davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

doubtful of the wisdom of being his guest. Appetite and curiosity turned the scales, however, and the Master Salesman had six gentlemen to lunch con. That afternoon everybody seemed to know about him and his vigil, and officials and clerks, callers and regu
 lars had nod and a word for him as they passed in or out. Occasionally the dignified doorkeeper. apparently sent by the gentleman within, peered out to see If Diamond Jim" still was there.
 At the regular closing hour "Dia- mond Jim" left the office and went to his hotel. That evening he had a large party at dinner, and after dinner there was another theatre trip. He was up late, but at 10 a. m. Wednesday he sent his card in to the president of the Read ing. and when he received the usual reply he again began to admire the wall paper and the pictures on the wall. It soon became apparent that the Diamond Jim affair was beginning to demoralize the office force of the Read ing railroad. Clerks didn't pay the usual attention to their duties, but seemed to have a strange desire to walk through the room in which Diamond Jim sat and look at him. Having looked at him once they would have a burning desire to look at him again 15 minutes later. Somehow they couldn't concentrate their minds on their work.
 Diamond Jim" went tp luncheon at the usual hour and had fair company with him, but he did not remain late, hurrying back to the office before 2;15. He renewed his scrutiny of the pictures and the wall paper and enjoyed it so
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

speech usually lower their voices when 1 they are in the neighborhood of the Reading chief. It is said that even. J. P. Morgan, who has been known to let out a roar when things did not suit him, is rather subdued when within the aura of Mr. Baer. Clerks walk lightly so as not to disturb him, and his office is all most churchly in its solemn quietude.-
 Diamond Jim with his Kimberley at- tachments, his big frame, his bay window and his rather expressive garments, did not fit in the picture, but thls did not seem to disturb him. It was early on Monday when he sent in his card. and he sat In the outer office and admired the wall paper and some pictures on the wall until luncheon time. Various officials passed through on their way to see MT. Baer, and they all stopped and shook hands with Diamond Jim"
 No one is more popular than he. No one knows better how to order a dinner and no one knows better the proper wines to give just the necessary flavor | to the meats one eats. And no one knows better the cigar to top off with. l All this is remarkable in the light of the fact that Diamond Jim' does not drink nor smoke, although he has spent tens of thousands of dollars on wines and cigars for others.
 The officials seemed really glad to see Diamond Jim" and he to see them. Some of them he invited to luncheon. They accepted. and had delightful meal. Then Jim returned to the office.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

sional mendicant known as "Chi Slim was arrested at Fourteenth street and Broadway in New York city. He was found walking backwards through the crowd. His head thrown back, loled from side to side in horrible fashion. His feet were twisted, as was his back. He managed to hold his hat in one hand and supported himself on cane in the other. At the police station the sergeant shipped him to Bellevue hospital The president of the hospital protested at the incarceration of one who was victim of locomotor ataxia and the magistrate dis charged him. A week or two later Slim was gathered up in Harlem, but mean while we had been Investigating and the magistrate was not to be imposed upon. Later at police headquarters he gave ex- hibitions of his 'tart,' which was due to some knack of double jointedness.
 The only adequate way to deal with mendicancy is by special police in plain clothes. In New York from time to time such squads have been maintained. In a zeal to reduce the number of men on special detail the members have been re- assigned to duty as ordinary patrolmen
 In each case after the abolition of the mendicancy police, the streets became crowded with beggars who are only re- strained by private activity. The work of a private society such as ours Is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

to diamonds when 1t comes to rings. He wears so many on his left hand that he hardly can close his fingers. He has, too, theatrical pass such as no other man in the world possesses. It is engraved on sheet of gold and admits him to any one of more than 1000 theatres in this country
 Maybe his pose has become second na- ture now, for he is a millionaire several times over. He still calls himself a com mercial traveller and occasionally he goes on the road but 1t only is when there is big game to be bagged
 One Monday morning he boomed into the office of George F. Baer, president of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad For austerity and dignity the head of the Reading system has a wide reputa- tion. Diamond Jim" sent in his card. It was not of the scissored s1eO kind, but of the regulation character. MT. Baer frowned when he glanced at the name, and told the doortender to inform the gentleman outside he did not wish to see him.
 The doorkeeper, grave and dignifed, like his master, took the message to Diamond Jim and Diamond Jim" told him to return to MT. Baer and in- form him he would walt until MT Baer did have time to see him. Thereupon Diamond Jim" sat down.
 The very appearance of Diamond Jim" was inharmonious in the Reading office. MT. Baer is grave and severe looking Men of lively habits and boisterous
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
Strange Case of Deafness

