sending us both to the same job.
Richards was from some not very good state university engineering school.2 Being the same age myself, and just out of tech, 3 I was prepared to patronize him if I needed to; but I soon saw I didn't need to. There was really not the faintest possibility of anyone supposing that Richards was as smart as I was. In fact, I couldn't then imagine how he had managed to get his job. I have an idea now. It came to me when I hap¬pened to read a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a vice-president and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prossert interests 4 bought the old firm.
Richards was naturally likable5 and I liked him a lot, once I was sure that he wasn't going to outshine me. The firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad, about sev¬enteen miles of it, to give United Sugar e a sea terminal at a small deep-water Caribbean port. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. 7 At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he didn't appear ever to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found it was no mere formality. "Boy," I was at last obliged to say, "you are undoub¬tedly the dumbest white man in this province. If you don't buck up,8 Farrell will see you never get another job down here."
Richards grinned and said, "I never want another one. Not a job like this, anyway. I'm the executive type." 9
"Oh, you are!"
"Sure, I am. And what do I care what Farrell thinks? What can he do for me?"
"Plenty. If he thinks you're any good, he can see you get something 10 that pays money."
"He doesn't know anything that pays money, my son."
"He knows things that would pay enough for me," I an¬swered, annoyed.
"Oh," said Richards, "if that's all you want, when Farrell's working for me I'll make him give you a job. A good one."
"Go to the devil!" I said. I was still checking his trial figures. "Look, stupid," I said, "didn't you ever take arith¬metic? How much are seven times thirteen?"
"Work that out," u Richards said, "and let me have a re¬port tomorrow."
When I had time, I continued to check his figures for him, and Farrell only caught him in a bad mistake about twice; but Farrell was the best man Panamerica Steel had. He'd been managing construction jobs both in Cuba and Mexico for twen¬ty years. After the first month or so he simply let Richards alone and devoted himself to giving me the whole benefit of his usually sharp and scornful criticism. He was at me every minute he could spare, telling me to forget this or that and use my head, showing me little tricks of figuring and method. He said it would be a good plan to take some Spanish lessons from a clerk he named in the sugar company's office.
"Spanish?" said Richards, when I told him he'd better join the class. "Not for me! Say, it took me twenty-two years to learn English. People who want to talk to me have to know it, or they'd better bring an interpreter with them."
"All right," I said. "I don't mind telling you 12 the idea is Farrell's. He spoke to me about it."
"Well, he didn't speak to me," said Richards. "I guess he thinks I'm perfect the way I am. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a beer bottle."
I could easily see that he was coming to no good end.
In January several directors of. the United Sugar Company came down on their annual jaunt — nominally business, but mostly pleasure;, a good excuse to get south on a vacation. They came on a yacht.
The yacht belonged to Mr. Joseph Prossert, who was, I think, chairman of United Sugar's board then. It was the first time I'd ever seen at close quarters 13 one of these really rich and powerful financial figures whose name everyone knows. He was an inconspicuous, rather stout man, with little hair on his head and a fussy, ponderous way of speaking. He was dressed in some dark thin cloth that looked like alpaca. 14 His interest in sugar was purely financial — he didn't know any¬thing about it from the practical standpoint. I really saw him at close quarters, too, for he was delayed on his boat when the directors went on a tour of inspection and Farrell left Richards and me and two or three armed guards to come up that afternoon.
Mr. Prossert was very affable. He asked me a number of questions. I knew the job well enough and could have answered almost any intelligent question 15 — I mean, the sort that a trained engineer would be likely to ask. As it was, 16 I suppose I'd said for perhaps the third time, "I'm afraid I wouldn't know, sir. We haven't any calculations on that," getting a glance of mildly surprised disbelief, when Richards suddenly spoke up. 17 "I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir," he said. He looked boyishly embarrassed. "I just happened to be working it out last night. Just for my own interest, that is. Not officially." He blushed.
"Oh," said Mr. Prossert, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's very interesting, Mr.—er—Rich¬ards, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me about—"
Richards could. He knew everything. He knew to the last car the capacity of every switch and yard; 18 he knew the load limits of every bridge and culvert; he knew the average rain¬fall for the last twenty years; he knew the population of the various straggling villages 19 we passed through; he knew the heights of the distant blue peaks to the west. He had made himself familiar with local labor costs and wage scales. He had the statistics on accidents and unavoidable delays. All the way up Mr. Prossert fired questions at him and he fired answers right back.
When we reached the rail head, a motor was waiting to take Mr. Prossert on. Getting out of the gas car, he nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting indeed," he said. "Very interesting indeed, Mr. Richards. Good-by and thank you."
