A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



probably the most important thing I did was to locate 

 the supply for his annual 'possum dinner in Reno. 

 He would wire the date, and I would set the word 

 going for live 'possums. The Midland Hotel was 

 Mr. Sparks' Kansas City headquarters, and all the 

 official family loved him. The steward would set a 

 cellar-room aside, and it became a veritable 'possum 

 den during the period of accumulation. It is told 

 of Mr. Sparks that he ran for governor to pardon 

 a man who he was convinced was the victim of 

 circumstances, and innocent. 



Another prominent man of those times was Frank 

 Rockefeller. He was a close friend of Mr. Sparks 

 and Mr. Armour. All of them bring to my mind 

 the love of men vital in general industry for the 

 country, and good cattle. Looking back over the 

 history of men who have given their time and in- 

 fluence to the upbuilding of the cattle industry, those 

 who have appeared to play with it as a relaxation 

 from their major business seem to have carried it 

 through the dark periods, and while usually too 

 busy to look after its details have been able to 

 draw the right kind of men to them for that work. 

 This brings another angle of thought : the herdsmen. 

 Some have come into the limelight, but the great 

 mass of faithful painstaking men in that class have 

 been known only to one another, and a few out- 

 siders. History means well, but the workers in the 

 vineyard are seldom known to those who sip the wine. 



[41] 



