CHAPTER IX 



IN THE SADDLE AGAIN 



Phenomenal success and power with their 

 adulation and flattery make it hard to face the 

 brutalities meted out to failure. It was in the 

 sixties, before that device of the devil, and the 

 lawyers, for the benefit of the latter, the assign- 

 ment was in vogue. So I faced the music and 

 after consulting certain creditors started out with 

 the proposition they suggested. My first call 

 was upon a house in Wall Street which was a 

 large dealer in Governments. The managing 

 partner was a Quaker, of benignant aspect and 

 paternal manner. The amount due his firm was 

 small and I felt sure he would sign my paper to 

 the accompaniment of kindly remarks. What 

 I got was something like this : 



"An honest man always pays his debts in full. 

 We pay ours and it is a matter of principle with 



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