"Not at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."
As soon as the motor moved off, I exploded. "Of all the asinine tricks! 20 A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures—"
"I aim to pleasep" Richards said, grinning. "If a man like Prossert wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?" 21
"I suppose you think you're smart," I told him. "What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks some¬body who does know?"
"Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know those figures. If he ever does, he has plenty of people
to get him the right ones. He won't remember these. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me."
"Oh, yes?"
"Oh, yes," said Richards firmly. "He's going to remember that Panamerica Steel and Structure has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything he wanted to know when he wanted to know it—just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his job, couldn't answer the simplest question, and who's going to be doing small-time contracting all his life."
"Oh, yes?" I said. But it is true that I am still working for the Company still doing a little work in the construction line.

Результаты (английский) 1:

SUCCESS STORYJames Gould CozzensI met Richards ten years or more ago when I first went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced, agreeable chap, then about twenty-two. He introduced himself to me on the boat and I was surprised to find that Panamerica Steel and Structure * was sending us both to the same job.Richards was from some not very good state university engineering school. 2 Being the same age myself, and just out of tech, 3 I was prepared to patronize him if I needed to; but I soon saw I didn't need to. There was really not the faintest possibility of anyone supposing that Richards was as smart as I was. In fact, I couldn't then imagine how he had managed to get his job. I have an idea now. It came to me when I hap pened ¬ to read a few weeks ago that Richards had been made a Vice-President and director of Panamerica Steel when the Prossert interests 4 bought the old firm.Richards was naturally and I likable5 him are a lot once I was sure that he wasn't going to outshine me. The firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad, about sev ¬ enteen miles of it, to give United Sugar e a sea terminal at a small deep-water Caribbean port. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. 7 At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he didn't appear ever to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found it was no mere formality. "Boy," I was at last obliged to say, "you are undoub ¬ tedly the dumbest white man in this province. If you don't buck up, 8 Farrell will see you never get another job down here. "Richards grinned and said, "I never want another one. Not a job like this, anyway. I'm the executive type. " 9"Oh, you are!""Sure, I am. And what do I care what Farrell thinks? What can he do for me? "Plenty. If he thinks you're any good, he can see you get something 10 that pays money. ""He doesn't know anything that pays money, my son.""He knows things that would pay enough for me," (I) an swered ¬, annoyed."Oh," said Richards, "if that's all you want, when Farrell's working for me I'll make him give you a job. A good one. ""Go to the devil!" I said. I was still checking his trial figures. "Look, stupid," I said, "didn't you ever take arith ¬ metic? How much are seven times thirteen? ""Work that out," Richards said, "u and let me have a re ¬ port tomorrow."When I had time, I continued to check his figures for him, and Farrell only caught him in a bad mistake about twice; but Farrell was the best man Panamerica Steel had. He'd been managing construction jobs both in Cuba and Mexico for ¬ twen ty years. After the first month or so he simply let Richards alone and devoted himself to giving me the whole benefit of his usually sharp and scornful criticism. He was at me every minute he could spare, telling me to forget this or that and use my head, showing me little tricks of figuring and method. He said it would be a good plan to take some Spanish lessons from a clerk he named in the sugar company's of office."Spanish?" said Richards, when I told him he'd better join the class. "Not for me! Say, it took me twenty-two years to learn English. People who want to talk to me have to know it, or they'd better bring an processing with them. ""All right," I said. "I don't mind telling you the 12 idea is Farrell's. He spoke to me about it. ""Well, he didn't speak to me," said Richards. "I guess he thinks I'm perfect the way I am. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a beer bottle. "I could easily see that he was coming to no good end.In January several directors of. the United Sugar Company came down on their annual jaunt is nominally business, but mostly pleasure; a good excuse to get south on a vacation. They came on a yacht.The yacht belonged to Mr. Joseph Prossert, who was, I think, chairman of United Sugar's board then. It was the first time I'd ever seen at close quarters 13 one of these really rich and powerful financial figures whose name everyone knows. He was an inconspicuous, rather stout man with little hair on his head and a fussy, ponderous way of speaking. He was dressed in some dark thin cloth that looked like alpaca. 