It was in 1879 that Barclay patented his Economy Door Strip, and put it in his grain cars. It saved loss of grain in shipping, and Barclay, being on terms of business intimacy with the railroad men, sold the Economy Strip to the railroads to use on every car of grain or flour he shipped. And Lycurgus Mason, taken from the kitchen of the Mason House, hired a room over McHurdie's harness shop, and made the strips there. His first day in his new shop is impressed upon his memory by an incident that is the seed of a considerable part of this story.
He always remembers that day, because, when he got to the Thayer House, he found John there in the buggy waiting for him, and a crowd of men sitting around smoking cigars. In the seat by Barclay was a cigar-box, and Lycurgus cut in, before John could speak, with, "Well, which is it?"
And John returned, "A girl—get in; Mother Mason needs you."
Lycurgus fumbled under the box lid for a cigar as he got into the buggy, and repeated: "Mother needs me, eh? Well, now, ain't that just like a woman, taking a man from his work in the middle of the day? What are you going to name her?"
"How do you like Jeanette?" asked Barclay, as he turned the horse. "You know we can't have two Janes," he explained.
"Well," asked the elder man, tentatively, "how does mother stand on Jeanette?"
"Mother Mason," answered Barclay, "is against it."
"All right," replied Lycurgus, "I vote aye. What does she want?" he asked.
"Susan B.," returned Barclay.
"Susan B. Anthony?" queried the new grandfather.