STORY OF A BET.

Mataura Ensign, 30 December 1911, Page 7

STORY OF A BET.

There is a story of a bet in "The Life of Sir George Newnes," which Miss Hulda Friederichs has written and Messrs Hodder and Stoughton have published. The bet was made some 10 years 'igo in a city business house by one of the partners, who wagered £5 that a young apprentice who had sliown much cleverness as an accountant could check with 12 "hours the complicated figures of the annual stocktaking. The lad set to work the next day, and completed the task within six hours. He was at once offered the post |of head of the entering" department of the firm, hut without salary, as he 'was not yet oui .'H his apprentices.h'p. | That, however, v ®uld not do for the lad. Toe post was worth £IOO a year anu tIC ' a vesr he would have, in spite of the apprenticeship agreement. And after some, argunv. :ib he won his point. ' Tii- clever young accountant was George Newnes. wl-.o was afterwards to ecome one of tho most successful of iiublisheri. As the :-tory shows, he was bick to sere..- an opportunity. One day f alviinl.. tvi ' : ;t ..••'.!rered a vegetarian tstaurant. The ;!,i; e seemed to him Ingliy and nnrv.vifortable, yet people Ime to it. His --vivid set to work at lice. If veget;r.ins would come here pey would com' la larger numbers to I more attractive, restaurant. And vitlrin a few week', he had opened a i oright ami attractive restaurant, vliich. !he was soon able v <- aU at a profit. In that way ho •" ; • '. ; ' e money with i which he > .. r t c * i ■ i it-Bits.' Always quick to ict, George Newnes was a man who cordl make others work I quickly. When ele trie light was ini stalled in the big 'dock of offices in street he allowed the contractors only 2-t ho us in which to do the work. Tt "ou-ld not be done, they said, and yet it was. And, again, when the engineers told h.'.:> that it was impossible to print 'Tit Bits' with a wrapper, he went donn into the machineroom, looked ai the gr>-at presses, made a suggestion— and !■" ■ 'Tit-Bits' had the green wrapper \\h.ch vo know so well to-day.