14 His interest in sugar was purely financial — he didn't know any ¬ thing about it from the practical standpoint. I really saw him at close quarters, too, for he was delayed on his boat when the directors went on a tour of inspection and Farrell left Richards and me and two or three armed guards to come up that afternoon.Mr. Prossert was very affable. He asked me a number of questions. I knew the job well enough and could have answered almost any intelligent question 15 — I mean, the sort that a well-trained engineer would be likely to ask. As it was, I suppose I'd said 16 for perhaps the third time, "I'm afraid I wouldn't know, sir. We haven't any calculations on that, "getting a glance of mildly surprised disbelief, when Richards suddenly spoke up. 17 "I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir," he said. He's boyishly looked embarrassed. "I just happened to be working it out last night. Just for my own interest, that is. Not officially. " He blushed."Oh," said Mr. Prossert, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's very interesting, Mr. — er — Rich ¬ ards Arts Centre, isn't it? Well, now, maybe you could tell me about —"Richards could. He knew everything. He knew to the last car the capacity of every switch and yard; 18 he knew the load limits of every bridge and culvert; He knew the average rain fall ¬ for the last twenty years; He knew the population of the various straggling villages we passed through 19; He knew the heights of the distant blue peaks to the west. He had made himself familiar with local labor costs and wage scales. He had the statistics on accidents and delays unavoidable. All the way up Mr. Prossert fired questions at him and he fired answers right back.When we reached the rail head, a motor was waiting to take Mr. Prossert on. Getting out of the gas car, he nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting indeed," he said. "Very interesting indeed, Mr. Richards. Good-by and thank you. ""Not at all, sir," Richards said. "Glad if I could be of service to you."As soon as the motor moved off, I exploded. "Of all the asinine tricks! 20 A little honest bluff doesn't hurt; but some of your figures-""I aim to pleasep, "Richards said, grinning. "If a man like Prossert wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?" 21"I suppose you think you're smart," I told him. "What's he going to think when he looks up the figures or asks some ¬ body who does know?""Listen, my son," said Richards kindly. "He wasn't asking for any information he was going to use. He doesn't want to know those figures. If he ever does, he has plenty of peopleto get him the right ones. He won't remember these. I don't even remember them myself. What he is going to remember is you and me. ""Oh, yes?""Oh, yes," said Richards firmly. "He's going to remember that Panamerica Steel and Structure has a bright young man named Richards who could tell him everything he wanted to know when he wanted to know it is just the sort of chap he can use; not like that other fellow who took no interest in his job, couldn't answer the simplest question, and who's going to be doing small-time contracting all his life. ""Oh, yes?" I said. But it is true that I am still working for the Company still doing a little work in the construction line.

Результаты (английский) 2:

The STORY SUCCESS
by James a Gould Cozzens
I of Richards met ten years or more ago The I of the when first Went down to Cuba. He was a short, sharp-faced , agreeable chap, then about twenty-two. Introduced Himself to the He me on the boat and I of the find to WAS Surprised That Panamerica Steel's and the Structure * WAS sending us to the Same Both the job.
Richards WAS from some not very good state university engineering school.2 for Being the Same age myself, and just out of tech, 3 I was prepared to patronize him if I needed to; but I soon saw I did not need to. There was really not the faintest possibility of anyone supposing that Richards was as smart as I was. In fact, I could not then imagine how he had managed to get his job. I have an idea now. It CAME to me the when I of hap ¬ pened to the read a FEW weeks ago The That Richards HAD Been made a the vice - president and the director of Panamerica Steel's the when the Prossert interests 4 bought the old the firm.
Richards WAS Naturally likable5 and I of liked HIM a lot, once I was sure that he was not going to outshine me. HAD a the firm of The contract for the construction of a the private railroad, about sev ¬ enteen Miles of IT, to give United the Sugar ea's sea terminal a small deep-AT - water Caribbean port. For Richards and me it was mostly an easy job of inspections and routine paper work. 7 At least it was easy for me. It was harder for Richards, because he did not appear ever to have mastered the use of a slide rule. When he asked me to check his figures I found it was no mere formality. "Boy," I of WAS AT for last Obliged to say The, "you are undoub ¬ tedly the dumbest Communities white the man in the this province. The If you do not a buck up closeup, 8 you see will of Farrell by never the get the job down another found here."
Richards grinned and said, "I never want another one . Not a job like this, anyway. I'm the executive type." 9
"of Oh, you are!"
"The Sure, I of am. And what do I of care Farrell Thinks what? For What CAN he do for me?"
"Plenty. The If he Thinks you're the any good, he CAN see the get you something 10 That the pays money. "
" the He does not the know anything That the pays money, up my son is. "
" the He Knows things That Would a pay enough for me, "I of an ¬ swered, annoyed.
" of Oh, "Said Richards," the if That's all want you, the when Farrell's working for me I of the make HIM'll give you a the job. A good one's. "
" the Go to the devil! " I said. I was still checking his trial figures. "The Look, stupid," I of Said, "DID you not to take the ever arith ¬ metic? How much are seven times thirteen?"
