Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 213, 10 June 1911 — Page 2

i 1 w rHow a Foiptaee CaMomisi Mae Made a:' H5y IRestoiriinigS Valmable IBuimedl cimraeinitts

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PROBABLY the most remark b".e gold miner In the world la George A. James, of Ban Francisco. CaL He has made a ssoderate fortune in the past few years mining for gold In the debrti of burned document. It Is not the precious metal Itself, of course, that Mr. James seeks, but what Is equally valuable, evidence of indebtedness and statementa of account. Honest tradesmen will pay their 'pecuniary obligations whether the note, draft or other paper which evidences them Is la xlstenc or not, bat all tradesmen are not honest, and when such paper Is destroyed by fir the holder has very little recourse against his dishonest debtors, at- , though the law does prescribe a ' roundabout way of securing pay stent la such cases. Mr James, who Is an assayer by profession, and who dabbles In archeology, anthropology and chemistry In his spare houis. has howover found a way to restore burned documents, and for this reason ' every commercial fire Is to him a gold min. , While travelling In Europe Mr.' James had occatlou to visit Pompeii i and noticed therj ' tin Inefficient . methods followed by those who were attempting to restore the burned papyri. On hlj return to San Francisco he had occasion to talk with a business man whose burned documents in the earthquake and conflagra'on of 1908 involved a possible loss of a million dollars. This man was Beu Upham, of Pay ot, Upham Co. James, at -Up barn's sugestlon, secured , the ashes from the Upham vaults and set about experimenting In the hop "tf finding some acid or combination WfJG. Dy F. MORTON HOWARD. 1ACK MARTIN, the Man with Twenty Tongues, sat on the baclt sat ot the ' motor bus anl gasel reflectively at e other pasngr wlta whom h was sharing the root ot th vehicle. 'The ether man was occupying a front seat, and ' presents! te Martin a .back 'slew which was eloquent of ms'ancholy. His shouldor wr hunch4 in gloom, his nock dropped doprosjedly: from time e time he shook his b4 dolefully. "Buck up!" exclalme4 Martin at last, throwing his volc tnat it seemed to seme from th othr man's sld. "Tou'U soon be dead, you krowl The other paasor.Kor listlessly raised his head and glanced around. Falling, naturally, to auoclato Martin with the voice, an exproaalon ot weary surprise slowly ctept Into bin far. "Alwa r 4 merry and brlrhtr ld Merita's volo. crocoedtng this time from the other old of the man. The depresved Individual turned a rain. Snd the surprised on hi face deepened. "Earing voices now. I am," ho groaned. "There a bad sign for youl I'm going oft my rocker that's what's the manor wlLB mo nd no wonder. Ithert" "Don't bo a foci!" said a voice urgently, from beneath the seat. The ether pataenger bent down and peered beneath tho seat. "I'm oft my rockr already." no declared, with conviction. "Worried out of my mind and it's aU Mr. Moaos MoNebs' fount Ho groaned bitterly, and his chin sank en te h-m cbost la complete abandonment t misery. , . Martin roae and seated himself beside the other passenger. ... . ; "Tell me." ho sail, sympathetically, "who la Mr. Moses McSab?" 8o you've 'eard tot lm, toa?" said tbo ether man, oblivious of the source of Martt-.' knowledso of th nmo. M,Oo Is 'of Well. '' tha la. word In rotters. Ho'e a 'srd-'oartot old umbug, .that's what 'o is." take t aald Martin, "that ties a gentleman of mlsed nationality. 'Moaos and McNab" would sugcent that." " 'K ain't a rontleman," replied th ether, rousing himself, "and ain't ot mixed nationality Apart from that, your remarks Is correcc 'Is name ain't really McNab. I doot knew what It la. but Z should vt be aurprlsos.lt It was Noseystein " "Ho appears to have Incurred your animosity." remarked Martin. "If thats another way ot putting It that rd like to dot Mm one on Ms fat aooo." said the other, "you're right. 'E o

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George A. James, of San Francisco, Applying the Chemical Solution That Restores the Writing on Burned and Charred Paper On the Right Are Two Charred Sheets Pasted on White Paper Before Treatment.

of chemicals that would restore on the charred pages ot the burned books and on the papers the writing that was there before the fire. After a fortnight's research Mr. James found the way. Over 11,000 ledger accounts were thus restored, and the firm collected almost half a million dollars as a result. Mr. -tames estimates that 'over I5.000.00u wc-a lo&t during: the first ninety days after April 18. 1906. by those who discarded as waste material the charred remains of their books ot accounts, packages of currency and stocks and bonds. Another bit ot work which he did was to save for a business man at Ellis and Mason streets $60,000 In burned accounts and $30,000 In stock certificates. When these were delivered to James they were nothing but bundles of black charcoal sheets, so frangible that they could no be handled at all except by an experienced hand. Within a week the owner of this charred paper was In possession of $30,000

