The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27
WHIMS OF GREAT MEN.
Peculinrities of Blaine, Ingersoli, Nc
kinIey and Others as Buyers.
Washington Post.


Washington Post.
Great men display more or less eccen-
tricity in buying This at least is the
opinion of a manager of one OF the Wei
established stores of the city. who has had
many dealings with such during his thirty
years in business.
james G. Blaine was a customer OF ours
for many years." he said. He was pc
c-.iiar man. He bought thing because IL
had for the moment appealed TO his fancy
and without the least regard for the fitness
or utility of the object purchased. He was
as great a terror to managers and floor
walkers as the man who orders fried oyS-
tiers and mince pie for breakfast is TO
walters. He used to come in the store, stroll
about for a few moments and then eX-
claim: L like that chair; send 1t TO my
house
Then perhaps / would have to explain
to him that that piece of furniture would
not harmonize with the plan and decorative
scheme of his residence. Usually Blaine
yielded to the better judgment of managers
or proprietors, but there were times when
he had his heart set on having thing, and
then he rebelled. l remember one day ne
came into the store and selected book
case that was not at all suited for the
interior of his house. This L explained TO
him. He admitted that l was right and
seemingly abandoned his determination TO
have the case. But as soon as l turned
my back he beckoned to one of the store
porterS and told him to send the case up
to his house. l turned and saw him whis-
pering in an aside tone to the porter and
guessed what was up. However, L sald
nothing but at the same time Blaine sus-
pected that had caught on. Therefore he
said:
% Did you ever hear the story about the
1rishman who went into haberdashers and
asked to look at some hosiery?
81 replied that / did not.
Well he said, while the clerk was
showing him the hose the Irishman slipped
pair in his pocket. This the clerk noticed
and he ordered the Celt to return them
| forthwith. The Irishman tried hard TO
evade, but seeing, finally, that he had been
! saw me take thin, and yez are lookn' at me
still. OF mustn't, OF suppose, return thin. .
| Hows that for a story?
Il saw what he was driving at, namely,
| to ascertain by my reply whether had seen
him give directions TO the porter about the
desk. l had headed him of so often that
| thought 1t would be well, for once, to let
him have what he desired so 1 replied that
the Irishman was stupid fellow and need
| ed few lessons in diplomacy such as he
(Mr Blaine) would be capable Of giving.
| President Mckinley always bought with
| one object in view, and that was to please
Mrs. Mckinley. They would frequently
visit a store together. This was especially
| the case at the time when they were fur
nishing their home in Canton. Mrs. McKin-
| ley was fastidious as to colors, preferring
| the more delicate shades, whereas her hus-
browns. 1t was in the selection of such
| things upholstering goods, carpets, rugs
and curtains that they differed most. He
! would hold the samples UP to the wall and
argue like diplomat. always gently and
| soothingly, however, for one or two colors
on which his fancy had set Sometimes he
| won, but not often, Mrs. Mckinley usually
deciding such matters in her own favor.
| Bob Ingersoll was as good a Christian
| in his business dealings as any man GO
ing. L remember once that we were a little
| IN rd RIM We Ia mr.
standing accounts, among the number be-
ing a bill of $1,000 purchased by Colonel In
gersoll, which, however. was not quite due
l therefore sent our collector to him with
instructions to ask him for a few hundred
dollars on account, telling him to explain
our situation, and in collecting the money
TO under no circumstances annoy tbs
colonel. The collector reached Colonel In.
gersolrs residence just as he and friend
were leaving, walking rapidly in an oppo
site direction. At first the collector was
at a loss TO know what TO do. but finally
decided to risk approaching him, hoping
that he would not give offense. He had al
he could do for time TO overtake the two
and when he did so Colonel Ingersoll, be-
fore he had time to announce his mission
gave hin. to understand that he was in
hurry and could not under any circum
stances he detained.
1.-THE collector said he would walk aloni
with him. AS he did so he quietly and po
litely explained the object of his call. A
this Ingersoll stopped short, returned Il
aginable made out a check for $1,000, th'
full amount. The same day this same col
lector called on a popular preacher witt
a bill of like magnitude, long since overdue
in the same polite manner explaining tina
we were badly in need Of funds and re
queSting few hundred dollars on account
Whereupon the worthy divine flew into
high dudgeon, cavorting about at a grea
rate. and writing out check flung it at tn
collectors feet as he would have thrown
q bone to a terrier. Such was the difference
between Bob Ingersolls infidelity and SOM
mems Christianity.
THE closest, shrewdest hardest buye
among the public men of the last thirt!
years Senator John Sherman. When
ever he came TO your store you went L
his house to do business you could res
assured that he would get the best ent
of the transaction. There was NOTHING
mean or small about his buying, no split
ting of pennies or any of that sort of bust
ness. but at the same time you could de
pend it that whatever you sold hin
would be at bottom figures, with very littl
margin of profit"