"That the Work out," Richards u Said, "and the let me have a the re ¬ port tomorrow."
When I had time, I continued to check his figures for him, and Farrell only caught him in a bad mistake about twice; but Farrell was the best man Panamerica Steel had. Managing'd Been the He construction jobs User Both in Cuba and Mexico City for Twen ¬ ty years. After the first month or so he simply let Richards alone and devoted himself to giving me the whole benefit of his usually sharp and scornful criticism. He was at me every minute he could spare, telling me to forget this or that and use my head, showing me little tricks of figuring and method. Said IT Would the He the BE a good off-plan to to take some Spanish lessons Insider from a clerk he the named in the Company About enterprise | sugar's an office.
"Spanish?" said Richards, when I told him he 'd better join the class. "Not for me! For Say, IT took me twenty years to two two-to learn English. The People to the who want to talk to me to have the know IT, or for They'd better bring an interpreter with Them."
"The All right," I of Said. "I do not mind telling you 12: idea is Farrell the's. The He spoke model to me about IT."
"The Well, he DID not speak to me," Said Richards. "I of matching guess he Thinks I of'm by perfect the way I of am. And now! Just, the if you'll excuse me, I of have a date with a beer bottle."
I of Could Easily see That he WAS coming to the no good end.
With In January Several directors of. the Sugar Company About enterprise | United the CAME down on Their Annual jaunt - nominally business, But Mostly Pleasure ;, a good excuse to the get on a south the vacation. CAME on a for They yacht.
Of The yacht belonged to Mr. Joseph Prossert, who was, I think , chairman of United Sugar's board then. It was the first time I'd ever seen at close quarters 13 one of these really rich and powerful financial figures whose name everyone knows. He was an inconspicuous, rather stout man , with little hair on his head and a fussy, ponderous way of speaking. He was dressed in some dark thin cloth that looked like alpaca. 14 Interest in sugar a His WAS the Financial Purely - he DID not the know the any ¬ Thing about IT from the Practical Standpoint. Really I SAW HIM I of AT address close e-Quarters, of too, for he WAS a His boat Delayed on the when the Directors Went on a tour of inspection and Farrell left Richards and me and to two two or a three armed guards to have come up closeup That afternoon.
Mr. Prossert was very affable. He asked me a number of questions. I knew the job well enough and could have answered almost any intelligent question 15 - I of mean, the The sort a trained engineer Have That Would likely to the BE to the ask. As it was, 16 I suppose I'd said for perhaps the third time, "I'm afraid I would not know, sir. We have not any calculations on that," getting a glance of mildly surprised disbelief, when Richards suddenly spoke up. 17 "I think, about nine million cubic feet, sir," he said. He looked boyishly embarrassed. "I just happened to be working it out last night. Just for my own interest, that is. Not officially." Blushed the He.
"Of Oh," Said Mr. Prossert, turning in his seat and giving him a sharp look. "That's very interesting, Mr. - er - the Rich ¬ ARDS, IT is not the Well, now! Just, maybe you Could tell's me about? - "
Richards Could. He knew everything. He knew to the last car the capacity of every switch and yard; 18 he knew the load limits of every bridge and culvert; He knew the time average he rain ¬ fall for the for last twenty years; he knew the population of the various straggling villages 19 we passed through; he knew the heights of the distant blue peaks to the west. He had made himself familiar with local labor costs and wage scales. He had the statistics on accidents and unavoidable delays. All the way up Mr. Questions AT fired up Prossert HIM and he fired up answers right back.
For When we reached An the rail head, a motor to WAS waiting to take Mr. Prossert on. Getting out of the gas car, he nodded absent-mindedly to me, shook hands with Richards. "Very interesting indeed," he said . "Very interesting indeed, Mr. Richards. The Good-by and thank you."
"Not all AT, of sir," Said Richards. "Glad I of the if Could the BE of service, to you."
Of As soon's as with the motor off Moved, I of Exploded. "Of all the asinine tricks 20 little honest What is bluff A does not Hurt; But some of your figures! - "
" I of AIM to pleasep" Said Richards, grinning. "If a man like Prossert wants to know something, who am I to hold out on him?" 21
"I suppose you think you're smart ," I told him. "For What's he going to of think the when he looks up closeup the figures or asks some ¬ body the who does the know?"
