Business Life 143 



better than we do — and English too for that 

 matter. But a Volapuk of home manufacture 

 would be better than either for a nation who has 

 plenty to say and but little time to say it in. I 

 remember giving a friend the name of my London 

 tailor. When I saw my snip some months after, he 

 thanked me for sending him a good customer, but 

 he added : " He was a queer gentleman, sir." I asked 

 for an explanation. " He was in such a hurry, sir, 

 that he would n't try his clothes on." That reminds 

 me of another story. I had a large water scheme 

 to submit to a New York capitalist. He told me 

 that his time was so filled up it would be impos- 

 sible to talk over the matter unless I would waive 

 insular prejudice and discuss business at dinner. 

 I dined with him, bringing maps and reports, and 

 three times during that dinner he was disturbed by 

 men wishing to see him ' In apology, he observed 

 that he was sailing to Europe on the following 

 Wednesday, and that his engagements were " crowd- 

 ing " him. " If you are going to England," said I, 

 '* let us meet at my club in London, and go into this 

 scheme thoroughly." He stared at me and laughed. 

 " Why did you not tell me that before ? " he ex- 

 claimed. " I have always a little leisure over 

 there.'* Then I demanded the name of his steam- 

 ship. "I am not sure whether I shall sail on the 

 * Teutonic ' or * St. Louis,' " he replied. " As it is 

 winter I can secure a berth on either at the last 

 moment, and there is a difference of one hour and 

 a half in the times of departure. An extra hour 

 and a half in New York means many dollars to 

 me." 



