New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-07-26
"hlr r., j Ar | |;
Partner
He Was Very Practical
In Making a Sc
lection
BY ELINOR MARSH

) By ELINOR MARSH :
O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~>~>>>>>0
Shortly after had been introduced
to the social world as bud I noticed
that my father looked worried. This
increased till he took to his bed. He
never left it. After his death his at.
fairs were settled, and it was announc.
ed to my mother and me that he had
died insolvent. We had nothing to live
on except small annuity my father
had settled on my mother when they
were first married and were beginning
to climb the golden ladder. But this
barely suficed for my mother.
1t was surprising to me how soon
lost all my friends in society. For
awhile was invited as before and.
having wardrobe. accepted some of
the invitations I received. But within
half year those men who control the
sale Of women's garments had so
changed the fashions that my clothes
were no longer in vogue. From this
time dropped out Of the social swim
and was soon forgotten
had met a certain Mrs. Abercrom
bic, the widow Of a capitalist who had
herself become philanthropist One
day when mother and were wonder
ing how we would make ends meet
received note from Mrs. Abercrombie
saying that she needed a secretary and
Offering me the position. OF course
jumped at the opportunity and accept
ed the offer at once. -
My employer regarded the fortune
her husband had left her as trust for
the benefit Of those who needed help
Indeed. her husband had left It to her
for this purpose. Her personal ex-
penses were very small, and she never
gave anything away except in accord
ance with the principles that had been
laid down for her by her husband In
his will. She was a kind hearted wo-
man, but very conscientious, and had
been converted by her husband to be-
lieve that money given indiscrtmhate-
" did harm instead Of good. With her
the distribution of charity needed man
agement just as her husbands bust
ness needed management.
Mrs. Abercrombie gave me a very
small salary to begin with Indeed,
was not at first worth much to her.
but I was very attentive to my work
and as fast as learned It she increas-
ed my pay. But at its best it was not
much
Mrs. Abercrombie dispensed good
deal Of money in connection with other
ph1lanthropic capitalists. If half mil
lion dollars was needed to found hos
p1tal she would be one of number of
persons to make up the amount. This
at times was the cause Of my meeting
these persons. They We're old men
who had spent lifetime in accumulat-
ing fortunes, or else their widows. l
was quite frequently sent to them with
messages from Mrs. Abercrombie, and
there were cases in which I was COM.
missioned to talk over plans for mu-
tual expenditure Of money for charity
had heard Of a certain Edgar Van
Arsdale, an old gentleman who joined
Mrs. Abercrombie in various gifts, but
had never met him. One day a letter
Of his to my employer came into my
hands for filing. 1t announced that
her plan with regard to "a day nursery
at Crockerville" was satisfactory to
him and he would join her In it with
pleasure. There was also statement
that he was grateful to her for con-
senting to help him in the matter Of
partnership and he would talk the
matter over with her. supposed that
the writer was getting old and wished
some one to take upon himself a part
Of his affairs.
It was not long after filing this let
ter that Mrs. Abercrombie sent me to
MI. Van Arsdale to state her reasons
for declining to give certain sum Of
money. She explained the matter to
me thoroughly so that would be able
to make it clear to Mr.. Van Arsdale
was driven to his home and on reach.
ing it and giving my name and the
object of my call to a maid was ush-
cred into a room used by the philan.
thropist as an Office. 1t was empty,
and took seat while waited.
1t was not long before q young man
some twenty or twenty eight
years old entered, bowed to me as def
erentially as If I were a social belle
and placed chair for me near a desk
at which he seated himself. Then he
waited for me to state my business
Pardon me-" said. II have come
frnve D.
statement to Mr.. Van Arsdale. I pre-
sumo it will be the same if make it
to you as If made it to him direct"
Exactly"
perhaps you are Mr. Van Arsdale's
partner"
His partner?"
Eyes. I have charge of Mrs. Aber.
crombte's correspondence, and recently
in filing letter from him notice that
no vycc,. e j~,1~4 9 <o1~