KIPLING PUBLISHED BY T.Y. CROWELL & CO 1899
MY ASSOCIATE WAS AN OLD TIME BUYER WHO SHARED HER VIEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BUYING FOR THE CARRIAGE TRADE NOT ONLY IN LOS ANGELES BUT THROUGHOUT THE USA. SHE DESCRIBED FEDERATED AS BEAN COUNTERS AND WOULD ROUTINELY ANNOUNCE TO ME " THE BEAN COUNTERS ARE COMING!" SHE HAD A PLAN THAT INCLUDED THE POSSBILITY OF MAYBE TWO MORE TRIPS, THEN RETIREMENT, FOR HER. SHE KNEW HOW TO SOLICIT EXTRA FUNDS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE WILSHIRE GROUP, & SHE SUGGESTED SHE AND I WOULD SHARE HOTEL ROOMS AND A SMALLER PER DIEM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE SUPPLIERS WOULD WINE & DINE BUYERS. THE PRESIDENT AGREED & GAVE EACH OF US AN ADDITIONAL $50,K TO SPEND FOR HOLIDAY PURCHASING. ON THE MORNING WE WERE TO GO BUY THE RARE BOOKS SHE WAS UNDER THE WEATHER AND WROTE ME A NOTE FOR THE DEALER & WE WENT OVER THE BUDGET, IT WAS HER SUGGESTION THAT I SPEND MY $50,K ON THE BOOKS, I AGREED, KNOWING SHE HAD SPENT HER $50,K ON A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF PAPER WEIGHTS. SHE TOLD ME TO READ THE NOTE & FOLLOW HIS LEAD." YOU CAN TRUST THIS MAN BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED US ALL THESE YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE WAR". SHE WAS RIGHT HE WANTED THE BUSINESS AND WOULD NOT OVERLOAD OR SLIP SUB STANDARD PIECES INTO THE PURCHASE WITH OUT POINTING OUT WHY AN ITEM WAS IN THE MIX. THE BOOK DEALER KNEW OF A PATRON/FRIEND OF MY ASSOCIATE BUYER WHO ENJOYED THE RESTORATION OF ABUSED BOOKS OF POETRY. HE MENTIONED HER NAME, A MISS HUNTINGTON, ONE OF THE HEIRS TO THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, THE HUNTINGTON HOTEL IN S. PASADENA , AND THE FAMOUS HUNTINGTON GALLERIES, HOME OF BLUE BOY & PINKIE. NOT TO MENTION A VERY REKNOWN COLLECTION OF BOOKS WHICH INCLUDES A GUTTENBERG BIBLE. THE DEALER DIDN'T SHOW ANY SURPRISE WHEN I TOLD HIM I KNEW MISS HUNTINGTON AND HAD SINCE SMALL KID DAYS WHEN MY GRANDFATHER OPERATED A BEACH RESORT AT LAKE TAHOE. MISS H. HAD A WONDERFUL HOUSE JUST A HALF A MILE FROM THE RESORT. THERE WAS A HOTEL BLDG. COTTAGES A CAMP GROUNDS, A DANCE PAVILLION, A MOVIE THEATER, THE BEST SAND BEACH ON THE CA SIDE, A SMALL GAS STATION & JUST ACROSS FROM THE HOTEL LOBBY A GROCERY STORE THAT SUPPLIED ALL THE SUMMER VISITORS WITH FRESH BAKERY GOODS ,FRUITS & VEGETABLES & A FULL SERVICE BUTCHER. MISS H. WOULD CALL THE STORE WHERE I SPENT MOST OF MY DAYS AND ASK ME WHAT FRUIT HAD COME IN, SHE LOVED RASPBERRYS , APRICOTS & BANANAS. SHE WOULD ASK ME TO BRING SOME PASTERIES & BREADS , SHE WOULD SAY "BE A DEAR AND LET ME SPEAK TO THE BUTCHER, OH & IF YOU HAVE ROOM DOUBLE UP ON THE FRUITS & ANY SPECIAL VEGETABLES, COLLECT EVERY THING AND BRING IT ON THE BIKE PLEASE , THANK YOU, OH BRING A COUPLE OF QUARTS OF ANY ICE CREAM, & LOAD IT ON LAST, CAN YOU HANDLE ALL OF THAT"? AT TEN I'D ASSURE HER I COULD. THERE WERE SEVERAL 3 WHEEL BIKES BUILT FOR HAULING GROCERIES TO THE HOUSES THAT WERE CLOSE ENOUGH AND THEY WOULD, HOLD PLENTY WITHOUT A PROBLEM.WHEN SHE WOULD ASK TO DOUBLE UP ON THE VARIOUS ITEMS ON HER ORDER I KNEW MRS. FOLGER WOULD BE THERE FOR A LATE LUNCH & SOME INTERESTING COFFEE DRINKS. THEY WOULD HELP ME UNLOAD & MISS H SET UP ALL THE LITTLE GOODIES ON THE LAKESIDE TERRACE, MRS FOLGER WOULD BREW SOME EXOTIC FLAVORED COFFEE DRINKS AND ADD SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THEM AND MINE WAS USUALLY ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM, WE HAD A GREAT TIME THEY LAUGHED A LOT & AT SOME POINT WE WOULD EACH CARRY SOME BAGS DOWN THE HILL TO MRS. FOLGERS PLACE ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY . HER HOUSE KEEPER AND THE PILOT WOULD TAKE THE PACKAGES, & HE WOULD SAY HE HAD TO GET IN THE AIR TO PICK UP MR FOLGER & SEVERAL GRAND CHILDREN & GET BACK BEFORE DARK, HE WOULD ASK THE HOUSE KEEPER/ COOK TO HAVE HER HUSBAND TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON LAKE- SIDE BY 6.PM . MISS H & I WOULD RETURN TO HER HOUSE SHE WOULD SHAKE MY HAND & PRESS THE USUAL $20.BILL& BEFORE I COULD OBJECT SHE WOULD PULL ANOTHER $20. OUT WRAPPED AROUND 2 STICKS OF JUICY FRUIT GUM, " JUST SO YOUR GRANDPA WON'T THINK WE ARE PLYING YOU WITH COFFEE! THATS HOW I KNEW MISS HUNTINGTON, & THE REASON I HAVE THE KIPLING POETRY BOOK PUBLISHED BYT.Y. CROWELL & CO COPYWRITE 1899. |
