The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-29
LETTER AT TAGGART'S.
How the Man from Chicago Appears
at Indiana Resort.

One of the men who attracts attention
at T. Taggart's hotel, at French Lick
Springs, is Joseph Letter. the young
board of trade man Of Chicago. who
attempted to corner the wheat market
a few years ago, and whose exploit cost
him and his father about IS, 600 000
The young man failed to let go" at
the proper time. and the other dealers
shipped the wheat to him and he had to
pay for it. V
In appearance Mr.. Letter is anywhere
from IS to 40 years old, bright-eyed,
red-cheeked, a smooth face that wears
continual smile. and when the smile IS
gone laugh takes its place. He can
laugh heartier and with less prOVOca-
ton than the average man, and he al
ways seems to enjoy the laugh. even
when others do not appear to under
stand what causes it.
He is not '.fashv1 dresser but wears
fine clothes. changes twice or three
times day, IS not particularly fond OF
the exercise of walking INDUCED in by
all visitors to the springs, never rides
horseback. but always takes carriase.
does not mingle a great deal with the
other guests, ana likes occasionally to
pose. His favorite attitude is leaning
on cane with one hand in his rocket
Sometimes heSshas a sort of Willie
boy air about him. but when once he
speaks it is seen that all the elements
OF a .-stage-door Johnny are lacking.
He has popularity Of lifting his Shout
ders when he talks, and his tones are
even and deliberate. Mr.. Letter has u
suite of five rooms, for which he pays
SIS a day. He has a valet and several
servants but none CT them is overbur~
dened with work for he delights to helD
himself rather than call on anyone else.
and in tipping the employees about the
hotel he has set a pace that has dis
tanced all the other guests. Every seIvs
ant about the hotel gets a tip from the
young man from Chicago, and his bill
in that line alone must be considerable
every day
The constant companion of Mr.. Letter
is Q. B. Flynn a friend from Mexico,
who is exactly Mr.. Letters reverse, in
that he never smiles. NO one about the
hotel has ever heard him laugh. and
sometimes when Mr. Letter and he are
talking and the later bursts into a
hearty guffaW Mr.. Flynn from Mexico
coldly stares about the room.
Yet he is good natured and a prince
of courtesy, but he never sees anything
to laugh at. He and Mr.. Letter spend
most Of their time in Mr.. Letters apart
ments, generally taking their meals
there and seldom appearing in the
dining room.
Letter and his friend Flynn have not
plunged to any great extent since they
have been here. Their favorite recrea-
ton is to play the horses in the pool
room, and they always bet $40, $50 and
$50, and after they have won or lost a
certain amount they always stop for
that day. Once in a While they try
more exciting sport.
The other day Flynn tried at roulette
and in half an hour had won 81, 200.
Letter stood by and suggested that he
stop playing. but he did not take the
advice. He took another whirl at the
wheel, and when he did stop he had
cashed in only $500 Since they have
been here, Letter and Flynn have won
altogether about $1,000.
Mr.. Letter never registers a kick. -
No matter what comes up. he is appar-
emily satisfied, and in that he is consid-
cred a marvel about the hotel.-Indian-
apolis News.