IN HIS OFFICE
He was in his office always the genial, patient, "dear old Colonel." His clerical force and the students under him were trusted and treated as friends. He put on no airs, assumed no authority, affected no superiority. No arbitrary rules or restrictions hampered his employees. He never scolded, rebuked, or ordered, -- simply kindly requested. He was silent if displeased, but never said a harsh, or mean, or cutting word. The air around him was free; all the discipline was self-imposed, all the duties self-appointed and performed with the one animating purpose, -- "to please the Colonel." Office work in his employ was a pleasure, not a task, -- a glad service faithfully rendered and just as faithfully and fully recognized. There never was a kinder, juster, or more generous employer. He used to say: "Do you want to know one real test of a man? How does he treat his employer; how does his employer treat him?"
Interruptions when he was busy in his office, did not seem to disturb or distract him. In the midst of dictation of correspondence or argument he would welcome a caller and after a chat or "interview" resume his dictation at the point of leaving it. Sometimes an hour, a day, or even days, would intervene; he did not lose the thread but went on weaving as though the loom had not for an instant stopped. He shut no visitor, although his clerks of their own motion excluded many a freak or crank, notwithstanding his repeated request to deny no decent person on audience.
The Colonel was fond of bright newspaper men. He liked to answer questions. Interviewers flocked to him. They were always welcomed and never disappointed if they asked sensible and proper questions. "Fire away!" was his cheery invitation, and to their queries a flood of wit, wisdom, humor, philosophy, logic and sense would pour out as from a strong fountain. The files of many metropolitan journals were enriched by these spontaneous effusions. |
