Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-10
LAWSON, THE METEOR.


American product is acknowledged by
his worst enemy.
He is tall, we'll built, with a ruddy
complexion, a mass ofblsck hair, sharp,
piercing eyes that look you through and
through and square jaw. His hands
are remarkably snail for such big
man.
Mr.. Lawson began his business career
in 1872, when at the age Of Is he made
forum, by speculating in shares OF
Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland
Railroad stock, which dropped from
$50 share to SO. He had been a
spender, even at the age of II years.
At that time he received present OF
500. He spent SS7 on a present for
his sister and the rest went toward max
ing his brother happy.
When he made the fortune in Cincin-
uati, Sandusky and Cleveland stock be
made the money fly while it lasted.
He got mixed up in the Boston Water
Power Company and dropped the modest
sum of $50, SAL in jig time. But that
left him with hundred and fifty odd
dollars, which he spent in giving his
friends a dinner, handing his last 30
note TO the head waiter.
That left Mr.. Lawson with clean decks
but it did not take him long to get into
the game again. For the last 30 years
no man has made and lost the fortunes
like him no man has spent the millions
that he has in so many different ways.
His motto is: "If you spend mouey,
spend it like a gentleman" and he has
lived up to this. Ifhe wants thing he
buys it, Just as he did when he paid $780,
900 for the famous Lawson pink.
In the last historic crash of Amalga-
mated Copper Lawson is said to have
lost 81, 900, 0OO-a mere bagatelle. Since
that time he has made that much over
and over again at times, according to
common report.
So far as skyrocket speculation goes no
excels even the "Betcher-a.million"
John W. Gates. When he loses fight
he likes to write book about his troubles
and sho@ up the inside workings Of the
financial world IRON bis point OF view to
illustrate what little chance the general
public has to make money uuless by
blind luck.
As one of The most versatile and pic.
turesoue American millionaires Mr.
Lawson is always doing something new.
When he bought the fainons pink there
we're other bidders for the flowers. A
New York concern offered $4,000 for
the slip Harlow w. Calvin made it
&c, 900; another florist made the bid
Of Sl5, 900, and Lawson jumped 1t to
$50, 900.
No reverses in life ever stung him so
deeply as the wound inflicted by the
New York Yacht Club. He built the
.loop Independence, and it looked for
time as if she might be chosen to de-
f-nd the Americas cup, but the New
York Yacht Club declared the boat to
be barred because Mr., Lawson was not
a member Of the club.
After writing book about the disap.
pointment, entitled "Lawson History
If the Americas Cup A Record of
Fifty Years." be smashed the Inde.
pendence to bits and made souvenirs OF
her plates.
Mr. Lawson says that only one per-
son can help man in this world, and
hat is the person himself. Certainly few
have helped him, for he has many
enemies.
"They are all thoroughbred" he says
of his enemies. every one of them
would rise from sound sleep 20 do me
an injury. Long may they live. They
put spice into life."
To most men the loss couple OF mil
lion dollars would be blow from which
they would never recover. Not 30 with
Mr.. Lawson. More than once he ha'
lost that amount with a smile, and NOR,
than a dozen times he has made that
amount while the day laborer in trout o.
his Office was earning 81.
Among other things Mr.. Lawson II
noted for is his beautiful homes. His
house in the exclusive Beacon street, in
Boston, is a palace. He has half-dozer
beautiful farms where his crack trotter'
craze. When be tires OF one place b,
! buys another, for in this as well as every
other phase of bis career, Mr.. Lawson
believes that variety is the spice Of life