Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-19

WHO carncu tnclr living IN tho cab
and the caboosc. His profound re-
! spect for the views OF other mon was
| one of the things that marked his OK
| ceptional personality.
Uses Table ms Chair.
y picture Of him that Is altogether
characteristics. and that remains in
the minds Of those who were present
at the scene some years ago. has It's
setting in the old Association Build
from Il hard trip over THE road when
an informal committee OF employees
followed him into the building.
Wont you 1--we chairs. boys" he
asked. and receiving tho reply from
the spokesman that the men would
| prefer 20 stand. he said. Then you'll
excuse me II sit ON this table.
fcel rather tired
patience to the stories and Sugges-
lions OF the men regarding their
I'hardships and their problems. There
was no impatient word or gesture,
but the sympathy of II big man who
mad been through many OF the same
things himself, and who never lacked
feeling for the men who won their
daily bread out ON the iron trail
Mr.. Williams. the veteran travelling
secretary Of the railroad department,
dropped In on him one day in Rich
nond, and received the characteristic
greeting. WHAT'S new out on the
line
MIR. Williams told the story of his
previous evenings experience Mt the
little coal mining town OF lIandicy.
w. Va. Entering the uE3retentiuus
little association building. he had
come upon group Of men singing
hymns around an old organ. from
which the cook OF the restaurant was
extracting harmony and other tnijn.s
AS the secretary told the story Of
the fervor OF these men and their
evident enjoyment OF the songs "A big
tear trickled down the cheek OF the
railroad president.
You'll have to excuse me-" he re-
marked. rs he brushed away the tear.
That thing kin o rets mel"
One evening on the presidents pri-
vate car, Il little company of guests
were sitting in the twilight, when
some one started TO sing one Of the
Ola hcart songs. The others joined
IN and the hearts Of the group warm
ed toward each other with the unison
of their voices. Paul Stvvens hap
pened TO be sitting next To his father.
ana the s!re's strong S:Hd stole
across the arm OF the chair End grip
ped the hand of his boy. T'rus they
sat for an hour until finally the
group grew quiet.
Paul rose at last. and said. Well.
Mr. President. think I'll go beck TO
my car and retire" For 4 moment
they stood facing each other. then re-
Eardlcss OF the presence OF strangers.
PauIs arm went round his fathers
neck and he kissed him us he had
done in the days of boyhood.
The simple incident, with It's manly
trankncss. warmed the hearts Of
those who sat there. ana sent them
TO their beds In a happy frame OF
mind.
On one occasion. Mr.. williams met
President stevens ana another high
olhciai with special reference to one
o. the ass1ciations on the line whore
me housekeeping had been particu-
lafiy poor. The other official rr-
marked impaticntly:
MI williams that secretary viii
n ourfr aea IN !" keep house. You
Pleads Serretnrys' Case
,, On no. don't fire him" protested
Other MT s'e ysnsco gently Ebos give him an,
haven't the easiest jobs in the world"
Those who knew him best will
quickly recognize the interprctat!vs
luaii,S OF that appeal. Many MAJ.
Kindness OF the boss when he prob
ably did not actually deserve IL. hut
lnr winch he was grateful, and In
N Wh'cm ne took grip upon himself
The relation Mr.. Stevens was Ia
navr sustained to the international
hailroan Association Conference
Sar r. WAS vi, held in Richmond Nov"m-
hsst shock OF his death IL hardly
seemed possible to have the gather
,ms ne!d' was primarily at his
n w., 800" III, mutation that Richmond
WAS CHOSEN as tho convention city. He
superVlscd the making OF elaborate
plans Tor the comfort of the dele
ea,ss. including two great special
train to take the entire delegate bnIv
10 Newport News and HAMPTON
hoads for a pleasure trip.
hundred matters affecting the
convention were attended to BY him
personally. and his efficient star took
care OF many more. While HIS alb
Sehce cast IA pail over the otherwise
nappy days in Richmond. it was char
nad been so thoroughly planned thar
me arrangements were carried out
wi,hout material change. and the
I ,r in body testified that never in
ne history OF such gatherings had
INC hospitality been more perfect.
outinsis Two OwncrshIps.
uneotge w stevens stood UP on.ci-
any under two experiences thar he
would never have survived hal IL
not Deen for his inherent greatness
as railroad man. The property
over which he presided with such
during his term OF service. and every
body familiar with railroads knows
that changes OF ownership are gem
orally accompanied by changes in
was SO strong, upon all the affairs OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio, and the
mark OF his dominating personality
and constructive genius was so dceD
unon all OF its history. that tho
changes of ownership never affected
his standing in the least. lie was
regarded as Indispensable to tho
prosperity OF the road.
One OF my earliest recollcctions is
that his first trip to our little june
ton town resulted in n local i'm.
provement. The road was terribly
hard up for money, yet the new gen
cral manager saw the dangers OF n
particularly perilous grade crossing.
and before he had resumed his west
ward journey no had made plans for
its elimination. In few weeks
sturdy tunnel of concrete supported
the tracks ut that point. and the We
hicular traffic went under the rail-
road tracks instead Of crossing at
grade.
Meets Again After 20 Years.
When left the old line. nearly
twenty years elapsed before had
the pleasure of riding on 1t again.
That experience was nothing short
OF a revelation. We pulled out Of
Clifton Forge early in the morning.
after night when rain had turned
to ice. and the encrustcd trees on the
mountains sparkIed like diamonds in
the rising sun. The sight was so
beautiful that in spite OF the crisp
air most OF the passengers crowded
10 the observation platform.
In short time ] had lost interest,