TAME A STdDKY

servel m a dirty trick, 'e's busted up my 'ar.py little ome." "How sor "Why, few months ago a pal of mine Jack Merrldew, stoker on the Golden Dragon 'ad a bit of eickneia in Ma family. It coat poor old Jack ail o 'ad. and then asked m to 'elp Mm along. I 'adn't an money, so. In th end, I borrowed twenty quid oft of a moneylender." "And the moneylender waa Mr. Moaa McNabf "Exactly. Tou see. old Jack 'ad a unci aomewhero In America, and this uncle 'ad often told Jack that If ever 'e wanted a bit of money ' 'ad only to aak Mm for It. And, as the Golden Dragon waa tailing to Noo Tork. Jack saya to me. 'You raise twenty quid for me. and w-hen I KU ovir to America I'll just pop along to uncle and tell Mm w thing atand with m. Then 'e'll give' me some caah to tide m over, and then I'll pay back that twenty quid for you, and all expenses." "But whv didn't be borrow It hlmaelfr "Well, yu see, 'o.'adn't got any' security. 'K'd.'ad to part with Ms 'bmo. little by little, and bit by bit. to pay doctor and ao on. And ' wanted the twenty quid to leave. 'la wife and" family comfortable in lodgings while 'o went back to sea." "Quito' ao. And I suppose If he got eome money be really would repay the loan you secured V "Of rourss 'o would. 'E's my pal 'e'a straight, 'e is! Well, as I say. I borrowed the twenty quid off ot old McXat giving Mm a bill of sale on my furniture. I got a lot of furniture good stuff, you know. Worth fifty quid the lot. so iy been told. Well, to cut a long story short, the Colder Draft-on wag a bit overdue coming back, and the bi'.l of aale ran out a few days back. I 'adn't pot th money, of course, and I went to see old McNab at once. 'E said. 'Dat's ail right; don't yqu worry. Mr. Welsh' my name being Pert Welsh. 'Dat's all right.' 'e saya. 'Tou ran take your time about settling up with me.' And then, the very next day e seised my furniture. "And sold Itr "The aale takea place to-day. Lucky for me. the miaei is stopping with 'er cousin In Ipswich, so she 'asn't 'eard ot It yet." "And what about the Golden Dragon 7" "That got back to Liverpool yesterday. Old Jack wired, to mo that e'd got the money, and so I went straight to old McNab,' to ask Mm to wait a day or two longer before selling me up. I might intt ss well 'ave asked a roaring lion to become a wegetarlan as ak Mm to wait a minute longer. And so my 'ome's being sold up at 12 to-day on the premises." "Why don't you wire to your friend to telegraph you the money t "I don't know where e la. In U wire

In new stock certificates. But for the renewal of the writing by James the owner of this stock would have had to give bonds to an Indemnity company and then have had to pursue a long, tedious and expensive legal action. One particularly fine bit of work was the reading of a charred mass of paper belonging to W. M. House, a capitalist. Involving $21,000. After the mass of paper had been subjected to the acid treatment by James, and each Individual sheet carefully scrutinized, it was introduced In court as evidence, on the strength ot which, to date. $18,000 in Judgements have been secured. It is a remarkable fact that paper Is almost altogether water not liquid water, as we understand It. but the chemical' constituents ot paper are the same as the chemical constituents ot water. At a high temperature these chemical constituents are dissipated, and what remains is a thin sheet, crumpled and shrunken, of pure carbon. It la

