A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



Mr. Armour came into the business very young. 

 He was put through all the various branches under 

 outstanding men who had instructions to give him 

 the "third degree" ; but they worshipped him, as all 

 did, and the proudest boast of every one of these 

 men, when Mr. Armour had become the master, was, 

 "I taught Kirk that." He spent part of each work 

 day in the saddle at the yards, and always looked 

 over some part of the plant with the superintendent 

 or some department manager, calling by name great 

 numbers of men, and stopping to chat with them, 

 often about their family affairs. His memory for 

 details was remarkable. I have often heard him re- 

 mark, as we were discussing something, "You had 

 different views some years ago," sometimes quoting 

 in detail. I recall, when we were out in the plant, 

 making a special investigation at the ham-testing 

 table, his saying to the ham-tryer, "George, how is 

 the leg of that boy of yours doing?" Some days 

 afterwards I was at the same table, and asked George 

 about the boy. He replied, "Oh, that was three 

 years ago, but Kirk never forgets anything." 



Mr. Armour loved trade. He did not bother us 

 much in the winter months on the provision side of 

 the house, because it was the dull time, and we were 

 all sent out on trade survey trips for an average of 

 six weeks; but when things began to open up in the 

 spring he was on our backs continuously. It was an 

 old saying in the office that a man who did not get 



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