The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-06-30
$i.LOa year, in advance
tERMS' Six Months, 50 cents.
Financial Backing
Was Lacking
Or Professor w b b Would Have
Made Trip to Venus in
Scientific interests.

My Good Friends, peaking of
Philadelphia, l wonder she does not
turn over occasionally in her sleep,
but what | want o tell you about
is another trip of exploration made.
Before starting on an excursion to
Venus | called on Mr.. Andrew Car
negie for financial assistance. told
him needed new flying machine
and more gasoline. / heard he was
a friend Of all scientific m e and /
made bold to call on him. When he
learned that | was the famous Pro-
fessor Webb, he said he had read
about me somewhere and wanted to
know if l was tightrope wal ker.
Well, that broke me up right there.
Finally, we got down to business.
l said: Mr.. Carnegie,"I n d r
stand you are greatly interested in
science and SO am [. Unless | am
greatly mistaken l have seen you
quoted as saying that when you went
to Heaven you hoped the Celestial
Choir would be made up of colored
voices. SO l did, said he and then
l gently reminded him Of the fact
that I. was some shakes in that line,
but | was anxious to explore Venus
in the interest of science.
Now w alter, said Andy, there's
nothing to it-and it would costa
mint of money. What he people
need is books and libraries and am
furnishing them with plenty Of good
literature on the subject. Walter,
my boy, let me tell you something:
Never spoil the game. Noted scien-
lists are writing about Venus and
giving us all of the facts nd
they are millions of mi e s away.
Now, if you GO u p there like you
went to Mars and come back and tell
the people all about it, you will frus-
trate a valuable in f an t industry.
These college professors know all
about Venus-and Adonis-and the
whole shootin' match Of stars-in-
cluding some on Broadway. That is
all nonsense, Walter, taking such
hazardous and reckless chances
all for nothing, but my dear boy, if
you are determined to disregard my
fatherly advice and must go-wht-
er-I'll be glad to give you note OF
introduction to the Grand Ruler Of
the universe up there
But, Mr.. Carnegie" / broke n,
you don't know anybody up there.
I'm going on a voyage of discovery"
'Tish, push, tut, my dear Wal
ter said Andy everybody knows
me everywhere. 1t is privilege phi
lanthropists like myself enjoy-that
of providing notes of introduction to
Princes of the Earth and other plan
cts. if need be. "
Well, I took his note of introduce
ton. / tried to sell it for fivespot,
but the most l was offered was seven
cents. That signature is no good
unless it is on the end of a check, a
fellow said to me, but l am going to
keep it and may be some day | may
be called as handwriting expert to
settle matters in court when M r.
Carnegie's will comes up.
/ couldn't do any business with Mr..
Carnegie in the scientific line. He
said if l found out anything for sure
/ would spoil the business and | did
not want to do that, s o | went back
up Fifth avenue to see my friend Mr..
Rockefeller. He was busy rolling
barrels of oil into the warehouse and
l concluded not to disturb him. |
thought of calling on Mr.. Morgan,
but upon telephoning to his house |
was informed he was packing forty
million dollars worth Of paintings
and of course, couldn't butt in there.
| had four dollars and twelve cents
and all needed was $4,000, 10000
in cash to.finance my expedition and
I knew very few capitalists who had
that amount of loose change on hand.
just then made beeline for Mrs.
Hetty Green's house. She received
Continued ~ column 4ttas pdye)
rs E e.