Letters from
A Self-Made Merchant
To His Son

Being the Letters written by John Graham,
Head of the House of Graham & Company,
Pork-Packers in Chicago, familiarly known
on ’Change as “Old Gorgon Graham,” to
his Son, Pierrepont, facetiously known
to his intimates as “Piggy.”

Boston: Small, Maynard & Company: 1903

Copyright, 1901-1902, by
THE CURTIS PUBLISHING CO.

Copyright, 1901-1902, by
GEORGE HORACE LORIMER

Copyright, 1902, by
SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY
(Incorporated)

Entered at Stationers’ Hall

Published October, 1902

Sixtieth Thousand December, 1902

Plates by
Riggs Printing & Publishing Co.
Albany, U.S.A.

Presswork by
The University Press,
Cambridge, U.S.A.

TO

CYRUS CURTIS

A SELF-MADE MAN

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Mr. Pierrepont has just become a member, in good and regular standing, of the Freshman class.1

II. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at Harvard University.

Mr. Pierrepont’s expense account has just passed under his father’s eye, and has furnished him with a text for some plain particularities.15

III. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at Harvard University.

Mr. Pierrepont finds Cambridge to his liking, and has suggested that he take a post-graduate course to fill up some gaps which he has found in his education.29

IV. From John Graham, head of the house of Graham & Co., at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont Graham, at the Waldorf-Astoria, in New York.

Mr. Pierrepont has suggested the grand tour as a proper finish to his education.45

V. From John Graham, head of the house of Graham & Co., at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont Graham, at Lake Moosgatchemawamuc, in the Maine woods.

Mr. Pierrepont has written to his father withdrawing his suggestion.57

VI. From John Graham, en route to Texas, to Pierrepont Graham, care of Graham & Co., Union Stock Yards, Chicago.

Mr. Pierrepont has, entirely without intention, caused a little confusion in the mails, and it has come to his father’s notice in the course of business.69

VII. From John Graham, at the Omaha Branch of Graham & Co., to Pierrepont Graham, at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago.

Mr. Pierrepont hasn’t found the methods of the worthy Milligan altogether to his liking, and he has commented rather freely on them.81

VIII. From John Graham, at Hot Springs, Arkansas, to his son, Pierrepont, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago.

Mr. Pierrepont has just been promoted from the mailing to the billing desk and, in consequence, his father is feeling rather “mellow” toward him.93

IX. From John Graham, at Hot Springs, Arkansas, to his son, Pierrepont, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago.

Mr. Pierrepont has been investing more heavily in roses than his father thinks his means warrant, and he tries to turn his thoughts to staple groceries.113

X. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at the Commercial House, Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Mr. Pierrepont has been promoted to the position of traveling salesman for the house, and has started out on the road.127

XI. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at The Planters’ Palace Hotel, at Big Gap, Kentucky.

Mr. Pierrepont’s orders are small and his expenses are large, so his father feels pessimistic over his prospects.141

XII. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at Little Delmonico’s, Prairie Centre, Indiana.

Mr. Pierrepont has annoyed his father by accepting his criticisms in a spirit of gentle, but most reprehensible, resignation.157

XIII. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, care of The Hoosier Grocery Co., Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Pierrepont’s orders have been looking up, so the old man gives him a pat on the back—but not too hard a one.177

XIV. From John Graham, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, to his son, Pierrepont, at The Travelers’ Rest, New Albany, Indiana.