nted in haphazard fashion, with no attempt at order in
subject matter.

1913

PETHERICK

Petherick: may he be immortal; for he is a man who has made of a humble
task a high calling; and without knowing it he has caused a man of a
high calling to degrade it to a mean level. Now Petherick is a humble
Englishman, whose father many years ago enjoyed the distinction of
carrying the mail pouch to and from the post office for the American
Embassy in London. As father, so son. Petherick succeeded Petherick. In
this remote period (_the_ Petherick must now be 60) Governments had
"despatch agents," men who distributed mail and whatnot, sent it on
from capital to capital--were a sort of general "forwarding" factotums.
The office is really out of date now. Telegraph companies, express
companies, railway companies, the excellent mail service and the like
out-despatch any conceivable agent--except Petherick. Petherick has
qualities that defy change, such as an unfailing courtesy, a genuine joy
in serving his fellows, the very genius of helpfulness. Well, since a
governmental office once established acquires qualities of perpetuity,
three United States despatch agents have survived the development of
modern communication, one in London, one in New York, and the third (I
think) in San Francisco. At any rate, the London agent remains.

Now in the beginning the London despatch agent was a mail messenger (as
I understand) for the Embassy. He still takes the pouch to the post
office, and brings it back. In ordinary times, that's all he does for
the Embassy, for which his salary of about ---- is paid by the State
Department--too high a salary for the labour done, but none too high for
the trustworthy qualities required. If this had been all that Petherick
did, he would probably have long ago gone to the scrap heap. It is one
mark of a man of genius that he always makes his job. So Petherick. The
American Navy came into being and parts of it come to this side of the
world. Naval officers need help when they come ashore. Petherick was
always on hand with despatches and mail for them, and Petherick was a
handy man. Did the Captain want a cab? Petherick had one waiting. Did
the Captain want rooms? Such-and-such a hotel was the proper one for
him. Rooms were engaged. Did the Captain's wife need a maid? Petherick
had thought of that, too. Then a Secretary from some continental
legation wished to know a good London tailor. He sought Petherick