Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-07-22
frre gress.
w. w. B. GALLAHER, Editor.
Jefferson County, West Va
july ~, 1880.
WORKING JUST FOR FUN.
HoiC Some Rich Men Aniuse Themselves
Expert Cabinet Makers and Car
deners Who OiCn Mittions--A Man
With a Penchant for Edged Tools.


Tith a Penchdnt for Edged Tools.
"Send that planed stuff up this after
noon, sure" said the head Of west side
carpenter establishment yesterday, giving
one of his men the address Of well
known business man who resides in a
suburb.
Business appears to be rather lively"
ventured bystander.
"Yes, the regular legitimate business is
booming, but that job you saw just now
is clear velvet It's soft snap"
"How's that" queried his listener.
"Why, we don't do the job atall. We
let banker or a business man pay us
for the privilege of sweating over it him
self. We furnish the raw material slight
ly smoothed down, and the millionaire
carpenter does the rest of the work. OF
course we charge him just as much as il
we finished the job
"That is something new, isn't it Do
any of the millionaires live in houses they
built themselves"
ooh it isn't so now" answered the
boss carpenter. "Its what is known as
amateur carpentry 1t ragged several
years ago, died out little, and now It's
broken out again. There are several
wealthy men know, however, who have
kept at it for the last ten years. They
don't build houses. They work at all
kinds of odd jobs. Most Of them have
specialties.
"a certain physician and surgeon de-
votes his leisure time to saving and pla-
ming. He measures up a piece of hard
wood with a professional air, and then
sets to work saving with the greatest
care. 1t is rather natural for a surgeon
to be saving, you know. He comes
home from his round Of calls excited and
nervous, but after neatly amputating a
piece of hard oak timber he is always
rested and quieted.
zone business man sent for me to re-
port at his home at ten o'clock at night
and not to bring my tools / knew he
was liberal pay and | reported on time
He received me as though ] was the
President, and, after giving me glass Of
wine, escorted me to room right back
of his parlor, and not far from his wife's
bedroom. 1t was filled with lumber and
odd bits of carpentry work.
"He began by telling me that he had an
important job which he wished me to su-
perintend, and help him occasionally
with my advice. | began to get a little
frightened, but was reassured when he
brought out set of the finest carpenter
tools ever saw, and also produced box
of fine cigars. Then he pulled off his
overcoat, drew on a pair Of overalls,
donned an embroidered leather apron
and began pulling out a number Of large
pieces of seasoned English oak.
"He then told me that he intended
making a chest fitted up with drawers
and lockers of his own invention. He
had big sheet Of paper, on which he
had drawn off every piece to be used in
its construction.
"He went to work, and for four hours
| sat there smoking cigars and occasion
ally giving him directions about saving
and fitting. That was all he wanted.
He knew there were a number of simple
little points he never would learn himself,
and that was what he had me there for.
81 never saw a man work like he did.
He was a natural-born carpenter, and /
would give a good deal to have a few
such men in my shop. He hammered
and sawed and split away there for all
he was worth, and while he was working
he told me that his wife was used to it
and didn't mind the noise. He said he
went to work at carpentering because he