.to ma e alrt 'e'd meet me to-day at the Bag o' Nails at 1 sharp, but he never said where 'e'd be till then." "And you borrowed twenty pound, eh?" aald Martin. "And with lnterst and extras I suppose It comes to" "Thirty-three pounds one and six." said Mr. Welsh. "Lovk here," remarked Martin, suddenly, 'If. th! sale 1 postponed for an hour you'd be all right, I suppVe" "Merrldew'U turn up with the money right enough at 1. and the Bag o' Nails ia only just round tha corner to my 'ouse. If that aal could only be ung up for a time, old Nab could get Ms money and It 'ud be al! right. It said In the paper what I algnel that If any sort of procedlngs waa taken they would at once be stopped on repayment of capital and Interest and extras." "Then," said Martin. 'Til' go to the sale, and I rather fancy I may manage to postpone it for a while. In the meantime you must wait for your friend at the Bag o" Nails and rush him round to the sale the moment he comes. Have I got time to get to your house before 12V "Yes." replied Mr. Welsh, animation rekindling with hope. I'll take you straight there now." ' AT ten minutes to 12, Martin, having the air of a casual sightseer, sauntered into the front room of Mr. Welsh's modest dwelling. He waa alone, for Mr. -Welsh, having escorted him to the house, repaired at once to the Bag f Nails, there to await. In a state of feverish excitement, the coming of Mr. Merridew. Martin found the room full of a queer assemblage of people. There were several eldrly ladies, grimly intent on bargains; also there were eight or nine unshaven men who called themselvs "dealers," and. a sprinkling of people drawn thither by curiosity. The Man with Twenty Tongues took up an inconspicuous position In a darkish corner and waited the opening of the sale with a pleasant aense of anticipation. "Right!" exclaimed Mr. McNab. glancing at his watch. "It is just 12 o'clock!" "Twelve o'clock Is striking!" chanted a voice, giving vent to a long forgotten popular song. t "Mother may I go out? For my young man is waiting, and "Ush!" cried Mr. McNab. aghast at thla ribald smirch on the. formality, of the opening proceedings. "Ye don't want any of that sort of thing 'ere. You'll bo turned out I I can see oo It is. you know!" As he spoke be glsnced rapidly about the room la an endeavor to discover the delinquent. "You dont like singing, then? said the mysterious voice. . "No, I don't It ain't bisnes. snapped McNab, and the little crowd bussed la support of bjs remark.

easily broken, a breath of wind or a blight draught being sufficient to break Into a thousand pieces what might be a promissory note worth 15.000.

his work on burned docuJames has made himself 3 st

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A Burned Sheet of Paper Before Treatment, and the Same Sheet After Treatment of the Upper Portion The Whole Sheet Will Finally Be Restored.

IF THE "But I feel so happy," said the voice. Plaintively. "I could go on singing for a year. Have you ever heard 'Lena Schfldtr I know that right through. 1'U sing- It for you now. If you like." "You begin to sing and I'll have you put in da street." said Mr. McNab. peering about industriously. "I believe it fbs you vot sang," he eaid, suddenly, addressing one of the bargain-hunting ladles, who. at the moment, was yawningcopiously. "'Ow dare- you V "And how dare you!" she retorted Irately. "I'm a respectable married woman, and I don't go about singing. Why. for two pins" she threatened vaguely, and rose from her seat. "All right all rlghtl" said Mr. McNab. starting back in alarm. "But it ain't all right, guv'nor." declared one of the dealers explosively. "You've stepped on my pet corns! All five of 'em!" Mr. McNab, between the Irate female and the angry dealer, apologised profusely, and at length both his antagonists lapsed Into a defiant silence. "Now den!" said Mr. McNab thankfully, nodding to the auctioneer. Martin glanced at his watch. "Five minutes past 12." he murmured. "Not bad for a start." "Lot One." announced the auctioneer. "A walnut sideboard." "Ten bob.'' said an optimistic dealer promptly. Fifteen.' 'amended a second. "Two pounds," cried Martin. Three pounds," offered Martin's voice from an opposite comet. "Six!" said Martin. "Ten!" capped his distant voice Immediately. -' ' Th crowd shivered with excitement at this brisk opening of the sale. "Twenty!" said Martin briefly. Twenty-fivel" said his other voice. The auctioneer looked expectantly at Martin. "No, let him have It." said Martin, shaking his head. "Tvo bid a bit more now than I Intended to." Twenty-five pounds." said the auctioneer, waving his hammer. "Going going gone! What name pleaaaT ho queried, glancing in the direction of the winning voice. There came no reply. "The bid came from somewhere in that corner by the door," said the auctioneer sternly. The three men who occupied the corner indicated began Indignantly to deny toe statement. "It wasn't any of us." they declared strenuously. , "I distinctly hesrd the voice come from that corner." said th auctioneer. "Oh. no. It didn'tr they protested. "It did!" "It didn't!"

rich, and In the lore of restoring the writing on incinerated paper he has evolved some "don'ts" waich he announces as follows: "Don't put currencr or valuable papers and coins in the same compartment, for when they roll your safe about the melted coins will churn up the burned papers and currency. "Don't put currency or valuable papers away folded up or wrapped with rubber bands or in wallets,, for the rubber bands will melt and make a conglomeration that will be impossible to handle, or the envelope or the wallet will break your charred papers or currency

