The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 162
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
did participate in foot racing down main street, a stunt not
exactly considered dignified for a middle-aged man today,
but quite proper then. He carried himself well and his ap-
pearance commanded immediate respect. His actions were quiet
and reserved.
Like the typical Frenchman, the old gentleman was very
punctilious. He was frank and sometimes appeared aloof, but
deep down he was humble and considerate to even the lowest.
A business man, yes, but first of all he was a gentleman, an
honest gentleman at that. The Captain handed down to his
children and grandchildren one outstanding trait that stands
out above all others, namely, a democratic personality. It was
as natural with him to tip his hat to a lady as it was to breathe,
and he often walked across the street just to greet an ac-
quaintance. He seemed to take a special interest in each cus-
tomer with whom he came in contact in the store, always asking
about the customer's family.
One of the aged financier's chief phobias was the risque or
smutty story, and very few made the mistake of telling more
than one in his presence; the look that came over his face
would speak a thousand words. One day a go-getting traveling
salesman came into the office on a routine call. He had previously
boasted to the Captain's sons that he could make the old
gentleman laugh, and he soon launched out on a rather smutty
story in the best traveling-salesman style. The joke was well
told, and when it was completed, the salesman let loose with
a loud laugh, accompanying it with a big slap on the thigh.
The Captain's expression did not change, but he kept staring
at the young man with neither an approving nor disapproving
look. After repeating the story several times, the salesman still
could get no response; his situation became so embarrassing
that he finally got up and left, never to return.
The Captain's capacity for details was probably one of his
greatest assets. Nothing was too small or unimportant to
escape his attention. He would caution the clerks in the store
about using too much string or wrapping paper on the packages
and then turn around and give away a small fortune on some
civic or charitable movement. His grandson, Scott Schreiner,
tells this story on his grandfather:
One day he returned from Mexico where he had been attending to some
business. A short time before he had made some investments there that
did not turn out so well-in fact, he lost two or three hundred thousand162
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/180/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.