The strange case of sn engine driver who was reported as being too deaf to be trusted to manage an engine Is told In the London Railway Magazine. Owing to his deafness he was suspend ed and a specialist of high reputation called in to examine him. The driver was first examined in quiet room. and it was found that he could not hear ordinary conversation. Realizing that the examination was not proceed Ing very satisfactorily, the driver said to the specialist: "I may be deaf in a quiet room, but that Is not where I do my work. Come with me on my en- zine and see whether you can hear better than I can" The specialist went for a trip on the engine with the driver and found that when running the drivers hearing was perfect. In fact, the greater the noise on the en- zine the keener and more certain be- came the drivers hearing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
BY RICHARD sPILLANE

fyvERY railroad president in the United States knows Diamond AA Jim.' So does every purchasing agent. So do tens of thousands of race goers So do thousands of actors and actresses. Few men have spent more money in entertaining. Few have wid- CT reputation for lavishness and for dis play It is rare that he is absent from a first night" on Broadway. When he walks down the center aisle or appears in a box any person who asks who the big man with the huge diamond Is stamps himself as an outlander, for everybody who is anybody knows Diamond Jim.' No one is better known and less known, for only small percentage of the vast number of persons who recognize him as one of the most picturesque characters in New York knows his business. From his style of dress he might be consid- cred sport of rather garish inclinations or prosperous saloon man advertising his prosperity, but as a matter of fact he is the master salesman of America, a keen student of human nature and the associate and confidant of many captains of industry.
 In some of the colleges today they are teaching salesmanshp. Nearly every principle laid down by the professors "Diamond Jim'' violates, and succeeds by violating, but that does not affect the soundness of the college course, for only .'Diamond Jim' could succeed by "Dia- rnoud Iitn'' methods
 Diamond .Jims' method is not to be 7 recommended except in few particulars His business career began when he was a counter jumper in a dry goods store in a town so small that you hardly car find it on the map. Being young and ann bilious, he decided after short time tc try his fortune in New York He was q pretty good dry goods clerk. Few per sons got away from him without buying but when he moved to New York he en- tered an entirely new field, becoming 8 road salesman for the largest machinery house In the world.
 Originality in trade is an asset. 'Dia- mond Jim" knew this, and meant tC profit by it. He determined that no ont who once met him should forget him And no one has. csaa s,st
 He meant to be unusual to look anc act so he would be distinctive and be sin gled out from the common herd. AsI hs was to sell machinery which was sug- gestive of things solid. substantial and of accepted form he could not very wei have picked out anything more striking than lively clothing and flaming jewels He was the first machinery man whc ever startled the country by such a gart and the people Diamond Jim called upon that first trip still talk about him
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

Other officials came by in the afternoon and stopped to chat with him. It is singular that men always seem to talk their best when in Diamond Jims" company. He has little to say, but is most attractive and appreciative lis tener. At any gathering men will flock around him and talk spiritedly. All he may do may be to acQuiesce with nod or smiling eye, but 1t seems to carry sympathy or an understanding that other men do not show. The officials he met In the afternoon he invited to dine with him that evening and go to the theatre later. They were delighted to accept. The dinner was up to "Dia- mond Jims'' reputation and they were proud of him.
 Promptly at 10 o'clock the next morn ing the Master Salesman arrived at MT Baers office and sent in his card. Back came the dignified doortender with a message that MT. Baer did not wish tc see him.
 "Tell him I'll wait until he does said Jim as he assumed the most com fortable attitude the small chair would permit for a person of his bulk. The wall paper and the pictures engaged his earnest attention for while, and then callers began to arrive. Officials who saw him again were surprised They were charmed, of course, to ac- cept another invitation to luncheon, but when they made discreet inquiries as to what kept Jim outside and they learned of the situation they were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

