The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-09-18
From the New York Spirit Of the Times.
SELLING A FELLOW BY ARITHMETI
CAL PROGRESSION.


CAL PROGRESSION.
Last summer. while engaged in the /
bacco and cigar business. ! used 10 has
for customer in cheap cigars, one Of tho.
knowing fellows, wh,se knowledge serve
bettsr to bore his victims than I, sdsane
science. You could MI make him beIies
that-oh, no! Tell him they we're regal
cigars that cost $40 per Thousand
might do 10 stuff down the threats af thns
who knew no better; be was none Of thea
Aud % il was with ever. thing; be alwas
knew best. Il always appeared TO be b
delight 10 draw me- iutn controversy, n
matter what The subject, in order to hea
himself bold forth. tried everv way
could think Of 10 circumvent him, and .
length did succeed in laying him on, .
dat - founder.
Il vas on Saturday afternoon, he cam
in, made his purchase, and seated hivssl
to deal out to zoe his usual potion; Jul
was awake for him.
Captain said I, 4 have made % my
mind 10 90 to California, and if yau wish
10 60 into speculation, now is = ,us time.
"A. howl said he.
.Whv, you see them fifteen boxss Of ri
gars? well, there are twn hundred and fit
in each box, and | will lei ynu have 'hr
whole fifteen At low rate, pros1ing .o''
take them ALL
VERY well,' sid my frieod, lets hear
the conditions
You give me one cent Tor the first box.
two cents for the second, fns cents for the
third, and 20 on. doubling upon every box.
sDoner said he, fetch on Your cig,rs.
s'pose you think havest money enough
obj
Not at al, 80 let's proceed; here's the
firs, box
He drew from bis pocket a lea,hern
purse,-and out Of il handful Of coin.
And here's the cesi,' said he, deposaing
a green, discolored copper on the couu.
ter.
Here's your second box
sAnd here's your two cents
Very we'll, here's your third box
And here's your four cents, said he,
chuckling.
Heres your fifth box
Exactly And here's your eight cents
ba! Ia! ha! old fellow-go on
Here's your 6i,h box said |, handing
down aaoiher.
And here's your sixteen cents
Here's your sixth box
sAnd-ha! hs! ha! here's your thirty
two csnts.'
Here's your seventh box
And here-ha! by Jove, the Joke is gel
ting too rich, here's your sixty -four cents
sod nearly half your cigars are gone
Here's your eighth box said |, assum
ing cool Indifference that perfectly aston
ishsd the fellow.
sAnd here's your dollar aud twenty -eigh
cents.
sand here's your ninth box
And here's your-let me see-ah! tw,
dollars and fiitv-six cents
Here's yoar tenth bnx'
Here he drew his wallet ihough,fully
and on The slate made a small calculation
sAnd here's your five dollars and lively,
cen,..'
Here's vonr eleventh box
And here's your--,wice Eve is ten
twice twelve is twenty FOURTEEN dollar
and twenty-fnur cen,s.'
Al This stage Of The game he had 90
quite dociie, mud cnniiaued--
Here's YOUR twelfth bax, hand owe
twenty dollars ani f,riy-eiyh, cents
Here the glpbples 81 perspiraiipn, larg
% marrowfst peas, .i"d on ia b 10 re'i,
on his face, but at length he doied out III
sum.
Heres vnur thirteenth bnx-fork I'VE
over forty dollars and ninety-six cents
At this crisis he in,kei perfectly wild
The sweat was pnring % him IN stream.
and the tobacco juice was running oul Q
bis mouth.
Forty. ninety sir, i'll do do, but If
do NAV be ID!
And taking hi. pile in his hat, he cr,isl
ed il on his bead, AMI made his ext; at
rate Of speed altogether unhasrl Of; and
have never seen him near enough 1
speak to hun from tina, DAY 10 this.