The Washington herald., 1914-11-17
HISTORY BUILDERS.
An Epigrammatic Railroad Magnate.
Written Expressly for The Herahl
BY DIR. z. j. EDWARDS.

After the close OF business hours OF a
are all OF national reputation because OF
their association with prominent indus
trial or financial activity in the United
States, met in the ONCE of one OF the
great Industrial and financial leaders of
his generation. They came. as it was their
custom to do occasionally. to chat in an
informal way, about men public AFFAIRS,
the business situation, and kindred top
les. They were all fond Of anecdotal mar
ration. especially II the stories served to
furnish sidelight on the character or
personality Of some one who was promi-
nently in the public eye. These informal
symposiums, so they called them. were
never marred by unkindly comment or
anything which would suggest that this
or that man who had achieved greatly,
was the object OF envy or jealousy. The
traits that were good and worthy of
recognition were discussed. and nothing
else.
On the afternoon referred to at the
beginning OF this anecdote, the cOnversa-
tion centered upon James J. Hill. The
extraordinary mental activity OF Mr.. Hill.
his breadth of view. and a quality OF
business craftsmanship which character
ICES him were referred to.
One OF the men said: Mr.. Hill differs
from almost all those who are in the
same rank with him in one respect-he
is a fluent talker. He is not a silent
man. He makes public addresses and
seems to get enjoyment when thus
brought face to face with an audience.
probably because he feels that his audi
ence Is in thorough sympathy with him.
Almost all Of the big men with whom Mr..
Hill has been associated in one way or
another are either from choice or from
necessity supposed. to he silent men,"
Another of those who were of this
party and who knew Mr.. Hill we'll enough
to call him by his first name said: while
Mr.. Hill has undoubtedly an unusual gift
Of fluent and interesting conversation. he
can be as silent as a sphinx, or he Is
capable of compressinG into a sentence
OF few words all that is necessary to
say of a man or a situation. I will illus
trate that with an experience of my own
not long ago. My motor car stood in
front OF one OF the hotels OF New York
awaiting me. l had gone in for the pur-
pose OF leaving a card for a friend who
was staying there. When came out
and was about to take my car Mr.. Hill
appeared from somewhere and asked my
chauffeur IL the car was for hire. pre-
sumo he thought so because he saw Il
standing in front Of a hotel entrance.
spoke up and said. No. II is not for hire
but il will give me the greatest pleasure
10 take you wherever you want to go
He accepted and his face lighted up with
the cordial expression of greeting with
which those who know him well are IA
miliar. =
When We were upon the smooth pave
ment said to him: I am very glad to
meet you, for IL gives me an opportunity
to ask your opinion of two men Of whom
I want to know something. One Of these
Il named him) Is a man whom We are
considering in connection with an i'm
portant executive office in a great cor
poration. You know him thoroughly. 7
will take it as a great favor II you will
give me your opinion of him.
In an instant Mr.. Hill replied. His
hatband is too small for him That is
all he said, and that was enough. Our
people did not care to secure the services
OF a man whose whole character Mr.. Hill
described in that single sentence.
WELL I said, there is another man
Il named him) whom we are considering
in connection with the most important
position in our railroad company. You
know this man better than we do. Mr..
Hill. Tell me what you think Of him.
Almost before my question was finished
Mr. Hill replied: He is a smooth-bore.
You know that the modern gun Is rifed.
TT was not necessary for Mr.. Hill to
cay anything more. In this terse answer
he had indicated to US that the man was
back number. or, as IL Is sometimes
called, a 'has-been.' and therefore he
would not do for our purpose
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspaper sJndt-
cats.J
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell Of "A
Jurist Who Was Strong on Etiquette"