Hurstwood was an interesting character after his kind.  He was shrewd and clever in many little things, and capable of creating a good impression.  His managerial position was fairly important-a kind of stewardship which was imposing, but lacks financial control.  He had risen by perseverance and industry, through long years of service, from the position of barkeeper in a commonplace saloon to his present altitude.  He had a little office in the place, set off in polished cherry and grill-work, where he kept, in a roll-top desk, the rather simple accounts of the place-supplies ordered and needed.  The chief executive and financial functions devolved upon the owner Messrs. Fitzgerald and Moy-and upon a cashier who looked after the money taken in.

For the most part he lounged about, dressed in excellent tailored suits of imported goods, a solitaire ring, a fine blue diamond in his tie, a striking vest of some new pattern, and a watch-chain of solid gold, which held a charm of rich design, and a watch of the latest make and engraving.  He knew by name, and could greet personally with a " Well, old fellow,” hundreds of actors, merchants, politicians, and the general run of successful characters about town, and it was part of his success to do so.  He had a finely graduated scale of informality and friendship, which improved from the " How do you do?” addressed to the fifteen-dollar-a-week clerks and office attaches, who, by long frequenting of the place, became aware of his position, to the " Why old man, how are you?” which he addressed to those noted or rich individuals who knew him and were inclined to be friendly.  There was a class however, too rich, too famous, or too successful with whom he could not attempt any familiarity of address, and with these he was professionally tactful, assuming a grave and dignified attitude, paying them the deference which would win their good feeling without in the least compromising his own bearing and opinions.  There were, in the last place, a few good followers, neither rich nor poor, famous, nor yet remarkably successful, with whom he was friendly on the score of good-fellowship.  These were the kind of men with whom he would converse longest and most seriously.  He loved to go out and have a good time once in a while to go to the races, the theatres, the sporting entertainments at some of the clubs.  He kept a horse and neat trap, had his wife and two children, who were well established in neat house on the North Side near Lincoln Park, and was altogether a very acceptable individual of our great American upper class-the first grade below the luxuriously rich.