Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13

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NAI for statistics, or, to be more accurate, figures.
A set Of complicated accounts are as choice
an intellectual relish to Mr.. Cromwell as a
newspaper puzzle is to a bright eyed boy.
Mr.. Cromwell is also a dlplomatist-in other words,
a p~eacemaker. He believes in compromise, and Of
such a convincing personality is he that the drawn
sword is sheathed under his suave and magnetic per
sonality and foes become at least indulgent Of each
others position.
In the business world he seems an anachronism. II
he were to stroll down the Rialto the lesser twinklets
Of the great white way might mistake him for Kyrle
Bellew; II be were to step upon the stage and emit a
Mark Twain drawl the approximation would need no
makeup; If by magic Chief Justice Fuller's robes
were to be placed on his shoulders It would be a puzzle
to distinguish him from the great jurist.
Why all this about Mr.. Cromwell? Because he is
interesting-he is more than interesting, he is one Of
the most absorbing types OF successful Americans
who have battled up that rugged road to achievement.
Mr.. Cromwell as a study in sheer brain force and con-
s%istency Of purpose is worth observing at close range.
So shy and sensitive a man is this Panamanian
~strategist that the paragraphers have found him an
elusive personality. he sidesteps publicity. He
lodges the white hight because he likes silence and
qutet-he revels in the companionship of his books
and his art finds. His office is a study and his
houses are palaces. 1 use the word palaces in a dec
orative sense, for they are art palaces, exquisite
examples of poetic taste and an artists dream of
color.
This man, who has got more money than he knows
what to do with" did not begin life at the plough, nor
the practice of law on a barrel and cracker box. He
had some good things to start on. One was an educa-
tion and the other was a man to give him a chance.
A clerkship on a hall bedroom salary is not a very in
spring acquisition, but that was all Mr.. Cromwell
had thirty years ago. He didn't take a vacation for
ten years, and his trip to and from the office was as
regular as the town clock. At the end Of that appren-
teeship he made good. The head Of the firm woke
up one morning and found that the young man was
Indispensable. So he did the logical thing and took
him into partnership.
That partnership still exists, and william Nelson
Cromwel's name is second on the door, though his
partner has been dead these many years. That part
ner's portrait is the first thing you see in the office, and
his spirit is a living, vital thing that every one Of the
thirty clerks thereabouts is made to realize. 1t has
lodged in the heart Of Mr.. Cromwell, and his dearest
desire is to emulate the precepts that governed the Of
fee when the partner placed him on the box seat.
That makes Mr.. Cromwell a sentlmentalist, you say.
Apropos of the thought, l heard a story. It was
told about the time that the isthmian canal project
was the bone Of contention at Washington. A GER
tain Senator who was deeply concerned in that fight
came over TO New York to see the man who held in
his palm the disposition of the Panama route prop
erty, valued at $40, 900. The Senator's business
was urgent He called up Mr.. C~romwelrs house on
the telephone and requested an immediate interview.
Ut II uOEu ina IL nt u vail u II uOuT uS mlRu
come. He protested and stormed in vain. Then he
sat down in the corridors of the Waldorf and twirled
his fingers. After a time he arose and hurried up the
avenue. The hour had not expired when he was
ringing the bell at Mr.. Cromwelfs residence. The
last strains Of a melody greeted him as the door
opened. Mr.. Cromwell showed in the stops and slid
down from the bench and greeted his guest.
The hour was Mr.. Cromwelrs daily recreation at
his organ.
SO perhaps he is a poet; at any rate he is a mu-
sician, and they are first cousins.
But poets are usually dreamers. Well, Mr.. Crom-
well is a dreamer, but his dreams are not idle dreams.
His dreams take him into literature, and he lives for
u month in the days of the Roman Empire, or, IL his
fancy dictates, in Merrie England with ThaCkeray,
or he becomes absorbed in the Raid OF the Tartars
and the overthrow of ancient Russia. Books are his
dreamland, anu his library has a plenty. Mr.. Crom-
well loves his domicile. 1t is a home, a playhouse and
q workshop, for work is his meter.
In his Forty-ninth street residence are two offices,
a music room and a library. A passerby at two or
three o'clock in the morning might hear the click of
a typewriter issuing from a basement window. He
would hardly suspect that within was a man who
kept the late vigil from sheer love of the pursuit of
labor.
~ At the time of the reorganization Of the Northern
Pacific, OF which Mr.. Cromwell was counsel, he
worked literally day and night over a period of years.
A trusted secretary accompanied him to his house
night after night and worked at his elbow. Once
after a three days AID two nights session, Mr.. Crom-
well said:-sTo-night you may sleep" 1t was then
twelve O'Clock of the third day. The weary secretary
raised his eyes gratefully. But" the legal giant
added, II will call you at seven O'Clock" And at
seven he did.
II is a habit Of his to take his real brain work
home with him.
Among his pictures, his statuary and his books he
hnds the quiet and inspiration necessary to untangle
the complicated affairs Of some great corporation
whose interests require the calmest consideration
But Mr.. Cromwell is not a drudge who bends over the
midnight oil and sticks to, his lathe all day Much as
he loves his work, he loves the beautiful, and his en-
( Vfronments reflect his taste.
In his home are the softest velour carpets OF old
rose and cream. There is a vestibule OF marble, the
walls OF which are hung with choice canvases Of the
old masters, OF Bouguereau. Vibert, and others; while
the hall is filed with beautiful s~tatuary and bronzes
A rrrslc haI nnans into n dlning rom. rich with daer