Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-18
Thought Half Million
Would Be Easy to Pau

II admire the philanth ropic work o.
Mr.. Candler," Mrs. Hirsch was said
to have told Mr.. Adair. He gave A
million dollars to Emory University, and
Re ought to be glad to get off with hall
ei that to me-"
Cook denied that he or Mrs. Hirsch
had tried to extort money from ths
multi millionaire. He said he was ac.
tuated solely by his friendship for tho
woman's husband. This claim was
heavily discounted when Mr.. Hirsch
said Cook was only o casual acquain.
tance.
Cook was sentenced to year at hard
labor in chain gang and fined $1,000,
while Mrs. Hirsch was sentenced to Z
year in prison and alsc fined $1,000.
More than year after the trial Of
Mrs. Hirsch. and Cook, the business
world was greatly interested in the re-
ported purchase Of the Coca Cola Com
pany for $25, 900. 900.
The sale included the name, trade.
mark, formula. contracts and good will
Of the company and such realty as was
actually used by it in the distribution
and sale of the product in various cities.
Asa G. Gambler started his business
career as an apprentice in a drug store
in Cartersville. Ga. q position he held
from 1870 to 1873. From there no
migrated to Atlanta, where he obtained
n place as clerk in the drug store OF Dr.
George ]. Inward, whose daughter hs
subsequently married. He went into
business for himself in 1878, the year
Of his marriage.
Early in the eighties in Atlanta there
was a drug store operated by Willis q.
Venable. whose establishment had one
marked distinction. In those days drug
stores were stores for the sale of medic.
inal preparations only. The hundreds
of side lines which now form the bulk
of many such businesses were then
undreamed of.
But the marked distinction of Ven
aple's store was his counter, where
several varieties of beverages were sold
The thirsty patron even could obtain .
glass of soda water" the drink which
had attracted so much attention at tho
Philadelphia Centennial In 1875.
Clerk Made Millions
Out of NelD Soft Drink
After experimenting for several
months Mr.. Venable found that the
soda water business paid and paid well.
Other druggists scoffed and said the
sale of beverages belonged properly 70
the saloon.
But Venable had faith In his sid'
line and he worked out recipe for
new kind Of drink. But his patrons re-
fused to be switched to the new mixture
and gradually the druggist lost con-
fidence In the formula. =.
Among the customers at bis SOU
counter. however, was Asa G. Cano'u
who tried the new drink and liked "
He was frank enough to tell Venable ~
liked It. The inventor admitted tns'
the general run OF people did not ''s'
to 1t much.
Mr.. Gambler thought the new d''n'
would be a success II the public becan,
acquainted with 1t. Finally he onetss'
to buy the formula, paying Venable .o'
his experimental expenses, plus ~.
sonable profit. After some dicker'n
the sum Of $2500 was agreed upon.
IN Gambler christened the concoct1'
j. "coca cola" and began Its mannis,tt
ture on a small scale at 26i Mar.s,. .,
street, Atlanta, In 1886. Success ca,S
ed slowly, until 1850, when sales cas
n. vass OF the Southern States LED 10 tn to
- sale of 2l7l gallons' Of the. sirup ~
~ that year. This was jump from t~.b ~
IN ty-six gallons, the first output io' -
by trade. .url
.. The S26O0 investment In the fSrmu. !.
=. began piling up dollars tor Cand,e' a,
"' that today the company which he u
ng ganized has eleven sirup factories M
xt many cities and IL producing ABOUT ~ ~
n OOO, 900 gallons Of sirup yearly. ,onu
~, drink ~ served from &C, 600 SOFA ~
~ tains, It being q particular favon"
I'm the South. :