Wagner’s World’s Fair Job Hunt Falls Short In 1904
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week! Here we have a trio of letters all related to a young George Wagner’s pursuit of a summer job at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. George, the second youngest of the six Wagner kids, was 25 years old at the writing of these letters. Having previously attended Ole Miss, where he was best friends with the lively Elma Coleman Meek (Oxford socialite of the century, it seems), and then Cornell University with his other best friend, the equally lively B. B. Beckett of Oxford, George needed to settle down. As is typical for rich kids both then and now, George relied heavily on family connections for a job hook-up. Here, his oldest sibling John writes requests to Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Money, businessman Eugene E. Evans and the newly elected Mississippi governor, James K. Vardaman.
Their varying responses are entertaining. All the letters are hand-signed but the first two are fully typed (letter and envelope) on fancy letterhead. The letter from Vardaman is typed on plain paper, is hand addressed and misspells “Wagner” in a glorious way. If you don’t know much about the infamous Governor Vardaman, you might want to Google him (at your own risk.)
Spoiler alert: George didn’t get the job.
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. April 4, 1904
Mr. John H. Wagner,
Water Valley, Miss.
My dear Sir,
Your letter of April first just received. It gives me pleasure to say that I have just written a strong recommendation to Governor Francis in behalf of George’s application for a position in the Electrical Department of the Fair. I also wrote to Hon. John H. Allen to do what he could for him. You need not give yourself any concern about asking favors of me, as I will always be glad to do anything I can for you.
With best wishes, I am your friend,
H.D. Money
Rice-Stix Dry Goods
St. Louis
5/11/04
Mr. John H. Wagner,
Care Wagner & Co.,
Water Valley, Miss.
Dear Sir:
Your letter was received this morning and I immediately put the application for a place for your brother in the Electrical Building in the hands of influential people who will take it up at once, and I think will have no difficulty in securing a position for him where he will have the privilege of the building. I will promptly advise you on receipt of information regarding the matter.
I thank you for the kind personal mention from yourself and your father.
Yours very truly,
E. E. Evans
Executive Department
Jackson, Miss.
April 2nd, 1904
Mr. John H. Waggoner,
Water Valley, Mississippi
My Dear Mr. Waggoner:
Your favor of the first instant has been received. I shall be glad to endorse your brother for the place he desires in the St. Louis Fair Building, but I cannot give you any idea as to the probability of securing it. You understand the State have nothing to do with those places. Let him select the place he wants and make application for it, and I shall be glad to do anything within my power to secure it for him.
With best wishes, I am cordially and sincerely,
Your friend,
Jas. K. Vardaman
