The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-30
GOT HIS START BY ACCIDENT.
II Wouldn't Have Happened n the Auctioneer
Hadn't Forgotten His EyeglasNes.


From nc Ncp Orleans Times enocra
q owe my start IN life to the fact that an
estimable old gentleman forgot to put his eye
glasses In his pocket one morning, said a pros
porous business man from a sister city. ITS
rather a curious story" he went on, "and I'll
tell 1t a. briefly as possible. A good many
years ago when l was a young fellow Of IS
or th~ereabouts ! drifted into Louisville in
search OF q job that didn't materialZc, and the
SSP TSES % Of 4 i .y TaT that ! found m M ,Ss P J%a hdd
always, worked for small wages and bad never
succeeded In acc!lmulating, a. much rs $50.
get hold Of a modest stake / could launch out
for myself and make some money.
with u on iyor two or "t three s siiye T" doIIars n n'1 mV
pocket, looking for a chance to 20 TO work at
ANYTHING that might offer, | dropped into a big
being sold at auction. A large crowd was pres
ent, and there was mn indescribable feeling
OF tension IN The air that warned me something
standing there, only vaguely Interested. the
auctoneer. who, was quite an elderly gentle
and after a considerable pause received n hid
OF $500. | could see that the smalneSs Of the
amount excited surprise and was also aware
Of n commotiOn in one corner, where half a
dozen previous bidder were gathered together
in an excited group. They seemed TO be quar-
auctioneer was indignantly appealing for a
tcsIeGtsnle oncr, Make IL twentyinye hun;
dfed, ne shouted; does. any gentleman bid
me, and I made a gesture Of denial. THANK
you Ne exclaimed greatly 70 my surprise;
hundred; and, II / can help it, no combination
at this sale'' With that he suddenly Knocked
NO sooner was this DONE" continued the
story teller than a great H.proar Of protests
insisted that they had been given no chance
10 bid, but the auctioneer stood firm, and.
calling, NC to the platform. requested my name
on the $500 BY that time I realized. Of connrse'
ma some extraordinary chance had thrown
2 9rd me PIECE Of PTGperty into ny, hands az 9
thinking I've sent 3 messenger for the
money! said as Goolly as could, and IN
tio3eer looked at the clock, An right, he
replled, IN give you thnt limit
Their took a desperate chance. pushed
ested in the next sale and beck oned 10 a little
fat man who had been one Of the loudest kick
s spd a few moments 2 r. before; Look here l
my silent partner, for an hour or soy What
d'you meanf' said he, I gave him the truth
500 dcp9st MONEY Money I G aided ic' 'amnd i w RSTe sh 3aS5
the profits, whatever they are The little
man looked at me s~hrewdly. This Is a bic
CUES guess I hi risk he Deal i' At Sr ths nsinc ,"f 1jmd !
he counted out and PIT i in my hands,
the sale, and before noon had The deed Gd''ih IN m1
possession. Then. 10 make a long story short
my silent partner offered me 5000 cash for
my interest ana as q 200 looked about as big
promptly accepted. That thousand, fortu. |
nately placed, gave me the start that has kent
me going ever since.
But what about the Eyeglasses did YOU sav,
why the anotioneer, as ! afterward learned. |
was very ncar-7ighted, and on the morning
70 which refer he had forgotten his glasses
That was why he miStook my gesture of dis |
nvowal for a sign OF assent. and forced me,
M slnle OF myself, INTO n good thing. never
understood the exact true inwardness ~ tbe |
deal, but the fncts in tho rough were thai n
oligne Of spectators had formed a combine |
TO keep down prices, but, owing 10 some mis-
understanding. failed 10 bid promptly on the
property which | secured. The aIctioneer
onto me gane and anxious 10 break II
N, hence his precipitancy In knocking down |
The lot 70 yours truly. I heard, later on. tbat
portly silent partner made 5000 OUT Of the
transaction. but ] didn't begrudge him The
The $500 he gave me on faith that
morning was worth fully 10 per cent. n minute