The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-09

g .
On one of his journeys through
France Mr.. Armour found entertain
ment in a manufacturing town, where
he Inspected a factory in which sew
eral hundred girls We're employed in
making lace curtains. Sauntering
through the workshops he OBSERVED
that many Of the girls seemed to be in
poor health. They appeared to be. over
worked, pinChed, and worn in appear
ance. Many looked old and withered
before their time. He thought that he
had never seen d little army of work
people so forlOrn and hungry looking.
1t was a sight that weighed heavily
on him Before quitting the factory
he called at the private office of the
superintendent and requested the privi-
lege of leaving a sum of money to be
distributed among these girls. whose
wretChed appearance had touched. his
,sympathieS. His request being readily
granted, he handed over a handsome
sum, and before departing enjoyed the
pleasant sight Of its distribution. all the
girls being lined up TO receive the gift.
Mr.. Armour used to be at his desk
in his ChiCabO Office every morning at
O'Clock, an hour earlier than some Of
his clerks arrived He had his break
fast before 6, and his customary re-
firing hour was in the evening. in
those early rising times d comical
thing once happened one morning he
discovered a clerk in the office ahead
of him.
Good morning" said Mr. Armour.
Rather early for you. isn't it,
1T is, said the clerk, with a flush
of embarrassment. I'm down a little
early this morning, but you see I'm a
little behind with my ledgers, and 1
want to catch up"
Nothing pleases me more than TO
see a young man faithful and ambiti-
Gus; one that isn't afraid of working a
minute over hours. You may 20 and
order a new suit of clothes, and tell
your tailor to send the bill to me"
The clerk almost fell off his stool
with establishment. The truth was
that he had spent the night painting
the town, and with consciousness of
guilt was quaking in fear of discharge.
He ordered a $50 suit, and when the
bill came in was lectUTed by Mr..
Armour for his extravaganza. MT.
Armour pointed out in a fatherIy way
the danger of living beyond ones
means.
At Christmas time it was always one
of Mr.. Armour's little pIeasantries to
lay IN stock Of gold coins, and walk
into his offices with a cheerful greet
ing and toss the coins around quite
promiscuously among his 200 clerks.
He never held a public office. POliti-
cal pTeferment did not Comport with
the bent OF mis- mind or ambition. At
the earnest solicitation If the late
Alexander Mitchell of Milwaukee he
became one of the directors of the St.
Paul railway. an exception to his
custom in such matters. The Armour
industries have on the average given
employment to about $1,000 men, be-
sides many boys and young women.
Mr. ArnOur's wealth is a subject
that may never be accurately known.
It is estimated to be not less than 800
100000, and by some is said to exceed
$50. 100000. The combined wealth of
the Chicago Armours is fixed at $50
100000. In one sense the total is the
wealth of Philip y. Armour. but Just
how much las been carried in his own
name and how much in the name of
his sons is unknown. He was not a
borrower. He was always able to pay
cash for his purchases, and he never
asked a customer to discount d bill. In
his great wheat deals he always had
ready cash In times of panic he
showed vast resources in spot cash In
1893, when a run was made upon the
banks of Chicago and the credit Of the
city and the fate of the exposition was
hanging in the balance. Philip D.
Armour bought 100000 gold coin in
Europe and offered help to the big in
situations of the city from mis- cash re-
sources in Chicago