Evening star., 1937-08-27
BY PHILIP H. LOVE.

L,
Q taxicab drew up to the curb in front
OF one Of the Fifteenth street en-
frances to the Treasury and a slight,
gray-haired man stepped out.
While the elderly passenger CROPPED
IN pocket of his carefully creased
gray trousers, the driver slapped the
taxlmeter flag back into the vacant"
position with the announcement,
1.-TWO eighty"
The well-dressed fare" switched
his small black cigar from one side
OF his gray-mustached mouth to the
other and reached into another pocket.
His lean face Redeemed as he ex-
claimed:
BY jove! I've come out without
my wallet"
"Old stuff" the taximan sneered.
Come across with the jack, Mister,
or I'll call a cop"
"Oh, there's no need to do that"
the embarrassed passenger answered
quickly. Just wait moment and
III send the money down to you He
started up the Treasury steps.
"Nix!' the cabman cried, seizing
the strangers arm. TN wise to that
game. In this door and out another,
eh2 Nothin' doin', kiddo!'
But I'm Secretary Mellon"
"Yeh-and I'm Cleopatra Don't
try to pull that stun on me. I'm
wlse-see?"
Taxicab Driver Apologies.
The third richest man in the United
States was compelled to stand on the
rainswept Treasury steps while q
newsboy hurried into the sprawling
gray building with instructions to
tell my secretary, Mr.. Sixsmith, to
give you SO for Mr.. Mellon" 1t was
only matter Of few minutes, how
ever, before the cabinet officer was
able to purchase his freedom from the
completely fabbergasted driver-who,
by this time, was spluttering one
apology after another.
Apochryphal or not, this story was
told by Andrew W. Mellon to many
OF his friends, always with a smiling
foreword anent the time I was held
for ransom" And it was, in more
ways than one. typical of his per-
sonality, character and career.
Mellon came into the cabinet of the
late President Warren G. Harding as
the least known of all the country's
millionaires. Although his fortune
was variously estimated at anywhere
from s6oo,ooo,o0 to $500, 900 900, and
he held directorates In SO corporations
he was virtually unknown outside Of
the Pittsburgh industrial area. To the
average man and woman. his name
was as meaningless as the smile on
salesman's face.
Born In Pittsburgh.
Mellon had spent his life In and
near Pittsburgh. He was born there
on March "a. 1855, the son of Thomas
and Sarah Negley Mellon. His father
had emigrated to Western Pennsvl-
vania from County Tyrone, in the
north Of Ireland. Taking up the prac-
tice OF law, he became judge of the
Court OF Common Pleas Of Allegheny
County. He retired from the bench in
1869 to establish a private banking
house the chief function of which was
to make loans to aspiring but needy
young business men.
1t was only natural that Judge
Mellon. who was on intimate terms
with the Carnegies, the Fricks and all
the other Pittsburgh families Of for
tune, Should rear his son to the pro-
!esslon OF finance. Andrew received
MS early education from his father
VINO instructed him not only in the
tnree RS, but in the rudiments Of
business and finance.
andrew was only 18 then. hut
Judge Mellon, knowing that RESPONSE
plnty builds character and develons
AGILITY, gave him authority to grant
loans as he saw fit. The bank of
Thomas Mellon Il Sons. antedatino
os many years the establishment of
national banks, was one of the most
important financial institutions in
Pittsburgh. "
Unique Banking System,
1t WAS conducted on a nlan sor,e-
what as follows:
Find an honest man who is CAPABLE
OF running business. Give him all
tne capital he needs. taking shares in
the business and giving him free rein
70 conduct 1t IN his own way. When
the loan is repaid. find other men
OF honesty and ability who are in
need Of financial backing and lend
them the money under the same con-
dltions. Thus, opportunity is given to
men OF special ability, and they. in
rurn. give employment to many
others.
Andrew was not quite 20 when his
1asher sent him to investigate a loan
made to business man who was IN
aole to meet his interest payment.
He was instructed to ascertain all the
facts in the case and form an opin-
Ion as to how the. bank could get its
money back. To his fathers surprise
he returned with the suggestion that
the man be given an additional loan
OF $500 The extra capital was
supplied and the business prospered.
When the man died he left more than
100000.
Walked to Office.
During the years that Mellon was
IN Washington he walked from his
16-room apartment on fashionable
Massachusetts, avenue to his Office on
the second floor of the Treasury near
~ every clear day. Leaving his apart
ment at $50 am. he strolled along
with the Capitals army of Govern
ment workers, timing his steps so a.
to reach his desk at o'clock. While
most other Federal employees were
through at 4:3o pm, however he
usually remained at his desk until 6;
and during the period that he was
formulating his once famous but nov
almost forgotten Mellon plan," he
was frequently at work until long
after midnight.
Passing Mellon on the street, one
would never have guessed that he va,
. multi millionaire. He dressed neat
", but not elegantly, and there VA,