"The Listen, up my son is," Said Richards kindly. "Asking the He WAS not for the any information he WAS going to use. The He does not want to the know Those figures. The If the ever he does, he has Plenty of people
to HIM the get the right ones. Will of the He not the remember for These. I of the remember is even not do myself Them. for What he is going to the remember is you and me. "
" of Oh, yes or The? "
" of Oh, yes or The, "Said Richards firmly. "The He's going to the remember That Panamerica Steel's and the Structure has a bright young the man the named Richards the who Could tell's HIM everything he wanted to the know the when he wanted to the know IT - just the The sort of the chap he CAN use; not like That OTHER fellow the who took the no the job in a His Interest, Could not? answer the Simplest question, and the who's going to the BE doing small - time contracting all a His life: ".
" of Oh, yes or the? " I said. But it is true that I am still working for the Company still doing a little work in the construction line.

Результаты (английский) 3:

SUCCESS storyjames gould Cozzensi met them ten years or more ago when i first went down to cuba. he was a short, sharp - faced, agreeable chap, then about twenty two. he introduced himself to me on the way and i was to find that they Panamerica steel and structure * was sending us both to the same job.richards was from some not very good state university engineering school.2 being the same age myself, and just out of tech, 3 i was prepared to patronize him if i needed to; but i soon saw i didn"t need to. it was really not the faintest possibility of anyone supposing that richards was as smart as i was. in fact, i couldn"t, then imagine how he had managed to get his job. i have an idea now. it came to me when i hap¬pened to read a few weeks ago that richards had been made a vice - president and director of Panamerica steel when the Prossert interests 4 close to the old firm.richards was naturally likable5 and i liked him a lot, which i was sure that he wasn"t going to outshine me. the firm had a contract for the construction of a private railroad, about sev¬enteen miles of it, to give united sugar e a sea terminal at a small, deep - water caribbean port. for them and me as it was an easy job of inspections and hard paper work. 7 at least it was easy for me. it was harder for them, but he didn"t appear to have mastered for the use of a slide rule. when he asked me to check the figures i found it was no mere formality. " boy, "i was at last obliged to say," you are undoub¬tedly the dumbest white man in this province. if you don"t buck up, 8 farrell will see you never get another job down here. "richards grinned and said, "i never want another one. not a job like this, anyway. i "m the executive type. ""oh, you are!""sure, i am. and what do i care what farrell thinks? what can you do for me? ""it. if he thinks you"re any good, he can see you get something that pays 10 money. ""he doesn"t know anything that pays money, my son.""he knows things that would be enough for me," i an¬swered, annoyed."oh," said richards, "if that"s all you want, when farrell"s working for me, i "ll make him give you a job. a good one. ""go to the devil!" i said. i was still so his trial figures. " look, stupid, "i said," didn"t you ever take arith¬metic? how much are seven times thirteen? ""work that out," u, richards said, "and let me have a re¬port tomorrow."when i had time, i had to check the figures for him, and farrell caught him in a bad mistake only about twice; but farrell was the best man Panamerica steel had. he "d been managing construction jobs both in cuba and mexico for twen¬ty years. after the first month or so he simply let them alone and devoted himself to giving me the benefit of his people and scornful sharp criticism. he was born at me every minute he could spare, telling me to forget this or that and use my head, showing me the tricks of figuring and method. he said it would be a good plan to take some english lessons from a clerk he named in the sugar company"s office."spanish?" said richards, when i told him he "d better join the class. " not for me! say, it took me twenty - two years to learn english. people who want to talk to me have to know it, or they "d better bring an interpreter with them. ""all right," i said. " i don"t mind telling you 12 the idea is farrell"s. he spoke to me about it. ""well, he didn"t speak to me," said richards. i guess he thinks i"m perfect the way i am. and now, if you"il excuse me, i have a date with a beer bottle. "i could easily see that he was coming to no good end.in january, several directors of. the united sugar company came down on their annual jaunt - further more business, but mostly by; a good excuse to get by on a vacation. they came on a yacht.the yacht) to mr. joseph Prossert, who was, i think, chairman of united sugar"s board then. it was the first time i "d ever seen at close quarters. one of these was rich and powerful financial figures whose name everyone knows. he was an inconspicuous, rather stout man, with little hair on his head and a fussy, ponderous way of speaking. he was in a dark thin cloth bottles that looked like alpaca. 14 his interest in sugar was purely financial - he didn"t know any¬thing about it from the practical standpoint. i really saw him at close quarters, too, for he was delayed on his boat when the directors went on a tour of inspection and farrell left them and me and two or three armed guards to come up that afternoon.mr. Prossert was very affable. he asked me a number of questions. i knew the job well enough and could have answered almost any language question 15 - i mean, the sort that a trained in would be likely to ask. as it was, 16 i suppose i "d said it was for the third time, i" m afraid i wouldn"t know, sir. we haven"t any new set on that, "only a glance of mildly spare disbelief, when richards suddenly spoke up. 17 "i think, i