Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1947-07-11

He had a sharp standard OF
evaluation and rejected from his
association anyone who fell short.
81 will never again be seen in
public with Joe Dillon" he wrote
me, "even if he does own half the
railroads in the country. Last
night we dined together at his
club and he handled his knife and
fork as if they were pick and
shovel. After dinner, we went to
a play which l didn't like at all
but which struck Joe as insanely
funny and he snickered and bel
lowed all the way through the
performance. He disturbed those
around US and even annoyed the
actors. / felt as if | were sitting
next to a hyena. Never again."
Jack was extremely class con-
scious. However, he didn't feel
money was fair means of meas
uring people: "I'd rather chat on
a curb with a brilliant bum than
sup at the Waldorf with a dense
millionaire" he said.
During one of my visits to his
New York apartment, Jack kept
insisting that l accompany him to
a Chinese laundry he frequented.
The short, fat Chinaman who OPP
Grated the shop was a fascinating
person, Jack assured. "He knows
more about China than Chang
kai-shek," he said.
When we finally visited the
Chinaman, the three of US slipped
tea in a small dusty room behind
the laundry for three hours. |
sat back and listened to Jack and
the Chinaman discuss Chinese
history.
After we left, I asked Jack,
"Will you tell me why you reject
a wealthy and influential person
like Joe Dillon simply because ne
has no table manners, yet spend
three hours chatting with China
man in a dirty, dusty room be-
hind a laundry"
"God acts in strange ways"
Jack said. "Many are called but
few are chosen" And l knew
what Jack meant was that the
Chinaman was interesting and Joe
was not and, for Jack, that was
sufficient grounds for a prefer
ence.
From his demands for excell-
ent table manners and his dread
of a loud laugh, one might de-
duce Jack was inhibited and de-
sired never to make a public
scene. This is far from the truth.
All Jack knew about inhibitions
was the meaning of the word.
Exhibitions are for monks"
he used to say. :,
Once when we dined in a small
restaurant, Jack took one look at
the salad and exclaimed aloud,
otis all wrong. It's all wrong"
He called the waiter and asked,
"My good man, who made this
salad?" :,
"The cook" said the amazed
waiter.
"Well, tell him I want to see
him." said Jack.
"What?" asked the waiter.
81 wish to speak with the
cook" said Jack slowly and dis
tinctly as if he were talking to a
child.
In a moment, the puzzled cook
, emerged from the kitchen and
came to Jack. ,
81 understand you concocted
this mess" Jack pointed to the
small salad bowl before him.
The cook nodded. as anything
wrong?"
"Quite a Bit" said Jack. DRAW
up a chair and I'll let you in on a
trade secret that will make you
a millionaire. -
The man sat down and for Is
minutes Jack told him OF the
magic of making good saads. His
suggestions were so sound that
soon the cooks bewildered face
cleared and he began asking Jack
questions about oils and spice. ,
After the cook departed, l said
to Jack, 81 suppose you know
you have been the center of at
traction for the past Is minutes.
Everybody's been staring at you.
They must think you're odd"
He scoffed, "If you think I'm
going to trouble my pretty little
head about the opinions OF this
ramble, you're quite out OF your
mad mind"
Despite his apparent self.cen-
teredness, Jack was genuinely
kind, considerate, and generous:
He had an honest appreciation OF
the intelligence of others how,
ever negligible it might be- and
he possessed a sense Of deep COM