The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-26

are brilliant and ready takers. The lat
tor looks one straight in the eye, speaks
in n low tone. using the simplest words,
and the charm Of bis conversation lies in
the dircctncss. cleamess and rapidity OF
his spccch. His remarks are like cleav-
crs. not intended 10 be kept polished and
nrcttv. but warranted 30 so TO the heart
Of things. Armour is the only ono Of
tbe trio possessing much humor. He Is
an cpigrammatic talker, is full Of quaint
illustrations and SMILES. He likes TO
sneak self deprecatingly, calling himself
"a butcher" His laugh is strong and
hearty. and he il the cause Of laughter
in others. Armour abhors a man who
speaks in his throat and doesn't know
how TO "spit it out
Armour is not hungry for money. He
goes working along simply because work
is his delight lie gives away in year
more money than any other man IN
America. He is, too, content with small
profits on his business. The net returns
do not exceed three millions year on
total of fifty-hve millions, or less than 6
per cent.
Armour has a striking, unique indi-
viduality, but is 70 all who know him
well ono Of the most lovable Of men.
Though carrying on business greater
than that Of any railway corporation in
America. and though at times he makes
great deal Of money in speculative |
dcals-hc never yet lost fight in that
feld-ho j. singularly irritable about
some little things. remember one oc-
casion in which he fumcd and frettcd |
for nearly whole day about a fifty |
pound box Of sausage which a careless
shipping clerk had sent to a wrong rail
way station, whore it lay all day on the
platform in tho sun and was spoiled.
For several hours the Office men heard
of little but that box Of sausage and the
chief was not appeased till the offender
had been discovered and reprimanded.
The SAUSAGE was worth 81, and that
same day tho provision market, in which
Armour was largely interested, fell of
so rapidly that nearly 100000 Of mar
gin money was required to protect the
houses holdings. The packer gave no
moro than five minutes of thought TO
the provision market. lie was too busy
marking down tho loss of the box Of
sausage.
These three men Of success are Of about
the Same age. Wanamakcr is theyoung-
est at 81, Field is j3 and Armour 50. Ar
mour was a farmers son, who made his
business start i'm life with q yoke of
steers. Wanamakcr was brick yard
boy, whose first mercantile employment
was rs clerk in a book store az $l.25 a
week. From his own lips | have heard Z
the story Of how his first lucky strike
was made after he had started in bust ,
ness for himself in the sale Of a dozen
for n secret society. He de- {
ivered the goods himself in q wheel
barrow and invested the proceeds in adj c
sertising {
In the opening year Of the war Mar
hall Field and Levi Letter were clerks a
n the Chicago dry goods store of Cooley, =
& Co. The trade outlook +
vas dark and gloomy. John V. Farwell 4
lad recently become managing partner of
he firm. and he called in the two clerks
nd told them the outlook for trade s
vas so dark that he feared their salaries b
would have to be cut down. Would
hey be willing to take a share of the
ears profits instead Of a fixed salary: d
'iold consented Immediately and gladly. n
.eitcr took few days TO think it over. q
nd finally accepted the terms. s.
See what luck will do for q man. In b
tead Of running the dry goods trade the u
var gave it tremendous boom. That +,
cry year Field and Letter drew $4,000 s.,
ach in profits. Letter is now retired b.
merchant, with Sj.OOO,0OO Field leads "
he continent i'm his line, and is worth
1000, 600. Wanamakcr, who was neai u
less than ten years ago il =
.orth probably $4,000 600 All three -.
re generous with their wealth. Field y
lbscribcs literally to all worthy chair y
cs, while Armour gives as much as
nybody else, and in addition remembers in
ne needy in private charities TO an in %
rcdible extent. He has been known t. ,l
i've away 81 800 in a single day, in cur rc
,ncy, and in small. sums. He has built. fl
nd maintains, great mission and kin TO
Wanamakcrs charities are u,
rincely, and lie is well known for hi j,
lnday school and mission ce
Armour engages in no enterprises but e.,
lose related TO his own business, except. "f
e only the st. Paul railway Fields eli
inside ventures are confined to the Pull isl
an Car company and few silver ",
ines, all fortunate investments. Wan. io
maker, ON the other hand, Is in q large su
Imber of enterprises. During the ls.si Isl
X years it seems as if he had but 10 49,
uch thing and it was turned into Ca
id WALTER WIIIaiAE. ana