growth kept pace with John's improved
conditions. There were many new brick business buildings. The character
and appearance of the stores were modified from a general to a
specialized stock. When you bought a saw you might have to go round the
corner to buy a sack of flour or a pair of shoes. The names of the old
merchants, such as Nolen and Ward and Middleton, disappeared and the new
signs and advertisements read: "Shoes greatly reduced because of our
fire last week; going at half price. Leo Cohen." "We cut everything half
in two to make room for our new stock. Herman Mann." "Linens at less
than cost. Jacob Straus."

A new bank and trust company were opened and the old bank, The Harlan
National, doubled its capital stock. The ice and lighting plants were
enlarged, and the city bought a site up the river, built a dam,
installed pumping engines and constructed water mains into the city. An
opera house was built, which, though its walls never re-echoed to the
high soprano notes of a prima donna; had trembled to their foundations
at the invectives of E. T. Franks; had shed sections of blistered
plaster at the sad wailings of Gus Wilson, and had been moved by the
matchless eloquence of A. O. Stanley when telling the tale of his setter
dog.

The company's demands upon Cornwall's time had grown so that he asked
for and received an increase of salary of $50.00 per month to be used in
the employment of a stenographer. The young woman in the main office
who had formerly done his work was now scarcely able to answer the
company mail.

It being impossible to procure a competent unemployed local
stenographer, he inserted an advertisement in a Louisville paper. The
answers he received were varied and in some instances amusing. One or
two sent their pictures. Several desired in advance to know the age of
their prospective employer and whether he was blonde or brunette. One
even asked that he send his picture, as she did not care to travel two
hundred miles from home to face a fright.

He finally employed a little Jewess, whose reply dwelt particularly on
the question of compensation; demanded Saturday afternoon off; and if
the place did not prove satisfactory, even after several months' trial,
that her return expenses to Louisville were to be paid. Her name was
Rachael Rothchilds. She stated she was a sister of Mrs. Mann, whose
husband had bought out the Middleton general store. She remained with
him seven years until she marri