Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-19
STORIES Of P. D. ARMOUR.
Printed In Chicago on the Morning Of the Day
on Which He Died,

Printed In Chicago on the Morning of the Day
on Which He Died,
One day, just after Mr.. Armour's re-
turn from a European trip, Chicago
newspaper sent a reporter to interview
him in regard to his observations Of
life and business abroad
The millionaire packer received the
reporter courteously; but added in his
brief, direct way, with quizzical
smile:
II am no talker. made my money
by learning to keep my mouth shut.
When the teeth are shut the tongue is
at home. Besides, you'll never be con-
victed of foolishness if you follow this
rule"
That he has always been deeply in
terested in young men and happy when
he has had the opportunity to encour-
age the young and ambitious has been
we'll illustrated by more than one Incl
dent. He has always shown desire
to do the right thing at the right time
to shape the character for growth in
the right direction in young persons in
the plastic period Of life. One day,
while travelling between New York and
Chicago, he became interested in COL
ored boy, sleeping-car porter. whom
he saw trying to read a book. He
named the boy General Forrest"
General" said Mr.. Armour, "I'll
give you IS bill if you will read one
line of that book without stopping to
spell out the words"
The boy grinned; but accepted the
challenge and read out line without
hesitation. He not only received the IS
note; but on further questioning STIR
red Mr.. Armour to still greater inter-
est. He disclosed a desire. for knowl-
edge that impelled Mr.. Armour to pro-
pose a way for his education. Soon af-
terward General Forrest" resigned
from the sleeping-car service and went
to Oberlin college, where he was educa-
ter at Mr.. Armour's expense.
Only those closest to Mr.. Armour
during the last 20 years know to the
full extent the thousands Of appeals
for assistance that have come to him In
every conceivable form. No appeal
that was not a fraud on it's face has
ever been ignored by him without in
vestigation. He once said that he did
not like the idea Of refusing any mod
est appeal without investigation, as 1T
might be from some person unfortu-
nate but most worthy.
Strange ups and downs happen in
this world" he added. 1T is among
the possibilities that my own son
might see the time when he would ap-
peal for help to some man that had
once been turned down by me. Stran-
ger things have happened. For this
reason I believe in relieving human
misery so far as it is in my power. For
this reason it is we'll not to turn deaf
ear to any deserving case Of charity
One day several years ago. Chicago
minister, apparently Of the Chadband
type, called on him and applied for
help for a poor woman in his parish,
whom he had found in poverty and
destitution in the most trying hour or
childbirth. He was supplied with a
sum ample for immediate needs, and
REQUESTED to see that the poor Great
ure received necessary comforts with
the least possible delay. Mr.. Armours 8
ability to shunt his thoughts quickly
was one of his traits. This matter was
speedily forgotten. Imagine his SUR
prise when Chadband returned the
next day and said:
"I have brought your money back,
Mr.. Armour.
What does that mean?"
my dear brother" said Chadband,
II am sorry to say that when I applied
to you yesterday my information as to
this case for Christian charity had
been received only by hearsay. I have
since investigated personally and dis
covered that the poor woman In child
birth is unmarried and living in sin.
She has not sought salvation that Is
freely offered without money and with
out price. I could not, therefore. con-
scientiously give her the money. TO
satisfy my conscience 1 must, there
fore, return it."
Mr.. Armour's Indignation was arous-
ed. He dismissed Chadband curtly.
Then he sent a special messager to re-
lieve the unfortunate woman and made
her unhappy lot as easy as circumstan-
ces would permit.
above ALL" he said, in recalling this
case, "a minister Of the gospel or
Christ should have been the first to
show mercy to this fallen one, and II
she was in sin and the slough OF des-
pond he should have been the first to
reach forth a hand to lift her out and
start her on the right road
On one of his journeys through
France Mr.. Armour found entertain
ment in a manufacturing town, where
he inspected a factory in which several
hundred girls were employed in max
ing lace curtains. Sauntering through
the workshops he observed that many
of the girls seemed to be in poor health.
They appeared to be overworKeo'
pinched and worn in appearance. Many
looked old and withered before their
time. He thought that he had never
seen a little army Of working people
so forlorn and hungry looking.
It was a sight that weighed heavily
on him. Before quitting the Factory
"a office of the