The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-05
AMUSING "REMINISCENCES.
Tho comicai Mistake of John w. Garrett.

AMUSING "REMINISCENCES.
Tho comicai Mistake of John w. Garrett.
The death of John w. Garrett, of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, brings up
an amusing "reminiscences. Garrett and
Col. Harry McComb, of Credit Mobiler
fame, were fast friends, though often
On The opposi side of the fence in rail-
road projects. McComb used to stop
II the Fifth Avenue hotel while Gar
ret divided his time between the Brc-
WORT and the Brunswick. Somewhere
along about 1880 or 1881 the Delaware
Legislature had finally consented to
charter rail line across it,. territory.
placing a short cut within the reach of
the Baltimore and Ohio through to
Philadelphia without obeisancc to the
Pennsylvania. But the new charter
was in McComb.s hands. The Pcnnsyl-
vania people were cooling ut his elbow.
Whispers from Baltimore way had to
be most appealing. So President John
w. Garrett journeycd over to see Nc
Comb. The old gentleman proposed
to talk business TO McComb for all he
was worth and bridge over, if pretty
propositions could do it, little differ
encc of Il million or so. John w. got
into New York two or three hours
ahead OF time. He was in musing
mood and not too proud to walk. Up
Broadway he sauntered leisurely, bound
for the brunswick, where he was to
turn on the floodgates of his eloquence.
He was just opposite the Fifth Avenue,
when along by his side strolled ro-
bust, clcan-shaven, smiling man, look
ing enough like McComb to be his twin.
The magnatc from Baltimore didn't
hesitate. Out went his hand with n
greeting more cordial than anything
Manhattan island had witnessed in a
fortnight. Something like an express
sion of establishment came over the face
of the new arrival, but Mr.. Garrett
swept on in his eloquent prOtestations
of Joy at the meeting
1--WE will run right over to the
Brunswick and lunch," he calculated.
His friend didn't object. To the
Brunswick they went, and dined in
princely fashion for an hour or more.
Right along had the fascinating accents
of Mr.. Garrett flown. He had no de-
sire to rush directly to business. Enough
for the moment was il to tell
all about how he loved Col. Nc
Comb and what gracious things he
hoped some time to do for him. And
the colonel, lisped he nothing. In ST.
lence he ate and in silence he drank;
only the sparkle of an appreciative eye
told how he enj Dyed the good things of
this life rs the Baltimore and Ohio's
President was able to dispense them.
'.How long do you remain in the
city," quoth Mr.. John w. Garrett.
Champagne had evidently bubbled up
into the region of the colonel's brain.
I'm d-3ashed if know" was the
rather inarticulate response OF the man
who for the first time had broken ST.
lcncc. .Im d--d-dashcd if l know.
Fac is, old man, fac is, I'm just back
from the island to-day, and life is a lit
tie, just little, kind o. shaky for fell
low when Cap'n Williams is down on
him."
Mr.. John W, Garrett stared.
Then his companion wanted to climb
up on the table and make speech. A
lackey interfered. For the first time
Mr.. Garrett gave Il searching look into
his companions countenance. Then
the only reason he didn't faint was be-
cause he didn't know how. There are
times in this life when even railroad
Presidents show little feeling. This
was one of those times for Mr.. John
w. Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio.
He was on the verge of saying some
thing right to the point in an incisive
Maryland way, when new face peered
in at the dining-room door. And this
new face was the face of the real Col.
McComb-the face of man who en-
joyed good joke, and was not so as
cetic as to refuse few condiments
while he promised not to dwell toe
often upon some of the endorsements
of true goodness in wicked world.
But to the day of his death / think
Col. Harry McComb was little wor.
ried because this second edition of him.
self was i'm circulation. On railroad
train one day, when he was in good
humor over the success of one OF his
financial strokes, he told me the story
himself.
"But it's rather tough" he said, ''t'
think that you've got Il double, partic
cularly when you discover that TIT
double is West-sidc sharper and {
bunko man."
never heard il intimatcd that Mr.
Garrett was employing missionaries t.
retail his little experience.--New forl