The record-union., 1897-10-10

ForetoId His Failure.

| In 1888, shortly after the Missouri
Kansas and Texas Trust Company was
organized, and before President Still
well had evolved any of the numerous
railroad projects which have since made
him one of the most noted American
railroad promoters, his attention was
called to an advertisement which was
appearing in various newspapers and
periodicals at that time of one era
pho" who claimed to send delineations
of character to those who forwarded
him specimens of their handwriting,
| accompanied by a modest remittance.
A friend of President Stilwell suggested
it would be interesting to test era
pho's" abilities in character delinea-
| ton. His extensive advertising indi-
Gated that he must be doing thriving
| business, and Mr.. Stilwell sent a spec
linen Of his handwriting and the small
amount required for delineation.
1t was several days before GRAPHIC
replied, and when the delineation was
received President Stilwell treated it
as a joke, showed it to a few intimate
friends, and laid it away, probably
forgetting all about it in short time.
Doubtless he has recalled it frequent
~ since that time. One of his friends
to whom it was shown when received.
E. J. Dawson, at the time Secretary of
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Trust
Company, said yesterday that the de-
lineation was very much more in de-
tail than those received by others who
had written to GRAPHIC" at about the
same time.
1T has been recalled to my mind a
thousand times Mr.. Davidson said,
"by reports of new projects in which
Mr.. Stilwell has been interested. AS
remember the delineation, GRAPHIC
predicted that Mr. Stilwell would be-
come one of the great railroad promo
tiers of the age. GRAPHIC said he was
so adapted for this sort of work that
it seemed wholly improbable that he
would fail to engage in it, and that
with every success there would come
more, until the eyes Of the world would
be turned upon new Napoleon of rail-
reading. He predicted that the plans
followed would be original and that
the results achieved would bear out
the good judgment of bold operator.
I remember that GRAPHIC i'll his letter
to Mr.. Stilwell said it was unusual for
MIN W care " LOntlilAAE ii
ence with those whose characters he
delineated from their handwriting. but
that he would be glad to carry on an
extended correspondence with Mr..
Stilwell without any additional charges.
believing he would be richly paid by a
further insight into a remarkable char
acter. I think President Stilwell did
not take the matter up further, and
that it soon passed from his mind. I
have often thought of it since as Mr..
Stilwell has been leaping up the lad
der of fame in financial matters He is
remarkable man"
President Stilwell appeared annoyed
when a reporter for the Journal" men
toned the name Of GRAPHIC" to him
yesterday.
There is no need of printing that
story" he said. II receive altogether
to much notoriety."
But it's true, and a good story, .
suggested the reporter.
Yes, but you fellows force me into
the position of a notoriety-s seeker too
often; l can't see the use of digging
up O. ten-year-old story to put me on
dress parade with" and Mr. Stilwell
closed the interview after positively
refusing to permit the reporter to see
the Graphic dellneation.-Kansas
City Journal.