He Tas the sensation of the day. Some of i- customers thought the staid. con servative firm that sent Diamond Jim" out was acting queerly in sending a rep resentative who looked like the advance agent of minstrel show, but the firm had no reason for regret, as "Diamond Jim, after he had dazzled the eyes of the machinery buyers, managed to get more orders from them than any sales- man who had been out for several sea. sons.
 That first trip made Diamond Jim" confident that there was virtue in a pose. He has been posing ever since, and it has aided him greatly in making a fortune
 Today he not only is vice president of that first firm he worked for-the biggest machinery house in the world-but he is
 president of a great car company and di- rector in a score or more corporations. It did not take his employees many sea- sons to discover they had a remarkable salesman in the f1ashy looking young man and it did not take Diamond Jim'' long 10 think up new dodges to make people talk about him. When his territory was widened and he got free rein his expense account was enough to stagger an auditor but the order that accompanied it all ways was large enough to warrant the expense.
 This was in the day when there was not so much scrutiny over business meth ods as there Is now, and when it was
 worth while for an energetic and ap-
 rroachabe person to be a purchasing
 agent. Various salesmen had tried va rious ways to win the hearts of obduratc
 houses, but none succeeded better than Diamond Jim" He never failed to get an audience with the man he desired to
 see and he always got 1t promptly. His visiting card was sufficient. It was $100 bill. He would cut the bill into two
 parts, put one-half in an envelope and
 send it in, with the message that the
 other half was outside and wished to
 see him.
 Remarkable stories are told of the
 queer things Diamond Jim" has done to
 keep his pose. In the days of the bicycle he had the most expensive one in the world and he used to ride 1t not only in
 the country roads, but along Broadway. Its frame was silver inlaid with gold. Diamond cuff buttons, diamond collar but tons, diamond rings and diamond studs would seem to be enough for any man,
 no matter how much inclined to display, but not for Diamond Jim" He is unique l in having diamond garter buckles He 1 is unique in having diamond suspender | o1 ba ;c f,, box o cane with a gold handle and gold fer
 rule In the end of the ferrule there is
 large diamond, and when he taps the pavement with that cane he taps 1t with a jewel. But Diamond Jim' runs most
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
ThreadneedIe Street

Threadneedle street is corruption of Thrindenal street, meaning the third street from "Chepesyde" to the great thoroughf@e from London bridge to "Bushop Gate" (consisting of New
 Fyshe streate and Bushop Gate streate, Anglo-Saxon, thridda, third). Another etymology is Thrig- g-needle (three needle street), from the three needles which
 the Needle Makers company bore in their arms. It begins at the Mansion House, and therefore the Bank of Eng land stands in it. The directors of the Bank of England were called "the old lady in Threadneedle street" by Will liam Cobbett because, like Mrs. Par tington, they tried with thier broom to keep back the Atlantic waves of na- tional progress. After giving the fore going Brewer notes the following ex-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30


 much that he was in excellent humor and had fine appetite that evening, when he had some more Reading Een- tlemen as his guests.
 Thursday it was the same story, only more so. There was less clerical work done than ever had been known be- fore. The clerks got together occa- sionally and discussed in whispers the reports they had about the strange struggle that was going on. All hands were hoping Diamond Jim" would win out. Just what he was after they did not know. but they admired his tenaci- ty and, then, the man has sort of magnetism that wins the good will of people.
 Friday morning at 10 o'clock he walked in, opened his card case, picked out . card, gave 1t to the doorkeeper with the customary message, and was aston1shed when the functionary came back. opened the door wide and bade him enter.
 But if Diamond Jim' had any expecta- tion of friendly greeting 1t was removed when he saw MT. Baer. That gentleman was frigid. He held Diamond Jim's" card in his hand, and in a tone of asperity asked him what he meant by sitting around the office day after day demoral- | izing the office force and "See here. MT. Baer," said the visitor, T didn't come here to listen to a lecture | from you. I want you to listen to me. and I want you to understand one thing. My company had a large order from you | for cars You have cancelled the order. don't care about the cancellation, but do care about the reason for it and the manner in which you have treated us. We | contracted to deliver those cars on specified date. We have had labor trou- bles. and I notified you we could not deliver on contract time. Then you can- | celed. You didn't give us a day or minute of leeway. You just cut us off.
 You had labor troubles of your own. | No one has fought labor unions harder | than you have. You have not been able at times to make delivery of freight and. | [ suppose, passengers on contract time. You have a contract implied or otherwise in regard to freight and passenger de- livery just as well as we had in regard | to those cars and I want to tell you that your action in the matter of my contract Is not at all creditable. That is all have to say. Good morning."
 He was near the door and the solemn visaged attendant was opening the way for him when Mr. Baer said: "One mo- ment. sir"
 "Diamond Jim" halted, turned and looked at the president
 Am I to understand" asked Mir. Baer, that you have remained these five days to say what you have just said to me?"
 "Yes, and would have remained five weeks or five months. if necessary" was the reply.
 MT. Baer looked full into the eyes of | Diamond Jim'' and ''Jm' looked full into the eyes of MT. Baer It seemed a long time but 1t was only a few seconds before Baers look began to soften and then he smiled.
 Well, sir" he said, "I think merit your poor opinion of me. What you say Is right. Now if you have no objection should like to withdraw the cancellation of that contract"
 Copyright, 1910, by Richard Spillane.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

what amounts to license fee for beggars is levied in occasional small fines. This particular incident happened in New York. Sometimes unpleasant insinuations are made: "Of course nobody is so stupid or unsophisticated as to believe that these parasites conduct their opera tions without official connivance, and mo- body is so inexperienced as to think that the essential blindness and inaction of the police are the results of mere laziness or inattention. The privilege of begging in the streets of a rich and careless city is worth money, and there is no doubt that money is paid for it," said the New York Sun not very long ago.
 Is begging a nuisance that must be tolerated? Let those who are so foolish give if they wish,' some may say. 9th CTS moved by pity ask, How are the cripples to live, if they are forbidden to beg?" Those who need help should be aided by organized public or private char ity. Usually those who beg know that their cases would not be considered worthy. Generally they get from the careless public much more than they ever could legitimately ask for on the ground
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

