The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-02-13
Mr.. Spriggirs' Experiment.

| SPrl29lns
"And Ill bet you fifty dollars You
can't said I, emphasizing the last word
very decidedly.
The moral and conscientious reader
must not be shocked at what he may
consider our gambling proclivi,ies The
phrase, "l'll bet You fifty dollars" was
simply a cjinchCr or climax used by
Sprigeins when we had exhausted every
argunent, and each failed to convince
the other that he was wrong And since
neither Of us, except in rare instances,
ever acknowledged ourselves wrong, we
( had to bet very frequently.
| But we neser expected to pay when
we lost. Indeed, we never demanded
payment when the point in question was
settled, but contented ourselves in say
ing, 4 told you So
The point in dispute in the present in.
stance arose about an item in the morn
ing paper The item read as follows:
"John Jones, a convict in Milbank
Prison. has fallen heir to one hundred
thousand dollars Efforts are being
made to secure his pardon"
There" said |, "you see the power of
money. That man was Just as innncent
and just as guilty before he was worth
one hundred thousand dollars as he was
afterwards, ont behold what a change :
Wealth brings him friends who make ef-
forts to secure his pardon. Had he re-
manned poor, his friends would have
permitted him to rot in prison. This
world is a humbug, Dir. Spriggins-a
regular cheat. in the language of poem
l read in boyhood, it is 'all hollow: hol
low, hollow"
AS ] concluded this spiteful little
speech, Mr.. Spriggins Strengthened him
self up in the way he had when prepar-
ing for combat and knew we should
have a fight, our tongues being the
weapons. Without giving the argu-
ments pro and con, it will suffice to say
that the discussion was brought to a
close by Mr.. Spriggins proposing an ez.
pertinent. He was, be it understood, a
man of means; business man OF good
business Standing, but somewhat eccen.
trio and the proposition he made was
to go around among his friends, and tell
them he was absolutely insolvent.
If said he, II do this and they ad-
vance money to start me in business, /
win. I have no doubt that can bor-
row all the money want with nothing
but my face for security"
Then. as stated at the outset. we bet
fifty dollars on the result; and l awaited
with eagerness the result of the practical
test.
/, however, ventured to intimate that
if he carried out the experiment he
might weaken peoples confidence in his
truthftlness; but this only made him
think l feared the result, and made him
more determined than ever. So the ex-
pertinent was tried.
He went to Mr. Smith one Of his most
intimate friends, ard said: "Mr. Smith,
| am bankrupt
Indeed ~ calculated Mr.. Smith, very
much astonished, "and pray how has it
come ahout?''
IL" said Mr.. Sprigeins, hesita-
tingly, for storytelling, or. in plain En-
glish, lving.w new sin with him. 81
i went security for a friend, and had
to pay the last shilling of it,
''Too bad, indeed" was Mr.. Smiths
sympathizing response.
off l can only borrow few thousand :.
however,to get started in business again,
| think | can get on very we'll"
Mr.. Smith thought there would be no
difficulty in getting the money He
would be very glad to advance il him.
self, but he was Excessively short" just
at this time Mr.. Spriggins knew that
this was not the case, and his opinion of
Mr.. Smiths undying friendship under
went rapid and radical change
He saw all of his many friends, and
renewed his request to each in turn, but
they all happened to he "short" just at
that time. After few days unsucccss-
ful effort to borrow money, he acknowl |
edged he had lost his bet fairly, and that
his face was not good security among
his friends
81 told you sou said I.
But an unlocked for trouble came
upon him. He was engaged to very
accomplished young lady. His trust in
her was unbounded He had often told
me that if there was good, true woman
on earth, it was his intended. But her
father, hearing Of the insolvency of his
son in-law that was to be, accosted him,
saying:
II understand, Mr.. Spriggins, that
you have met with q reverse Of for
tune"
Eyes, sir" replied Spriggins, sheep
ishly.
"Of course, under your altered cir
cumstances, you cannot expect to wed
my daughter
Here was new turn in affairs, for
which Mr. Spriggins was not prepa red
He thought at first of correcting the
falsehood he had himself started; but
the idea suddenly flashed upon his mind !
that there was a good opportunity of
testing the sterling qualities Of his sweet
heart, This would be triumph which
would more than compensate for his de-
feats in other directions.
SO be replied, ''Of course, sir, I have
a better opinion Of your daughter than to
suppose she promised to be my wife for
the purpose of sharing my money
and Mr., Spriggins was becoming vely
marriage for money, sir, is
a self degradation, and nothing else, let
the world call it by whatever name they
may"
"Of course, Mr. Spriggias, my daugh-
ter thought something of you; but you
know man without means would be
foolish to think of marrying"
81 have a good education, and, may
say brave heart; and although depriv,
ed of fortune, l can earn enough to sup.
port myself and another"
at is useless to prolong this contro-
versy, Mr.. Spriggins," said the old man
As man Of honor, you will certainly
offer to release nv dauohter from hor