The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-07

privilege apparent
 iy is taken full ad- EE SsSssss- vantage of by many who do not bank Ing business with the house. On the main banking floor oio no. hear a word of French spoken by any Of the crowd of visitors. You could hear tongues from many parts of the states. from the south, from the west from Boston, from New York and an occasional English accent.
 : Col. Michael Friedsam, head of New York,s notable store of B. Altman and company, was a fellow passenger on the. Leviathan returning rom Eusope' While in Paris he received the deco ration of the Legion of Honor. Colonel Friedsam has three hobbies-philan- Shropy, collecting Rembrandts. and dry goods. "coiiecting paintings gets you" he remarked very gravely. "lt gets into your blood. It becomes mania, a dis ease. You try to shake it off. You tell yourself that you simply can't and musn't buy a single more specimen. But you see something very choice and--weli, you first buy it and then do tho worrying."
 s7when asked how he expected busi- ness to fare in this country, Colonel Eriedsam replied: a .8s9 r
 gs"T, have had cheerful reports about 4he percentage of increase in the busi- ness done by our store in New York, but" he added, with smile, "it doesn't take so very large a nunbef of dollars to make a respectable percentage in 2 July or August turnover. Frankly, l don't lok for any wonderful improve nient of activity this fall. Ithink bus mess will run about the same as last fall. # But wait until spring. Then think you will see a very decided change for the better" ,1 Some of the elder statesmen of Flu rope were dumfounded when 31-yearl old was recommended as Owen D. eYoung's successor in the office of agent general for reparations. They found 1t difficult to believe that such a youngster could possibly be fitted for so responsible a post, calling for a rare combination of financial and legal and diplomatic ability. But his American sponsors succeeded in assuring them that S. Parker Gilbert wuld fill the bill ideally. I rather imagine that Secre- tary Mellon had a lot to do with, the choice of his. former brilliant protege in the treasury department MT. Young also thinks very highly or Gilbert.
 It may interest readers to Know that Gilbert Is noted for his capacity for working night and day when occasion demands. He is prodigiousiy indus frious. He does not waste much time 1pdulging in ceremonious palaver tc impress people with his polished man ners. He rather gives one to under stand that he wants to get down to business right away.
 His new job should give him abun- dant opportunity to stretch himself as a.!worker.
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 Do Americans sent abroad to take charge of business houses like to live in foreign countries? I have put the question to many of them. The most common experience Is for such men to dislike their new surroundings very much at the start and to look forward eagerly all through the first year to the time when they can return to settle down at home. Gradually, however, they make friends and become accus- : toned to their environment. Some of them reach the point where they dis sinctiy prefer to live abroad.
 A larger number, however, while be- coming reconciled to living where they are, still banker after their native land hndf count upon returning to live here permanently. Not a few Americans sent abroad fail completely to fit into foreign ways and habits.
 On the whole Americans are distinct ly less inclined than other natfonali- tiles to seek their fortune in foreign fteids. Englishmen. Germans, Scots men, Frenchmen, Italians, Irishmen, 6paniards and others find 1t very easy to become acclimated on other lands. The American eplanation of this is: .sThey have less to keep them at home than we have"
 Nearly, all the men who have charge of American business abroad are of the self-made type. Gilded sons of wealthy parents rarely elect to 20 far rom their own firesides.
 GSIt is refreshing to meet, while trav- cling abroad, young Americans who, rising from the bottom, have made an important place for theMselves. The career of Joseph Larkin, head of the French activities of the Equitable Trust company of New York, Is typical. Domestic misfortune forced him out into the world when only twelve. He rose early every morning and worked ina fish shop before going to school and worked until midnight every eve ming setting up pins in a bowling al- ley located behind a big saloon. He contyived, however, to study hard as well as to work hard and thougH he had to contribute to the limit of his ability to the family support, he man. aged to earn a thorough education.
 : His early working surroundings compelled him to learn the art of get ting along smoothly with all sorts and conditions of people. This training proved highly useful when he turned to banking. The result Is today Joe Larkin is one of the best known and popular Americans in Paris. Were 1t not that he had accustomed himself to working long hours, he would find 1t impossible to meet all the people who call upon him and to attend to his du- ties. (. The future of America Is assured so long as we can breed young men of this stafup