Another instance will illustrate this fact. In the summer Of 1904 profes-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

needed not only for the purpose of bring ing conditions to the attention of the po- lice but also to find work or permanent aid for those who are really crippled or disabled. This makes mendicancy on their part unnecessary and takes from the work of suppressing street beggars the odium of being purely oppressive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

Gxclusive Service, The Survey Press
 Bureau.)
 ''One ot the many beggars .that now make the public thoroughfares unpleas- ant for honest men was arrested on Tues day and arraigned in court, where he displayed s64 which he had collected in two days appealing to the passersby. Whether he observed the eight-hour oay this parasite did not divulge, but his in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

tract from Dickens "Dr. Marigold" "A silver curl paper that myself took off the shining locks of the ever beau tiful old lady of Threadneedle street" Ga bank note).
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30

come amounted to an average of 1.50
 an hour for the whole day. The magis- trate collected from him $5 or consid- erably less than 10 per cent of his talk ings, and this will be duly turned in to the city treasury as it's share of his loot"
 A news item similar to this may be
 noticed from time to time in the papers of almost any large city. III most places
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1910-01-13
Teach the Children 20 Save
Money

1t is often and truthfully said that
penny saved is a penny made.
The foundation OF many q the great
est fortunes was begun by saving a
penny. The habit OF saving is one
OF the best that can be formed.
Every child should be taught to
save something every week. The
satisfaction OF counting these pen
MES when the bank is emptied is
one OF the pleasures that we never
forget; perhaps every one OF US can
remember the thrill Of joy we had
when we emptied the contents OF
the bank on table and counted and
recouuted this mountain OF wealth
how eager we were to tell our little
friends the amount Of our great for
tune, and raced with them in refill
ling the bank.
To bring this pleasure within the
reach Of every child and help the
forming OF the penny saving habit,
Messrs. Scott s. Bovine, 400 Pearl
Street. New York. the manufactur-
ers of SCOTS Emulsion. are Offering
to send TO any address. for 10 cen t. T.,
a beautiful little Savings Bank:
each bank contains a new Good Luck
Penny. Send 10 cents aud get one.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1910-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington. d. c., Jan. IL, 1908.
Pretty much everybody in the
country, or 81 least every reader,
knows the Chief OF the Forestry
Bureau 10 or rather was Clifford
Pinchot: Mr.. Pinchot began with
two or three clerks aud now has
swo or thrse hundred employees
looking after the preser walton OF the
national ferssts. He Is q warm
personal friend OF Ex-President
Roosevelt, In fact. In o certain sense
no 10 the alter ego OF Mr.. Roosevelt
and no more certain representa-.
Nve OF bis policies and his ideals
lives. When the great con ser walton
conventions Of governorsoi States with
Invited guests met In the East Room
OF the White House the then Presi-
dent emphas ised the fact that II il
had not been for Pinchot . initiative
and his enthusiasm for the protee-
sion OF the national forest resources
that unique convention would not
have been. Mr.. Pinchot has lost
his of,cial head but this little Gala
mity will not cause him the least in
sosveniencs for it cannot affect his
UnofnCial heart and will only in
crease bis anoficial In auenss. Il is
extremely probable that the coun-
cry 10 with Mr.. Pinchot and that
In she discussion between him and
Cabinet Minister Balliuger, W ho was
she late commissioner OF the Lam
Once, no mere question OF oficial
etiquette 10 OF moment. The ooun.
sr7 will continue to look upon Mr..
Rallinger 90 the En- attorney OF Gun.
ninRham and IS the representative
OF millionaires interested in the ab-
sorpsion and monopoly OF the public
lands and 10 will continue to look
upon Mr.. Pnchot a. the determined
antagonist Of these schemes and the
advocate OF the interests Of the W hole
people. This is what the people OF
she country understand as the Roose-
vsltisn policy and what Mr.. Rooss.
velt has emphasized as the Pinsho.
sian policy.
President Taft has at length sent
20 Congress his long anticipated
special message urging additional
Legislation for the management of
railroads and oil common carriers.
The message was heard in the House
Of Representatives on the afternoon
OF Friday but the Senate having ad-
journsduntil Monday 1t will no. be