A man came into our office complaining of his luck.

He was on the gray and wrinkled side of the half-century mark, somewhat bent, and slow of step.

This was the tune of his dirge: 

“My life is a failure.  I have never had a chance.  My father was poor and couldn’t give me the advantages that other young men had.  So I’ve had my nose on the grindstone all my life long.

“See what I am to-day.  While other men have made money and, at my age, are well fixed, I am dependent on my little old Saturday night envelope to keep me from starving.  That wouldn’t be so bad, but my employers are beginning to hint that I’m not so lively as I was once and that a younger man would fill the job better.  It’s only a question of time when I’ll be a leading member of the Down and Out Club.  Then it’ll be the Bay for mine.”

Our friend, whom we call Mr. Socratic, butted into the conversation right here.

“Pretty tough luck!” he said.  “Know any men of your age that are doing better?”

“Sure, lots of ’em.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Well, they have had better luck.”

“How do you mean?  Investments turned out better?”

“No; I never had anything to invest.”

“How, then?”

“Well, they had advantages.”

“What, for instance?”

“Education.”

“Why didn’t you get an education?”

“Couldn’t afford it.”

“Had some income, didn’t you?”

[Illustration:  FIG. 49.  Hon. Joseph Walker, of Massachusetts.  Has good degree of balance between practical and ideal tendencies.  Is shrewd, ambitious, determined, persistent, courageous, intellectual, oratorical, dramatic, forceful, social, and optimistic.  Excellent planner and schemer.  Note high, wide forehead, prominent at brows; keen, shrewd and determined expression; high, wide head; height of head just above temples; square jaw and chin; firm mouth; short upper lip, and well-built, prominent nose.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 50.  Hon. Lon V. Stephens, former Governor of Missouri, keenly observant, intensely practical, rather serious, ambitious energetic, courageous, friendly, far-sighted.  A public speaker of some dramatic ability.  Note great prominence of forehead at brows, depressed corners of eyes and mouth and tip of nose, high, long head, medium-short upper lip, and prominent chin.]

[Illustration:  Photo by Paul Thompson.  FIG. 51.  Hon Oscar Underwood, United States Senator from Alabama.  Practical, energetic, ambitious, courageous, determined, enduring.  Note resemblance in profile and head shape to Figs. 48, 50, and 52, also politicians.  A public speaker with considerable dramatic talent.]

[Illustration:  Copyright by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C..  FIG. 52.  Hon. Victor Murdock, Ex-Congressman, of Kansas.  Practical, alert, keen, ambitious, combative, courageous.  Has considerable dramatic talent, as shown by large nose, short upper lip and long, prominent chin.  Compare with Figs. 48, 50, and 51.]