Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-02

that story about the conductor and
his distinguished looking passenger. That
Will show you how. 1t seems there was
conductor on one Of the roads running out
Of Chicago. His name was Larry Thomas,
and he had been in the service OF this par
ticular railroad for a good many years.
One day he was punching tickets on the
Toledo express and he came to q distin-
guished appearing man who accosted him
with a familiar How are you, Larry?
Thomas didn't know the man. He ad-
mitted as much. The strangers only re-
joinder was: "Well. you ought to know me-
you have done a greater service for me
than any other man In this world -
Thomas did an awful lot Of thinking. but
he couldn't place the man, 30 when he had
made the rounds Of the cars he returned
to him and asked: How did ever do you
a service, and when?" The answer was
why, back In 18-, when l was q boy al
most I wanted to be a railroad man the
worst way. l came to you and persuaded
you to give me trial. lasted three days
and then you came to me and said that II
lived till the last day Of the century and
worked at railroading every day l would
never make a railroad man. Then you fired
me. That's why you were my benefactor."
Thomas was puzzled. He couldn't re-
member such q circumstance. He walked
to the front OF a car where q travelingman
Of his acquaintance sat and told him Of the
, occurrence. remarking that the man must be
a little of in the garret. The salesman
glanced at the conductor and laughed.
THAT is the sanest lunatic you ever saw" !"
he said; that is Phil Armour" Perhaps
have had numerous benefactors In Just
that way.
Sheriff John Power-When a man tries
to select one from the many men who have
helped him. and give that one the name
greatest benefactor" II is no easy task. A
dozen names ccme to my mind when you
ask the question. Maybe the most prom
inent one is that of Tom Kennedy. He is
not living now, but lots Of people remem-
Der him. and many more are acquainted
with his children. There was a
time when was a young man
that l wanted the worst way to be
in business for myself To get into business
in those days required considerably more
capital than had, and prospects for fair
amount Of orders. Even II person had
the necessary capital he would need 10
have considerable temerity to try to cut
In and take business from old established
concerns, Still these circumstances did not
prevent me from cherlshing "A strong wish
to be at the head OF my own shops. / was
then employed by Henry Waggoner in the
cooper shops We were doing a good deal
of work of fancy kind for Her g. Co. They
used barrels hoopeo with willow in fancy
| designs About this time Tom Kennedy
| volunteered to give me start in the
cooperage business, and promised to use
| his influence to get me the work that hat
been sent to Waggoner. Such start was
a big hoost for me, and entities him to b'
considered as my best benefactor. although
| any number OF men have been my bes
friends and heplers at all times.
b. II. Thomas, City Prosecutor-I think
| can safely say that d. G.. Michler, Tor sew
eral years clerk OF the district court Of
Jackson county Iowa. was my greatest ben
efactor. Ny home was at Maquoketa, the
county seat, and ! had known him from
childhood. ] started to attend college a.