The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-11
One Advantage Of
a Red Head
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
By F. A. Mitchell


Ing barn, making all kinds of illusions
10 my hair and countless jokes, many
of them very poor and in bad taste
md all obnoxious TO me.
When 1 grew old enough 10 have a
sweetheart | was obliged TO go with
out one. all on account of the growth
on my head. | kept 1t cut very short,
but without effect. Just as soon as l
came in contact with man, woman or
child saw at once that my hair was
against me. One thing would not do
l refused all BARRIERS who suggested
my permitting them TO dye IL. On en-
tering their shops l would say, Hair
cut no dye" Whenever. after this no
tice, Il barber offered to give my hair Il
different color l glared at him and told
him that if he repeated the offer he
must fight. l thrashed SO many people
for reference 10 my blemish that be-
came an expert boxer
Hoping that the people Of the west
were more considerate than those of
the east. l went TO Denver. The first
salute | received there was: Hello,
carrot top. Y goin' TO set the timber
on the mountings afirci" l had got
tired of thrashing people and turned
away without word. | sought EN-
ployment in large manufacturing
concern. On entering the Office my eyes
lighted on n gentleman sitting ut n
desk who had red hair. for all the
world as red as mine. lie locked up,
and in an instant his gaze was fixed on
my top.
He arose from his chair and. adj
vancing to the Office rail. Grasped my
hand in viselikc grip.
'My dear sir" he said warmly and
with a respectful mien had never be-
fore been favored with, "what can
do for youT'
I'm seeking employment"
"You shall have it right here. What
can you do?"
Nothing. | must learn. But I'm
willing to work without pay till l do"
you'll not work without pay here.
Judging from your appearance, you
are well bred and educated. A man of
your condition can't get on with less
than hundred dollars n month. I'll
give you that and put you in our best
department. Mr. Stamper!" he called.
An employee advanced, and / motto
ed he, too, had n red head. He was
instructed to put me to work and on
the payroll at the same time. AS l
passed through the works l noticed
every man had n red head, but none
so red as mine and the managers.
Ours was the same hue exactly.
you'll be showed up ahead OF us
ALL" said the man who had taken me
in charge.
"Why SOP | asked.
you're the only man here who has
as red hair as the president"
! The words proved true. was jump
ed from one grade TO another so fast
that / barely had time TO learn the
duties in each. And every time l
jumped my salary jumped too.
This was not all. Mr.. Flynn, the
president and principal owner, asked
me one day to come to his house to
dinner. / went. of course. and was
introduced TO his family. Every one
of his children had red hair of various
shades. His oldest daughter, Emily,
had veritable Titan locks. For the
first time in my life | felt easy in
social company. For the first time not
a person about me looked at my head,
much less referred TO it. Miss Emily
Flynn was very gracious to me and
was the first young woman who had
ever thus treated me so. / was happy
as a clam Mt high tide. After dinner
she led me into separate parlor, and
/ spent the hours there chatting with
her. They were thus far the happiest
hours of my life l left her with q
wildly beating heart.
To make n long story short, Miss
Flynn encouraged me and encouraged
Miss Flynn. One day she told me 1
might go to her father and ask for
her. | did so and was accepted for a
son-in-law with great gusto. "Go back
to EN-" he said, land tell her you
have my hearty consent, and remain
to dinner"
l spent the afternoon with Emily
and dined with the family. After din
ner Mr.. Flynn said to me:
you have shown wonderful re-
straint in not asking why / have well
coined you into my business and into
my family. The time has come for
me to enlighten you.
"Years ago l came to this country
from Ireland without a cent and
worked at any job l could get in a
great city. One day | was arrested,
accused Of stealing from a jew. He
had told the police that red headed
Irishman had robbed him. was stood
I'm line with several other men, and
this Jew picked me out MS the man
who had robbed him. / was tried, and
the evidence was strong against me.
i was about TO be convicted when a
red headed man strolled in among the
spectators. My attorney. following a
suggestion given by the mans red
hair, called for him and placed him
beside me- Then he sent for the Jew
and when he came into cour. asked
him which Of the two had robbed him.
The jew couldn't tell. He had simply
identified me because the man who
had robbed him had a red head. The
jury acquitted me at once.