The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-03
THE MAJORS VISIT.
How a Gentlemanly Capitalist Stirred
Pennsylvania Town.

Pennsylvania Town.
He Was Unobtrusive, but Had an Air
About Him That Won Respect and At
teution-when He Went Away, There
vyas Disappointment.
Late one spring evening in the mlddle
seventies a stranger alighted from pas
senger train that had just drawn up TO tne
station Of Pennsylvania mountain town.
He was at once besst by half dozen negro
hotel runners, the most enterprlslhg OF
whom took possession of his hand satchei
before he had time to assent or olssert.
Because he was pleased with the negros
push or because he fancied the name OF
the hotel this porter represented the
stranger gave the man the check Tor MS
trunk and put himself under his guidance
At the hotel the stranger registered his
name in plain, businesslike hand as
seMaior John f.. of Philadelphia. lie
made his toilet, ate his supper, and, light
ing Cigar, went out, as he remarked Tor
q stroll about the town. Upon his return
an hour or so later he entered into CONVEX
satien with the landlord. Major ii. ap-
peared to take an interest in the banks OF
the town, of which he said he had noticed
there were larger number. He inquired
as to;steir condition, and seemed pleased
to hear that they were all regarded as
strong institutions all under safe, con-
sentative management His interest, he
limited, was cwing'to the probability that
he would in the near future have occasion
TO deposit in one of them a large sum OF
money.
Becoming more communicative, the
major said he had heard that the morning
paper of the town-a paper of repute and
infiuenoe-was for sale, in settlement OF
an estate, and that he was strongly dispos
ed to buy IT.
The next morning all the town knew OF
the presence of the rich gentleman from
Phradeiphia, who was going to buy the
--, and he Was the object of much
respectful curiosity when he appeared on
the strests. In him the curious saw a man
above the medium stature and beyond
middle age, who dressed plainly, but with
great neatnees, and who In the face, bore
a resem blance to General Grant, resem.
blance which was not lessened by the fact
that the major always had a Cigar in his
mouth.
The first place the major visited the
morning after his arrival was the office OF
the newspaper that was for sale. He was
received there with much consideration,
and spent some hours inspecting the plant
and carefully going over the books He
EXPRESSED satisfaction with what be had
seen and learned, and intimated his will.
ingness to pay a certain sum In cash foa
the property-a sum rather larger than
the management hoped to receive, though
not, of course, as large as that asked.
From the newspaper office the major
was escorted to a neighboring bank, where
his reception blythe president was most
cordial and lattering Seeing in the new
conner prospective customer and man
destined to be of much influence in the
community, this wide awake bank officer
not only took great pleasure in making
him acquainted with the really excellent
condition of the bank, but insisted on
driving him out that afternoon to see the
natural beauties of the, region, which
seemed to charm the major. That night
nothing would do but that the major
should dine with him.
The next day other prominent men OF
the town, who did not propose to permit
tHC Dduh pICGlAclV W Ai&oiOk'OiiLO o1iu
major, sought him out, with the result
that before noon he was engaged to drive
out behind fast horses every afternoon.
and to dine as the guest Of honor every
evening for week. The major drove out,
and the major dined. His quiet and un.
ostentatious manner and his intelligent,
conservative conversation won for him
golden opinions, and in a short time the
fha ma Moan.
while he would drop into the newspaper
Office every morning, where he was already
looked upon as the new proprietor. and
spread happiness about him by pleasant
W ofds of commendation.
Finally one morning the major an,
nounced that he had definitely decided t.
buy the paper and ordered lawyerYt
draw up the legal documents and have
them ready on a specified day the follow
ing week. He said that he would have to
leave the town fer few days to Arrange
the transfer of the money needed for the
purchase and Gsat he would return the
day before that fted for the transfer.
The major then dropped in to see his
friend the bank president, and gladdened
his heart hC announcing an intention Of
opening personal account with the bank.
He handed oser his cheek for 5000,
drawn onsas Frpminent Philadelphia bank,
and after chatting few minutes arose as
IL to go. remarking that he had business
cab to PittsBurg, for which city he would
start In the morning. The bank president
soiIcitously inquired whether he had suffi.
cient funds with him for the journey, and
the major said be thought he had, but he
would seq. After an inspection of his
wallet tsse maj or said that perhaps it would
be prudent to repienish it, and that he
would take $500 If his friend didn't mind.
So Ire gave his check, received the money
with careless matter of course manner,
shock hands with the bank president and
strol1ed Of to bis hotel. The next morning
the major quilted the town, taking with
him many expressions of good will and Of