"No," said the enterprising young American, "I will cable." He
immediately got off a long wire telling what orders he had and giving
gilt edge banking references.

Quite naturally he expected a cable reply, but he was too optimistic.
Day after day passed amid a great silence from America. At the end of
two weeks he received a _letter_ from the Export Manager of the firm who
said, among other things: "We are not prepared to quote any prices for
the French trade now. We have decided to wait with any extension of our
foreign business until after the war. Meanwhile you might call on our
agent in Paris who may be able to do something for you."

The young American dashed up to the agent's warehouse. The agent was an
old man becalmed in a sea of empty space. All his young men were off at
the front; a few grey beards aided by some women comprised his working
staff.

"I have no American hardware in stock," he said, "but I may be able to
get you some English or Swiss goods." This did not appeal to the young
American. He is now making a study of Russian finance.

Full brother to this episode is the experience of another American in
Paris who found out that there was great need among French women for
curling irons. Despite war, sacrifice and sudden death, the French woman
is determined to look her best. Besides, she is earning more money than
ever before and buying more luxuries. Knowing these facts, the Yankee
sent the following cable to a well known concern in the Middle West:

"Rush fifty thousand dollars' worth of curling irons. Cable acceptance."