Arena Lust
The day of the Gladiator is not past. Near New York this month the pugilistic champion of the United States, for the consideration of merely a million dollars, will stand up for something less than an hour to pummel and be pummeled by the pugilistic champion of Europe.
Nearly seventy thousand fervid partisans will look on, eating peanuts—primordially yelling for blood.
Among them, it is said, will be hundreds who figure prominently in Bradstreet's, the Blue Book and the Society Column.
Gentlewomen will be there—in the fifty dollar seat section. Roustabouts and longshoremen, barristers, doctors and preachers, business men and government officials—and small boys roosting in neighboring trees—all with "thumbs down" when one bruiser weakens.
Who is there to stop wars and rumors of wars while the spirit of the gladiatorial combat is thus rampant in human society, breaking through the carefully laid veneer of civilization?
H.B.C. Enters Consignment Fur Business
Company Takes Over Warehouses of Defunct Nesbitt Firm; Will Strengthen London Market
By PRO PELLE
One of the most interesting events in the fur trade last month was the announcement by the Hudson's Bay Company of its intention to accept consignments of skins for sale at its London auctions. The news came as a surprise to many, as it has long been known that the famous old Company took particular pride in offering no skins for sale at its auctions save those collected by its own posts and graded with that excellency which has earned for the Company the reputation of setting an accepted standard for all skins.
To those who are familiar with the past history of H.B.C., the news did not come altogether as a surprise. The Company has demonstrated on many occasions in the past that it does not hesitate to reverse its decisions and alter its policies when the changes wrought by time and economic progress in the domain of the Company make such changes a business necessity.
Many in the fur trade wondered why the Company did not enter the consignment business sooner but the sequence of events has since demonstrated that by keeping out of that end of the business until after the speculators had had their fling, the Company was able to enter on the "ground floor," so to speak, and with everything in its favor.
The establishment of great fur auction companies in St. Louis, New York and Montreal tended to deprive London of its old-time prestige, and, naturally, anything that detracted from the influence of the London fur market also affected the Hudson's Bay Company.
With the passing of the famous old firm of Nesbitt, the London fur market lost one of the best-known consignment houses in the world. This house was particularly happy in its connection with the American trade and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the best American firms. When the Nesbitt firm was forced to liquidate in order to save as much as possible for its clients, it was felt that the London market had lost one of its landmarks and was, to a certain extent, weakened in its uphill fight to regain its leadership in the fur trade.
By taking over the warehouses and offices of the Nesbitt Company and announcing its willingness to accept consignments of fur skins, the Hudson's Bay Company carries on where Nesbitt Ltd. left off. H.B.C. will now be in a position to hold its auctions on its own premises.
The London market will be made all the stronger by the entrance of the Company as a consignment house, as it will naturally follow that the class of goods consigned will have to be up to a fine standard and will only be accepted from reputable and first-class firms.
By taking the lead in the London market, by setting the standard for all the trade, both in goods and in business principles, by inducing the best firms to send their best goods to the London market, by eliminating speculative bidding and by having great financial strength and sound business methods back of it, the Hudson's Bay Company has once more proved its ability to come through all kinds of trials and tribulations with flying colors.
Impressions of the Store Managers' Conference
By F. F. HARKER
Being comparatively a newcomer with the Hudson's Bay Company, judging by the long records of service of other managers present, I felt deeply moved by the cordial spirit of comradeship shown me by my co-partners.
I was greatly impressed by the frank way we were received by the Canadian Advisory Committee.
The conference was a remarkable one in many ways. It created a precedent, insofar that it was the first time in the history of the Company that managers of the many H.B.C. stores were gathered together for consultation, advice and mutual benefit.
I feel that this conference will prove the forerunner of an era of singular prosperity to the Company and of increased efficiency throughout the Company's stores.
Humorous Extracts from Some Official Letters
Written in all seriousness and not in the least intended to be humorous
By C. C. SINCLAIR
In an official letter from an outpost manager the activities of the opposition were reported upon as follows:
"The opposition ain't raisin' no 'ell."
By which it was assumed that the outpost manager was holding his own.
"Dear Brother and Fellow Superior:
"I have spent a lonely and dissolute (meaning desolate) winter, owing to the loss of two good hunters and a beloved wife."
"...The canoes you sent up last fall arrived safely. Everything was in order with the exception of one or two destitute items in the displacement."
"I am very thankful for the increase of salary accorded to me by the Commissioner. Now that I have my new eyes (meaning glasses) I am able to see better, and my new teeth help me to masticate my food better, which aids the "deegestion" and keeps me in better health so that I can do more work now. Now I think I am capable of taking charge of a much larger Post than the one I am at."
"I could not make my cash agree with the books, but it agrees now, because I made an entry 'To cast to cook the account, $60.00.'"
"I am sorry that I caused you so much worry last fall when I wrote you that I was at death's door and asking you to send my successor, as I expected soon to enter the pearly gates.
"I am sorry to say I recovered soon after and the black suit I asked for to be buried in was not required. I had no mourning envelopes on hand, so I blackened the edges of an official envelope with ink, to advise you befittingly of my approaching demise."
"Hereafter I am to receive my instructions from Fort ——. I am sorry to leave you. We have differed sometimes about the orders issued from time to time, but I have endeavoured to carry out the instructions when I thought they were for the good of the post."