The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
-.idents Which Showed His Eccen-
trio characteristics.
- - Trihunel

New YORK IrlOunc.)
,rIr5r0.-Potter Palmer the dean Of
elm, hotel owners ot this city. former mcr-
'rgrf prince and later the largest holder
..-.4liv here. though "A many sided man
~ business and social life. had little Of
H. humorous in his nature. Rather
morn was in him that which might be
termed Cceeutricity.
while Che Potter Palmer family has
,r,svs figured cOnspicuOusly I'm society,
800 rrv nero but elsewhere I'm this cOuu-
,r and abroad. Potter Palmer had a
.-.or4Ifry of his own which kept him
largely apart from distinctly social lie
r1. WAS bon every sense of the phrase
thorough business man-stcru cXactinC
rsfrrtuI. careful. and OF tho strictcst
.-terrf.v Generous by nature nc WIS
.rr~sn 90 letting the general public know
M his houclactious. and his good deeds
vrrs known only % those who executed
XII wishes in this respect. Iu public af-
f.fr- t1 promote the community welfare
.e sell a- BOO the Upbuilding OF the cits
rc VAS entirely broad gagged.
Despite his strict devotion To- affairs
fra-. were certain incidents in his man
nor of doing things that reveal Mr.
PALMER u his eccentric and lighter
moods I is recalled by a man. who hold
. responsible position in his employ. that
q. ono time he suddenly became nos
.e-=.I of the notion that too long tenure
r D. rrD uv amy Of his help was Diet
--uaulaI fg the successful CARRYING on
ut the Palmer House. One daV at am
Unusual hour hc went to the basement
and found the engineer. in his greasy
UrarlH- busy nc his duties.
.WHU are you2' asked Mr.. Palmer.
"rm the engineer. Mr.. Palmer" re-
piled tHr busy mechanic
GLOW long have you been working
.Tnrs too long too long" said Mr..
Palmer You go 90 The cashier ana get
your pay and get out. You're dis
BIT Mr. Palmer. ] haven't neglected
ms work am --
Never mind that" rctorted Mr.. Palr,-
cr "vou just 90 as | ten YOU"
The engineer did as he was hidden. and
disappeared Later i'm the day Mr.
Palmer uccoStcd his brothcr-in-law. his
representative in the management of the
hotel. who was talking to- a fairly well
dressed man in the lobby of the hotel
and informed him of the discharge of
the engineer. and the need Of employing
another in his place
"Nhy heres man looking for just
such i0h Mr. Palmer" said the man
agcr. with "a twinkle in his eye.
well. II he $ competent. put him TO
work replied Mr.. Palmer
And the man. who was the old engineer.
1t-r0d iu his Sunday clothes. resumed his
duties ms engineer MI Palmer not hdV-
ing recognized him. The engineer kent
DTS job until ne WAS ready 10 quit il for
a better one.
Before Mr.. Palmer undertook person.
ally tU manage his hotel ne leased the
various privileges OF the establishments.
newsstand. barber shop ticket agency
Office. etc. q period Of higher rent came
along and Mr.. Palmer decided to advance
Che prices charged the lCssCes Of the va
riuus privileges. lie called ON the barber
and told him that he was obliged to
raise bis rent. The barber readily agreed
t0 pay more. Then Mr.. Palmer informed
him chat DE would also require the pay
mont of q graded commission on the bust
moss. To this the barber also gave ready
consent. Later. ON thinking the matter
over and recalling how readily the bar
Der had agreed TO the imposition of now
terms. Mr.. Palmer concluded that the
barber shop was a good thing as a money
maker. and it was not long before IL came
directly under the control of the hotel
management.
As am Illustration Of how closely he at
tended tu The details of his business AZ
fairs. patron of the Turkish bath de-
UrrtUcut of the Palmer House relates
this incident. nc went TO the hotcl bath
rooms Tate one night. and. after his bath.
sought The sCclUsiOn of one of tho lOung-
ing rooms 20 sleep. He had hardly got
asleep. lt seemed when ne was awakened
1r pounding ON the wall When able to
distinguish what was going on. he saw
HI...N '.N RI lutNtl VIII lIolAllltI anu
eHiscI punching a hole iu The wall. and
near by iutently watching the work. was
Mr. Palmer. And this al 1.30 a. I'D.
IS popularity Mr.. Palmer possessed as a
landlord was one which his tenants. as
rule. did not relish at ALL Though the
houses Eo built 10 rent were models or
attraet'vcness and comfort be made IL
d fixed rule tO compel the tenants TO fur
IsG the gas fixtures. water attachments
for Che .dVatories and kitchens, and even
i6r door knobs. All other house owners
I'm Chicago not only furnished all these
things but also the inside shades for the
windows
A few years ago. owing to his advancing
years. his family tried TO persuade Mr..
Palmer 10 give mp his active interest IN
IBIS business affairs, and especially his
hotel which was his chief interest. lie
was persuaded 90 consent to selling the
Palmer House block. Negotiations were
carried OH with John Wmamaker 10 buy
toe property and establish a big depart
meut store there. Mr.. Wanamaker and
bis son came on TO close the deal, but Mt.
Palmer then refused flatfOOted to give
Up his hotel. I'm which his greatest inter
est conferred, and the negotiations were
Off.