Arizona republican., 1914-12-08

! would crystalline it with the wild wild bees After three hours of crystallization and two hours of cool | ing it was ready to eat. The whole family would assemble in a circle; the bride and groom in the middle Each member of the family would hold round piece of crystallized cactus in their hands, ready to par 1 take. The groom would then take a similar piece between his lipe, the 1 bride coming up would take the oth- CT edge between her teeth, and as the cactus was consumed their lips would meet. This, the magic touch the contact of the lovers lps-was the marriage ceremony.
 Wherever there was case of riv- airy, where neither the family nor the young lady could decide. they would perform the same feat, and tte party who executed the best work would be the winner. This is
 What Cactus Is" Now comes what cactus has done
 
 came to my mind that millions of dollars could be made out of cactus. That preyed on my mind until I could see myself counting the money I thought that if I ever I could be so fortunate as to own a store of my own I could promote this and surprise the world. So my brother, Chas. DonofriO, on February l, 1905, having made enough out of the can dy and ice cream business and want ing to engage in the furniture busi- ness, gave me the store for half of what it was worth, and received no money. On October ,, 1905, cactus candy saw the real light in the com mercial world
 I got several people interested with small amounts to promote it exten- sively. l made several trips in the state, or territory at that time, and disposed of quite a little of the candy.
 But cactus candy at that time was unknown. and no one is going to call for an article of which they
 
 ficulties it would mold like pre- serves. when not properly put up. Some of it was very tough, like some fbrous pineapple And it would also sugar The most of the sales I made came back.
 After a year of experimenting and getting the article fairly good I in- fprpCtpH n rh, the position of secretary and treas urer of the company l made a trip to California towns and disposed of about two thousand dollars worth of the product. But not being adver- tised. there were very few repeaters After MT. Nichols had been in the business about a year he saw that it was fruitless, so he resigned
 Now comes my real experience.
 gentleman arrived from Chicago his name was Hon. H. A. Devaux- he claimed that he came especially to see me in regard to the cactus candy business. He put his net worth at about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars And he would put up at least a hundred thousand dollars to promote it.
 Before he would put in the money he wanted to give it a fair trial by having me express him about ton of the candy so that he could make demonstrations in different stores in Chicago.
 We consulted some very able legal advice and made out the necessary papers. The contract was properly drawn. at once made the candy. packed it up nicely. sent many live cactus plants to help in the proper display and sent it by express pre- paid. Had big picture made with Ia half dozen wagons with canvas hanntrs painted showing where all this shipment of candy went to. I was certainly happy that day. I proclaimed myself real king of the Cactus Land" Well, the candy ar rived in Chicago and made a display ir different stores. such as Marshall Field X Co, The Fair, Siegel X Coo ger department store, Geunther and Kranz candy stores.
 We opened up fine office, con sisting of three rooms with the finest of office fixtures, stenographers. etc, in the Great Northern office build ing. We were fixed up to the min ute. He bought in the neighborhood Of about two thousand dollars worth of fixtures, etc.
 The contract agreed that two weeks after the arrival of the goods i he would come back to Phoenix and put up the money
 After the time had elapsed he wired me to come to Chicago at once. Big deal pending" It was i there. So boarded the train at once. and was received in the Chi cago depot by MT. H. A. Devaux He had fine big LoZier car waiting for me. Took me to his mansion and treated me royalty. After my bath and a shave and my clothes brushed by his valet we ate breakfast. Then he took me to visit with all the not ables of Chicago. We called on the mayor. but he was not at his office. Not being accustomed to society, or to meeting great men, l was very much out of place. Everybody he introduced me to he left the inn pression that l was immensely veal thy. And he being by my side con stantly I could not say word to the contrary. felt like Mexican quarter. with hole punched through i; to be used as a relic or souvenir. After three days stay in Chicago I