The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-19
THE EVENTNG sroRY.
The Commercial Travellers,

AAAC SfAOW Al1Q DEGu railing raster anu
faster and now the train, which had
been gradually slackening in speed,
gave two or three Intellectual little
jerks and came to a dead stop.
SHOWED in said a jolly drummer.
by golly. I'm glad of it! 1t lets me
out or spending Sunday in Plainville
at that doggone hotel where each meal
IS worse than the one before"
Right you are" said the man
ahead OF him, also a drummer. He
looked out of the window. Say, wei
are tied up for fair, amt We2"
on can bet your bottom dollar we
are. and I'm glad of it,
The drummer said this with sol
much boyish JUNCTION that every man
in the parlor car-and there were no
Women-turned and looked at him
and laughed sympathettcally.
NO, not quite every man. There was
one who sat up in the forward end
with a black skull cap on his bald
head, and he was sleeping the sleep Of
the just. But the laughter and the
sudden cessation of the roar of the
train awoke him and he turned
around.
Every man in the car was a reader
of the magazines and every man said
mentally, John d. Knockfeller."
There was really no mistaking the
great philanthropist. There he sat IN
| all that severity that covers a, warm
heart tall and gaunt and white. and
lined and scanned with the cares OF
great undertakings.
rs this Mr.. Knockfeller said the
jolly drummer, walking down the aisle
! to where the financier sat.
"Er-yes," said the great fnancier.
Are we stalled2'
Yes, sir, we are. Wen have to
make a night of it. Let's get together
and have a good time. I'm only
travelling man and you're the richest
man in the world, But we're all pris-
oners together tonight"
Then he turned his rosy, beardless
face to the others, who were looking
On, half amazed, half amused at his
Boys, I want you to shake hands
4 with John D. KnockfeIler, the most
thought of man in the United States.
The great oil magnate entered into
the spirit of the OCCASION and rising
/ held out his hand to each in turn.
while a smile widened his thin lips.
"Glad to meet you, boys, said he
| in a tone that made some OF the NEIL
think that he had been mangned in
the magazine articles that had been
written about him. Here was
creature of flesh and blood. warm
/ hearted, perhaps even zone of the
1 boys"
Sitting and perching on the revolv-
/ ing chairs, they surrounded the imam
cier, and he SO far unbent as to tell
| them stories of his early life.
For upward of an hour these seven
hard headed men of business sat at
the feet of this man they had been
wont to picture as cold and unfeeline,
and listened to one story after another
of his boyhood.
1t was holiday week and the drum
mer who had introduced them to MI
/ Knockfeller was man VINO was
| fond of opening up generous impulses
! in others. When there came a lull IN
/ the "reminiscences the jovia1 traveller
said in his hearty way.
Mr.. KnockfelleF, 1 suppose that
| this is no time to talk shop, but IS
you have such a reputation for philan-
thropy, you won't take it amiss if L
was to ask you to donate a little
something to the pet charity OF each
man here"
The other men turned startled
| heads and the corporation lawyer rose
| from his seat with a half grunt
But after the first shock they all
seconded the motion and leaned for
ward in their respective seats, the bet
ter to hear the answer.
Mr.. KnockfeIler responded quickly
to the drummer's appeal, and said
| warm heartedly: II am glad you felt
free to ask me. Appeals that are face
I to face mean more to me than writ :
ten appeals. Now what do you want
me to give? And what is ia col
lege or hospital or a hbrary2"
Then each man found voice and told
what he would like contribution for
Mr.. Knockfeller listened with keen at
tention.
I wish, said he, that I could al
ways have personal interviews with the
men who wish money for pet projects
He paused and smiled and looked
from one to another as he drew out
checkbook.
quickest witted and he suggested:
'fCooperation?
mo; reciprocity" said Mr.. Knock
teller.
Exactly. I too. have a pet charity.
There is a little school for negroes down
in Decatur, Ga, that I am interested
in. and, while I help it myself, also
get other people to help, for that is the
best way in which to spread abroad
spirit OF generous giving"
"That's So" said the drummer. Well,
put me down for-for IS for the little
He put his hand into his pocket as
he smoke and drawing out roll OF
bills he loosened a five from tho Wad
and laid it on his knee.
times FIVE? I'm not very quick at 1g-
@Two hundred times IS is s1.oeO,' said
the boyish drummer.
The next man, with newt born WIS
dom said: Here is $40.
THAT makes it $1,000 for your hospi-
taI?''
Hospital" said the other.
| Others handed out $40 apiece and were
due to receive 81, 600 each.
And. last of all, the smallest man in
the group in point of stature, but the
biggest in point of heart, took out his
wallet and handed out $780, It was
money he was saving up for the pur-
chase of an automobile, but $4,000
would wipe out the church debt and
make his wife happy. as she was wrap
ned uD heart and soul in the work of
freeing the church from its incubus.
Mr.. Knockfeller took the money from
the six men and put it into his inside
pocket Just as it was. He did not count
it, but referring to the slip, he said: 1T