The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-11
DIED IN POVERTY
HOW PULLMAN GOT THE SLEEPING
CAR PATENT
The Invention of a Fellow Toiler. Who Sold
II at Pulimans Advice for
Paltry Sum.

"reminiscences OF noted men are always
more or less interesting and instructive.
Not long since highly colored and inn
aginatve sketch of George M. Pullman
appeared in the daily papers.
The following facts concerning the
night side of that shining satellite and
full MOON of mammon may prove en-
tertaining reading. They are furnished
by Chicago man who served for twelve
years on the police force of that city, but
who is now tarrying in Los Angeles for
his health The man obtained his facts
and data from nephew of the Marquis,
and they can easily be verified and
clinched if necessary.
Some years ago, when George M. Pull
man was a considerably poorer and an
infinitely more innocent man than now,
he had fellow toiler who was an invent
or, and who had applied for patent on
a slice ping car; but who, like most invent
ors, was not blessed with a genius for
grab and for financial success. In
other words, he lacked the brains" of
which we hear so much in these days,
when the devil enters swine and temper
arily eevates that unclean beast above
genuine manhood and inspires the crea-
ture to build colleges, establish libraries
for the benefit of the upper classes, ana
erect costly churches in memoir" OF the
Lord and to the glory of the giver.
This inventor impaired his secret and
his hopes to his younger and sharper CO.
worker
George NJ. Pullman, investigated the
subject and reported in discouraging
manner, but after more or less pro-
crastination-such as members of the
cat and tiger species often practice on
hplnlpsg vi
ventor that he could not see any money
in it, " but that he had Il friend, who
might, perhaps, be induced to pay $500 for
the right in which case it would be moth
ing more than fair for the inventor TO di-
vide the purchase money equally with the
thrifty Pullman-who was also the
friend"
The inventor was poor, discouraged and
weary with hope deferred, and he swal-
lowed the bait and gave half to his friend
and benefactor" who swallowed the
invention and became a money king.
1t was thus-it is ever thus with that
class of great men-that George M. Pull
man became successfully betrayer,
millionaire and Christian philanthro-
pist."
The rest of his story is written in char
acters as clear and startling as those which
appeared on the palace wall OF Babylon at
the kings last supper; and the end is not
yet.
But listen to the rest of my true story.
The years rolled on and brought in
creasing millions to the vaults of the rich
man. One day there appeared in the
''model city of Pullman" an elderly
seedy and detected pilgrim. He sought
the office of the great and good proprietor
but the latter was closeted in his ''holy
of holes and could not be seen.
The old man insisted, saying, give
him my name and | know he will see
me. But there was no use. Pullman was
as irresponsible as the heather gods
who refused to compete with the Prophet
Elijah in the rain business, saying, che
wanted nothing to do with the old
tramp. 8. Then in despair and in a broken
voice the old man told the clerk how he
was the original inventor of the Pullman
palace car, and how, in his poverty, he
had almost given away the patent to the
man who had since given himself away to
the buffetings of Satan, and to the scorn
of the civilized world. And that is how
some men become millionaires.
| see that John Sherman says the old
man is now dead. | trust that spirits do
return and that this particular ghost is
lowering around to comfort the palace
car monarch"
and it came to pass that the beggar
died, and was carried by the angel to
Abraham's bosom; the rich man also
died, and in hell he lifted up his eyes,
being in torment"
Pullman probably begins to realize that
he has got there" without dying, as he
has recently been compelled to surrender
to the treasury of Cook county, H., some
~ 600, 900 in fines and in back taxes,
which, like those arch enemies of
socialism Ananias and Sapphira-he
had tried to defraud the community.
James Il. Clark.