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MAN WITM 2 TNflMJES

"Did!" "Didn't!" ' A wordy wrangle ensued. At last the auctioneer turned ta Martin. "Well, sir, the man who bid against you appears to have vanished,' he said, glancing skeptically at the liot and angry three men In the corner. "Your last bid was twenty pounds, I believe? May I take thatr "No. thanks." replied Martin. "I've changed my mind. I told you I bid more than I meant to." The auctioneer, assuming an engaging smile with immense difficulty sought to persuade Matrln to reconsider his decision. He epoka eloquently and, to Martin's secret pleasure, volubly. "And now, sir. what do you aayT asked Martin. "What do I say?" asked Martin. "Yes, air. what do you say?" "Well, sine you ' ask me ao pressing! y. I say no," replied Martin sweetly. ' The auctioneer - made ' no effort-to disguise 'his annoyance. Mr. McNab stirred restlessly; th others present murmured angrily ai this waste of time. Martin merely glanced at bis watch. "Twelve minutes past twelve." he observed to himself. "And we haven't atarted yet" "We shall hay to offer the lot again." said the - auctioneer, Irascibly. "Now then Lot One." "May I be permitted to offah." rose a finicking voice, "the precise sum of four-pence-ha'penny, less the usual discount for cash?" Mr. McNsb bounced fiercely to his feet "Now den!" he shouted. "Now den. ve don't vant any of dat nonsenslngs 'ere!" "Sit down, you ailly old tool!" aald Martin, contriving a really excellent imitation of the auctioneer's voice. Mr. McNab spun round wildly. " 'Ow dare you call me names, eh?" he screamed. . "You call yourself an auctioneer, and den make a mock of your best client! 'Ow dare you do It?" "I never called you anything!" ssid th auctioneer, heatedly. With aatn enjoyment In th situation the crowd characterised thla denial as a braxen falsehood. "Why. wo 'eard you!" they said re"proachfully. In vain did the auctioneer strenuously deny the charge. The bulk of evidence waa too strong against him. . "All right," he aald at last "I never said a word, bnt I'll apologize all the same, just ao as we can get on with the business. Mr. McNab. I'm very sorry for what I didn't say. There!" "Dat a all right" said Mr. McNab, "and I'm glad to accept do apology vot you 'aven't given. Now let s gto on vith

when trying to separate them. Don't take it for granted that burned documents are worthless. I have taken a piece of charred paper four inches wide by six inches long, renewed the writing on it and saved for the holder $15,500.

Are Women's Figures I rS the woman of to-day gradually losing her distinctively feminine figure owing to her increased in terest in masculine sports? Will the tendency among 'women to adopt mannish habits mean the de eale." "Twelve twerty-one," observed Martin, glancing again at his watch. "And still Lot One is not sold." "Now," said the auctioneed wearily, "once more Lot One. a walnut sideboard." "I'll repeat my offah of tourpence-ba'-penny," said the finicking voice. Unluckily for him, a small boy sniggered at the remark. "'Ere, out you go, my land!" cried Mr. McNab. bouncing up. and hustling the small boy to the door. "Ve've ad Just as much of you as ve can stand! You're a liddle rascal dat's vot you are!" "Oh, is 'e? demanded an angular female, rising swiftly. "'Is 'e Indeed? Call my aon a rascal, would you, and Mm not 'avlng done anything, neither. It's libel and defamation of character, and I wonder Ms father over there can atand still and listen to you.' "Sure, an Ol dont Intend to, said a wiry little red-headed man, coming forward. "Not at ahL at ahl! Otm jist going to tell ould McNnab jiat what Oi think av Mm." At last the father and mother, having exhausted their ammunition, moved stormily from the room, followed by their con and heir. Mr. McNab collapsed brokenl' Into a chair. And Martin noted, with keen satisfaction, that twelve thirtyone had arrived. "Lot One," murmured the auctioneer. "Same old Lot One walnut sideboardsame old sideboard." ; "Vat a rotten auctioneer you are!" ssid Mr. McNab's voice, or so it seemed to everyone except Martin. "All dls time vasted and noddinga soldi Vhy, for -two pins, I'd kick you out!" , At this, the emotions of the little auctioneer came unfastened. "Well " he exclaimed, in a helpless manner. "Well " He rose and climbed carefuly down from the platform. Then he put on bis hat and moved towards the door. "Vhere are you going?" aaked Mr. MoNabb, in surprise. "Home! I ve bad enoogh mors than enough! Talk about -ar gardens. And then you have th chek to say" "Never said codings," protested Mr. McNab. "I'm going! And you can't have a sale without me you haven't an auctioneer's licence. Serves you right!" Mr. McNab followed him to the door, almost tearfully Imptoring him to return, and apologising wildly for everything and anything. "All right" said th auctioneer, relenting. "I'll give you one more chance. But I think we'd better have an Interval to cool down In. Th sal ia postponed for ten minutes." At the end of the stated time, the auctioneer climbed back on to the table.

