In doing so they indulge in a cowardly advantage over gentlemen who, by the nature of their employment, from president down, always have to remember the officials higher up; remember also, that in giving free rein to their human resentment, they may be rewarded with a letter of complaint, half true and half garbled, sent in by some cad to an officer disloyal enough to first believe the outsider. Reflect on how disconcerted your son might feel were he to experience the misfortune of meeting a sour tempered individual like yourself when first coming in contact with the commercial public. He could not do himself justice nor serve you well. The proverb says “One cannot make a silken purse out of a sow’s ear,” and although it is difficult to rebuild what the man in the street characterizes as a “rough neck,” it is never too late to mend. The isolated class referred to are known by representatives of all businesses and are tacitly ostracized when the army of decent fellows is being discussed. “_Please heed the handwriting on the wall_” That man was “misfit” who should have been polishing apples for a Greek--to quote Jack Rose, an original wit. After bidding adieu to the friendly personage who has accepted a mild cigar, but uncontented, megaphones to a couple of others at the rear in this wise, “Here Jake and Eddie, get in on the cigars,” our conversation in the “smoker” again reverted to pianos and things harmonious and cheerful. Genial M. T. Case recounted how fire, while in transit, ruined a carload of pianos when en route the west and the firm’s western manager, a believer in long odds, filed a claim for reimbursement, itemizing the instruments at $500 each. When the railway company received the _billet doux_ they blinked and may have said “For the love of Mike” or something less classical and affectionate. However, as soon as the firms attention was drawn to the amount of the claim the manager, with good judgment, clipped $200 off each piano and a prompt settlement was arranged.