Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 299, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1920 — OBSTACLES MEAN NOTHING IN THIS YOUNG MAN’S LIFE [ARTICLE]

OBSTACLES MEAN NOTHING IN THIS YOUNG MAN’S LIFE

Jess Wilcox, of Indianapolis, son of G. M. Wilcox, of this city, wanted to see the Morocco-Rensselaer football game—and he saw it The time was twelve-fifty Sunday morning and the place was New Jersey street, Indianapolis. The Monon train, arriving in this city at four-fifty-one, was due at Massachusetts avenue at one o’clock, and Massachusetts avenue) is many a block removed from New Jersey street where our hero was frantically climbing out of his pinkies and into his street clothes. Th» outlook wasn’t a cheery one for Jessica as he madly dashed down the street, for the precious minutes were slipping rapidly into history. But fortune smiled upon the gallant young man in the way of a taxi and he arrived at the flag station a minute before the train was due. He pounded madly on the door of the flag tower in his effort to arouse the sleepy nightwatchman, but the latter was not interested in young Mr. Wilcox and told him to do his own train flagging and to pay his fare after he got on the train. Jess had never flagged a train before in his life, but was willing to try. Securing an old newspaper, he applied a match to it and stationed himself in the path of the onrushing train. The trick worked and a few seconds later Jess found himself inside the warm, cozy coach, his arm beneath ids head for a pillow, bound for Rensselaer, dreaming ail the while of footballs and goal posts. . And while this bit of by-play was being enacted, Rensselaer slept on, little realizing that one of her favorite sons was Qualifying as the premier football enthusiast of all time near a dreary flag station in the middle of the night at the state capital. And’ they do say Mr. Wilcox’s expenses were paid by Morocco.