The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-02-01
One Advantage Of
a Red Head
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

hair. AS Il kid l remember people
looking at it as they would at burn
ing barn, making all kinds of illusions
to my hair and countless jokes, many
of them very poor and in bad taste
and all obnoxious to me.
When l grew old enough to have
sweetheart was obliged to 60 with
out one, all on account of the growth
on my head. kept it cut very short,
but without effect. Just as soon as l
came in contact with man, woman or
child saw ut once that my hair was
against me- Cne thing would not do
l refused all BARRIERS who suggested
my permitting them to dye it. On en-
tering their shops l would say, "llair
cut; no dye" Whenever, after this no
tice, a barber offered to give my hair
different color glared at him and told
him that if he repeated the offer he
must fight. | thrashed so many people
for reference to my blemish that be-
came an expert boxer.
Hoping that the people Of the west
were more considerable than those of
the east, went to Denver. The first
salute | received there was: Hello,
carrot top! Y goin' to set the timber
on the mountings afire?" 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 a gentleman sitting at
desk who had red hair, for all the
world as red as mine. He looked up,
and in an instant his gaze was fixed on
my top.
He arose from his chair and, ad-
vancing to the office rail, grasped my
hand in a viselike grip.
MY dear sir" he said warmly and
with respectful mien had never be-
fore been favored with. "what can l
do for you?"
ppm seeking employment"
"You shall have it right here. What
can you do?"
Nothing. ] must learn. But I'm
willing to work without pay till do
you'll not work without pay here.
Judging from your appearance, you
are we'll bred and educated. A man of
your condition can't get on with less
than q hundred dollars 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 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 a 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 so?" l 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 l barely had time to learn the
duties in each. And every time I
jumped my salary jumped too.
This was not all. MIR. Flynn, the
president and principal owner, asked
me one day to come to his house to
dinner. l 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 l felt easy in
social company. For the first time not
q 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 q clam at 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
wildly beating heart.
TO make long story short, Miss
Flynn encouraged me and encouraged
Miss Flynn. One day she told me
might 20 to her father and ask for
her. did 50 and was accepted for
son-in-law with great gusto. "Go back
to EN-" he said, land tell her you
have my hearty consent, and remain
10 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 i have vel
coined you into my business and into
my family. The time has come for
me to enlighten you.
"Years ago l came to this countr!
from Ireland without cent ana
worked at any job could get in
great city. One day l was arrested,
accused of stealing from Jew. He
had told the police that a red headed
Irishman had robbed him. was stood
in line with several other men. and
this Jew picked me out as the man
who had robbed him. l was tried, and
the evidence was strong against me.
l was about to be convicted when
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
hocida mo Thou he sent for the Jp,,