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"Don't be careless in removing your charred papers rroni your safe after it aas become cooL I estimate that 15.000,000 were thrown away -tr the" big Are In San Francisco by people who were careless ia removing papers from their sates."

Growing Masculine? extinction of the "feminine form graceful curvet divine." with And lines? its These Questions are brought Into prominence by a statement made by Dr. Sargent, of the Harvard gymnasium, on the "physical conformation of women." "Open air and athletlo sports, more rational dress, and education more like that of men," he says, "have caused the pronounced physical characteristics known as fern inlne to diminish, and made the tomale figure more like that of the male. This tendency should bo stopped before It goes any further." Mr. George Henry A. R. A., the well-known English artist, Interviewed on this subject, entirely agreed with Dr. Sargent, . "Comparing woman of to-day with the woman of a generation ago, I notice that the former has developed decided signs of masculinity." he said. "She has lost a certain gracious softness women of to-day look harder and stronger, their figures are stralghter, and In many cases their muscles are more developed. "As an instance of this new type of woman, one might mention what is known as the 'hockey girl.' She is probably a . healthy, vigorous young person, but her figure, her mental outlook and her habits closely resemble those of a man. The hockey girl, however, aeculres this masculinity at the cost of grace, and that delightful Indefinable quality of femininity which makes woman woman. "Other physical characteristics are a certain broadness across th shoulders, slightly larger waist snd flatter chests. They have lost much of their graceful lines and contours, and their manner Is often somewhat aggressive. "Although they may still retain their mental charm, physically they are often ungainly and awkward. "They 'bounce into a room, whereas their grandmothers would have entered It with quiet grace and charm. "It must be remembered that, after all, the great beauty and atv traction of woman In the ' eyes of man la that she Is so entirely different from him. "It would be a terrible thing for woman to lose this natural charm and grace." Sir L. Alma Tadema. the famoa artist, says that while he does not think women generally are sosubs their figures, women i who play bridge and indulge In other suca pleasures In excess certainly nana their figures. ' "It is fortunate that our modal mm S A.HeJl wam than Hrtitaflami playing set," be said. "Quarter to on. murmured Martia happily. vna, ladles and cents the sldsauctioneer. "Lot On -walnut board." "Walt a bit guv'nor!" begged one eg the dealers. "Let's listen!" It seemed that a newspaper bey was passing down, the street outside, shout ing news of an extraordinary nature. "Hengand hlnvaded!" earn his voice. "Landing of the Dutch. Germans, French, Russians and Manxmen. Extry speshul Enemy in London! 'Ousee being lootedl Speshul!" Only the auctioneer and his clerk. Martin, the porter and Mr. McNab were left ,;.w,, "Better wait till they . com back, I suppose? suggested the auctioneer, "Of course," said Mr. McNab. After an interval of a few minutes, the crowd. In ones and twoes, cam back ir.to th room, looking rather shamefaced. "I couldn't fir d th boy anywhere. they confessed. "He must- have been having a Joke with us." 'Two minutes to one," murmured Martin, when at last the auctioneer rapped on his desk to recommence th procsedlnxs. "Lot 1." he said tlredly. "Walnut" He was Interrupted by the sudden advent of two gentlemen who advanced through th crowd as though they ware playing football. . , "Where's old McNab?" cried Mr. Bert Welsch, who was on of them, " 'Ere'e your money; my pal's turned up a ftw minutes early. So" - "That settles it!" ssid th auctioneer. "Disgraceful arrangements, allowing all this brawling and confusion. I'm off for good this time." , He took hi departure. Mr. McxaTs gased rather ruefully at his friends In the crowd. ' , "Sale's over." he ssid. tersely,? "It never began!" they reminded hint, indignantly. "Then that's ail right!" exclaimed Mr. Bert Welsh. "'Ere's your money, Mr. McNab; count it and you'll find It correct And now op it out of my 'ouse, quick!" - , Mr. McNab ssdly withdrew, followed by his friends, who reproached him bitterly for having promised them all bargains which had failed to materialise "It'll take old McNab all hla time to get friendly with them again," said Mr Welh,h appily. "They won't be ao willing In future to let Mm Into all their little plana. 'E'll be an outsider for a long time. And it's all owing to you, sir " be added, turning to Martin, "keeping 'bask the sale for an hour. It was very good of you." , "Don't mention It" begged Martia. with politeness and truth. "It' wa pleasure." - .