Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-21
CONDITIONS
ARE GOOD, SAYS VAIL
President of American Telephone and
Telegraph Company Visits
Richmond.
on WAY BACK FROM FLORIDA
South and Northwest Show No Signs
OF Industrial or Commercial Stress
Because of War, He Says-Dis-
.cusses Wireless Telephony.

In the twilight Of yesterday the mind
of Theodore n. Vail, president of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company. whose wires enmesh the
greater area of North America, was
given to game of solitaire.
Portly of figure. with the whitest
and silkiest of snowy, silky hair and
the pinkest OF pinky compleXions to
his smooth skin-smooth and pink as
habe's-the head of the great telc-
phone corporation sat in his Shirt
sleeves In a cushioned chair at n round
table, which had been drawn up TO
the observation window in the rear OF
the luNuriously fitted and furnished
private car In which he Is travelling.
Profoundly absorbed in the layout be-
fore him on the round table was the
elderly gentleman. whose resemblance
to the lamented Mark Twain would be
striking but for the absence OF the
humorist's corrugated brow. The
hand OF Time has dealt more gently
with Theodore y. Vail. Save for the
snowy locks and mustache. the evil
dence that lie is an elderly person
would be lacking.
PROFOUNDLY ABSORBED
IN GAME OF SOLITAIRE
Profoundly absorbed was Mr.. Vail in
his game of solitaire--so absorbed that
his attention had to be called to the
reporter peering in at him and rappIng
for access to his presence.
Sure" Mr.. Vail ncquiesced. barely
looking up from the cards. and nod
ding his consent. Let him in."
He pursued his reckoning of the lay
out OF those cards with his eye after
he had received the reporter and
nodded him into n chair at the table.
During the interview, Theodore ~ Vail
never released his grasp on the deck
for n moment. He chattcd afrably,
discussing the development OF tele-
phony to what he termed the stage
Of almost perfection" the price of
farming lands he had observed in
Florida, North Carolina and Virginia,
the prosperity Of the United States re-
gardless Of war conditions, and the
probability of practical solution of
the wireless telephone problem. But
all the while ne shuffled and dealt.
STOPPED OFF HERE on
WAY FROM FLORIDA
NO. l am not here on any special
mission" Mr.. Vail said, his clear, blue
eyes appraising the little piles OF cards
he had spread before him. "I just
happened In this morning. Going
away again tonight. Yes, have been
down to Jekylls Island. Ga, You
know. I go there every winter. Spend
part OF every winter there. Then
go through Florida and wander around
NO, don't go down there for any
long rest. I can look after telephone
10 III
mond just as we'll as l can in New
York or elsewhere. don't have to
concern myself with details"
AS If TO demonstrate that even the
details of n game Of solitaire could
wait his pleasure. Mr.. Vail gathered
the little piles of cards together in
the chubbiest Of chubby pink hands
and leaned his elbows on the table.
Yes I have had a look around the
city. J. W. Crews. vice president of
the local company, took ME around for
n view of the city. Very beautiful
city. Enjoyed the ride"
NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE
IN WIRELESS TELEPHONY
The telephone magnate was answer
ing questions. He seemed to enjoy it,
And he encouraged IT without suggest
lHE any Oi tueln OF any
preference. But he clunG tenaciously
to his prerogative and refused to have
his attention wholly diverted from tho
deck. He cut and shuttied as he
talked.
Wireless telephony? Sure. Why
not?" he said. still answering ques-
tions. Nothing Is impossible. | was
reading the other day of tho assertion
Of the scientific men. who say convcr-
sation by wireless can be carried
across the ocean. But that proposi-
tion is in the laboratory stage yet.
No, l can't see that II Is practical
But nothing is impossible"
His eye lighted. by chance, as Mr..
Vail shuffied, tho eight. nine and ten
Of hearts came out In sequence under
his thumbing OF the deck. He held
them together and dealt cards around
them. Five minutes or more he con
versed. and held the three while he
SKINNED over the remainder of tbc