Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
By George Ethelbert Walsh
BUSINESS IS BUSI-
- NESS is an old trade

slogan equivalent to the
equally ancient adage that "All's fair in love
and war" Of course all is not fair in love and
war; for there are rules of the game which
must be observed by contestants if they hope
to win and gain general commentator, and
likewise business has it's rules of fairness and
unfairness which cannot be ignored with
IMMUNITY. But within the lines of this some
what elastic boundary of business honor
there is wide field where shrewdness, bold
ness, and daring originality find ample op-
portunity for display.
One of the biggest chandery firms in New
York found itself in a peculiar position when
it started. Its older rivals captured all the
big orders for outftting ships before the
Captains got through the upper bay and
reached their docks; so something desper-
ate, something unusual, had to be done by
the newcomers.
One day the Junior member of the firm
put it up to himself to make good. The big
coaster Sea Maiden was about due in port,
Captain c in command, a grizzly old vet
eran. 1t meant big order to outfit her for
another one of her long voyages. 1t was
well known in the trade along the water
front that the coaster needed new spars,
rigging, sails, and other equipments, be-
sides the usual supply of provisions.
Day, the young man who decided to cap
ture the order for his shaky firm. made some
close calculations of time, and that night
struggled himself aboard one of the out
going steamers. He did this with the con-
nivance of one of the petty officers, to whom
he explained his ruse. By early dawn the
steamer was abreast of Fire Island Light,
and to the JOY of young Day the big coaster
Sea Maiden was Juggling along under free
wind. The steamer crossed her path, and at
tho hoo ri
with life belt tied loosely under his arms.
When the steamer was some distance off and
the Sea Maiden within hailing distance, he
shouted loudly for help. A boat was lowered
from the coaster. and the man brought
aboard. Dripping with water, but with
smiling face, Day crawled on deck and ap-
preached the doughty old skipper with pad
and pencil in hand, both of which he had
concealed in a ater-tight box round his
waist.
Good morning, Captain. I've come out
here to get your order for the next trip.
l represent our firm" handing his card to
you out in no time. BY giving me the order
now can save you whole day in sailing
Captain G was at first inclined to resent
this method of drumming up business; but
Day had winning personality, and before
they reached port he had wheedled the order
from the Captain. When his rivals ap-
peared off Sandy Hook, where they had gone
in boats to meet the Sea Maiden, Day smil-
ingly greeted them with the remark:
"Glad to see you, boys; but Captain G
has given me the order" And he waved a
three thousand-dollar order in their SUR
prised faces. That little move gave the new
firm its first real start in business, and Cap
tain c never deserted it so long as he was
engaged in the coasting trade.
Usefulness of Kidnapping
WHEN the Russian Government a dozen
years ago decided to send an agent to
this country to pick up some thousands of
tons of iron and steel for its expanding navy,
considerable furry was created in the iron
and steel trade here. The firm that could
capture the big order would make an enor-
nous profit out of it. That was before the
day of "gentlemen's agreements" when big
orders were parceled out among several firms
according to their standing. 1t was every
company for itself. A good many shrewd
brains were kept busy for weeks trying to