Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-29
MAPS OF THE STATE
Hon George De Assn's Fifty
e~o Souvenirs Of Michigan
WERE HAILED BY IHs PEOPLE"
Prominent Hsllrosd Nen Ask 80
Information - "a the Method
q MANIPULATING a. a ". NJ

Some time ago the general passenger
department. of the G. 4. w. NJ AID d..
l. a y. roads Issued an advertisement
In the shape % pack of cards. On tue
back of the earis were maps of the state
and the pack sas dasignstsd - City two
maps Of Michigan They were freely
distributed and pack scot 10 the lead
ing passenger agents Of the countfy.
While George DciIaven was locking
over some correspondence day or two
ago. he found bundle Of clever &C
knowledgmentsf from prominent railroad
men. Here are soms Of the replies:
A. G. Michaslss wrote from the City
Of Mexico ~ follows:
Il beg taaacknowieigs with multitude
nous thanks he receipt from you OF sn en-
yelope marked Personal" inclosins some
hf'y Tires oolong smooth cards. vita
edges nicely rounded. l nnd these cards
have on one side a map OF portion of
Michigan. On the inverse aide are sarit'us
characters Some thirteen Of them have q
representation Of that part OF the human
anatomy known N the heart They ars OF
= reddish color. Thirteen more are OF JET
black aspect and they, too, are heart
talso black fancy we're intended TO nspre-
sent clover leaves. A group OF twelve red
ones has on each a diamondshaped ~ nlbol.
With Shese four symbolic groups l find
pictures Of singular looking men and
women- l prescme they are types OF the
people among whom your roads run. l
have lived quite a while in Mexico. and did
fancy that the ancient Aztec idols repre-
sented about as ugiy-featured people az
could readily be conIured up by a nation
shrouded In the gloom of ignorance and alb
Jet superstition, but your pictures OF repre-
sentative 'Michigansse' show that ] was
quite wrong. ! am az q loss TO know
70 what u-e 90 put these curious bits Of
glazed and ornamental pasteboarcls. A
gentleman from Arizona has an Impression
that they are used by artists IN a game
called Poke but as there was an uncanny
twinkle IN his eye as he explained matters
10 me / doub. his pretended knowledze.
Missionaries. sisters OF charity and the like
are eontin ually going north. and shall give
one Of your cards 10 each discreet traveller Of
this class."
How the Maps Work.
ID. Wishart. general passenger agent
;of the Frisco line. said: The fifty-two
maps received are very pretty. will
take occasion some evening 10 investi-
gate the opposite side with some OF my
friends
Here is an excerpt from letter from
W. A. Thrsll, general passenger agent OF
the Chicago q Northwestern: "a care
ful study OF the excellent maps you are
distributing is likely TO prove profitable
unless the fellow who is studying the
backs OF the maps on the other side OF
the table holds over"
Edison j. Weeks. general passenger
- tha Na-v X~rb Canfral ra.narlrs.
Michigan Is a great state. The maps
are finely executed. but the designs on
the backs bring up unpleasant recollec-
tons to my mind"
John L. Pratt, assistant secretary Of
the c. s. p add X. G. showed his appre-
citation in this fashion: Il have not been
so moved since boy when my parents
took hand at il. as was when / re-
ceiyed your present of the great Ameri-
can Travelling Companion. i always was
partial 10 history and geography and
here you have 1t, and when wearied or
busted with history. presto. and you are
in the midst OF the great peninsula.
Seriously, hope We may some time
meet and / may learn from him who
conceived the idea. how the ioxelets
work.
Il must confess that you have out
fsrced Pharoah"' remarks l.. Il Allen.
assistant general passenger agent OF the
Is. q l.
III the Other Fellow Has 'Em.
Il. S. Hair Of the c.. s. p. * X. C.. Of.
fers a few suggestions There il only
one thing / think OF that you might
improve upon, IL you devised some plan
whereby could tell by looking at the
maps ia the hands Of the other fellow il
he really had them or was simply bluff
ing with q 'bob-tail flush
III. Il. Mcclellan Of the Wabash is
thankful as follows: Il take pleasure in
acknowledging receipts OF fifEytwo
pieces Of paste board. and IL l can nianip-
ulate them some evening No as 10 get
three aces against three kings / will send
you fifteen cents in stampsfor the pack"
r Tenbroeck OF the Union Pacific
searches for information such as this:
How close to his breast must q man
hold these maps in order To- keep his
case we'll filed. and should they be used
with limit or no limit. The queens
we're always good luck to me when
used them; but / am little out OF
practice now and want eome advice
j. NJ. Schryver OF the y. 4 O. wrote as
follows; The maps are very hne. but
are made in such shape that il would
not be advisable to frame them. l hope
the package sent me will turn out
loaded, ~ expect 10 use them a. my
geography class Saturday night
Supt J. w. Burdick Of the Delaware
a Hudson Canal company: Il doubt II
you have succeeded in iessening the diff
ticulties u filing bob tail flush
George - March Of the Chicago. Mil
waukes q -. Paul has Q grievance and
he states IL plainly; lit would certainly
seen q great lack OF courtesy or my
part 20 doubt the veracity 81 your state.
ment In any rcspccl and am prepared
b. swear on a stack 81 Bibles. or die
tionarhes. that Michigan IL great state
n any man smaller than i disputes thu
fact. / will cause him 10 repent But
~ chief interest - me are tho calling
cards enclosed with your commnnica
ton. | used them for calling purposes
very soon after their receipt. and 10 the
h~-to ~ M recollection. the call opst rna
about 81. I would like a. have yon al.
vise me- how 10 get the bsck. The fact
that Michigan u . great state does not
appear 10 help ne ia dat direction"