A Glimpse Through Pittsburg’s [sic] Haze of Smoke

     A collector, of the vintage of 1882, a lover of art, literature, music and history, there is much to admire in the personality of Thomas L. Elder, whose picture is shown on page 8. One of the early members of the American Society of Curio Collectors he has been a worker since the start, holding the position of vice president, to which office he has been recently re-elected, and doing much to shape the course and push toward progressiveness the society that was designed to be of, for and by the collector. A telegraph operator by occupation he has had but little time to devote to his “hobbies,” but that he has employed that little time well his splendid collection attests. This collection contains among other things of interest and value, 800 coins, medals and tokens dating back to 750 B. C. He is a member of the American Numismatic association, and also of the Sons of the American Revolution. During the days that the [70][71] late President McKinley hovered between life aud [sic] death at the Milburn mansion in Buffalo, after the assassin’s shot, Mr. Elder was on duty as official operator to George B. Cortelyou, secretary to the president, and it was Elder’s hand that tapped the wires, set the instruments and ticked-off the messages on direct wires to the White House from Milburn House, Buffalo. He has many interesting relics connected with this experience, and, of course, prizes them highly.