Evening journal., 1910-01-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Man Who Got on H. 0.
HaVemeyer'S Nerves
BY "HolIand."

When the industrial history Of this
country comes to be written as il
should be, the career of the late Hen
~ o. Havemeyer will undoubtedly re
ceive prominent mention, and, doubt
less, various stories will be told in an
effort to throw the proper light on the
character of the man who was the
first president of the countrys first
real trust-the sugar trust.
know Of no story of Mr.. Havemey.
er that sheds more peculiar light on
the mans mental makeup than the
hitherto unpublished one l am now
about to relate. 1t was told to me by
the late DR.. L. p. Jones, who was for
years Mr.. Havemeyer's family physi.
clan.
among Mr.. Havemeyer's employees, -
said DR.. Jones, was man who had
gained the confidence of his immedi-
ate superiors by his industry and
faithfulness. Indeed, so diligent was
he at business that he made of him
self something of an expert, and it
was necessary for him occasionally
to be brought into personal touch with
President Havemeyer.
How many times this had hap
pened l do not know, but one day, aft
er this employe had been in consulta-
ton a few minutes with President
Havemeyer, the latter sent for the
head of the department in which the
expert worked. When the head came,
Mr.. Havemeyer turned on him with
his customary imperiousness.
ct want you to get rid Of So-and-
So at once he commanded.
The head of the department was
astonished and somewhat annoyed.
He asked what the man had done to
justify such summary dismissal.
"'He hasn't done anything. was the
frank reply.
But, Mr.. Havemeyer,' protested
the chief of department, he is one of
my most faithful subordinates. He is
one of the very best men I have un-
der me. It doesn't seem right to dis
charge him without reason
Very likely that is So admitted
Mr.. Havemeyer, but there is some
thing about that man that CRATES on
my nerves. He makes me uncomfort-
able every time he comes into my
presence. I dent know what it is,
but I simply can't stand it to have
him near me, and won't
But I can't tell him
You can give him any reason that
you want to. You can pay him a
years salary. But I won't have him
in this building. l even am conscious
that he is near me before the door
opens and he enters
"One day a few months later, Mr..
Havemeyer was startled to see the
man whose discharge he had ordered
standing idly in the vicinity of the
sugar trusts Office Within a week or
two Mr. Havemeyer, as he was on
his way to his office, again saw the
man standing idly on the street. With
a feeling of repugnanee, Mr.. Have
meyer increased his steps in order to
get out Of sight of the man as speed
lily as possible; but he had not gone
far before a sudden impulse caused
him to turn around, walk up to his
former employe and bluntly ask him
If he had found anything to do.
No, Mr.. Havemeyer,' was the re-
ply, I have not been able to get any
employment. I did have a chance to
become connected with house in the
dry goods district, but it was neces-
sary for me to put a little capital into
the business, and did not have it,
almost as suddenly as ne had gone
up to the man, Mr.. Havemeyer turned
on his heel and walked away When
he reached his office re summoned
before him the departmental chief
who had been compelled to discharge
the expert.
"T want you to see So-and-so'-
naming the man who had been dis
charged-and find out from him
with what dry goods house he could
get a position If he had some capt.
tai. Just find out incidentally Then
come and let me knew
This information was obtained and
delivered.
want you to find out If It is true that
this man could get a place in the
house he names, and how much mon |
ey he will need to do So
I'm the course of a few days Mr.. |
Havemeyer learned that il his form
er employe could furnish $4,000 with |
which to secure a minor interest in |
the firm, he would at once be EN-
ployed, and at an even better salary |
than he had received in the sugar
company.
Mr.. Havemeyer turned to the de-
partment head
"I want you to arrange for this
mans connection with that house, he
said. want you to place 1.-THE money
with the concern. want them to send /
for him and tell him that arrange
ments have been made for him to go
to work with them. and that he is to
have a small interest in the firm in
/, a. ~ /