A MILLIONAIRE'S FIRST LUCKY STROKE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue II, 11 July 1896, Page 58

A MILLIONAIRE'S FIRST LUCKY STROKE.

A very important incident in my life (writes Mr Andrew Carnegie in Gossett's Magazine) occurred when one day, in a train, a nice farmer-looking gentleman approached me, saying that the conductor

had told him that I waa connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and he should like to show me something. He pulled from a small green bag the model of the first sleeping car. This waa Mr Woodruff, the inventor.

Its value struck me like a flash. I asked him to come to Altoona the following week, and he did so. Mr Scott, with his usual quickness, grasped the idea. A contract was made with Mr Woodruff to put two trial cars on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Before leaving Altoona, Mr Woodruff came and offered me an interest in the venture, which I promptly accepted ; but how I was to make my payments rather troubled me, for the cars were to be paid for in monthly instalments after delivery, and my first monthly payment was to be two hundred and seventeen dollars and a-half, which I had not, and I did not see any way of getting. But I finally decided to visit the local banker and ask him for a loan, pledging myself to repay at the rate of fifteen dollars per month. He promptly granted it. Never shall I forget his putting his arm over my shoulder, saying, ‘Ob yes, Andie, you are all right;’ and I then and there signed my first note. Proud day thia ; and surely now, no one will dispute that I waa fast becoming a * business man.' I had signed my first note, and, most important of all—for any fellow can sign a note— I had found a banker willing to take it as ‘ good.’

The snbaeqnent payments were made by the receipts from the sleeping care, and I really made my first considerable sum from this investment in the Woodruff Sleeping Car Company, whieh was afterwards absorbed by Mr Pullman, a remarkable man, who is now known all over the world.

Mies Northside (to her brother) : Do you know, Fred, that no fewer than four men want to marry me? Fred: All right, eis, may the beet man win. Mise Northside : You don’t know much about such things. A bride does not marry the beet man.