The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-04-16
A Big Scheme.

I've got the biggest scheme of the
age" said man about forty wears old
as he dropped into chair by the city
EDITORS desk in the Banner editorial
room this morning. He wore brin.
dle-colored duster, and his head gear
an ancient plug. hid his ears from view.
Have, eh?" said the person adj
dressed.
Yes, stree. Biggest thing you ever
heard of. It'll revolutionize the hull
country. Make me rich, and you rich.
and everybody RICH"
s'You don't appear to be very rich. -
81 don't. Cause whyp I've been
foolin' away my time just like you are
doing now. I've worked harder than a
mule for three years. and not cent
laid up. About three weeks ago an
idee struck me kinder suddent-like. /
begun to think. 1 laid awake nights
and thought. Finally, about four
o'clock this morning, while lying in
bed thinking, suddenly riz up, and
my wife she says, Whats the matter?
Got nightmarer / told her no, that
was going to be rich. She called me
an old fool, and turned over and went
TO sleep. But was too happy to sleep.
/ got up and walked around till break
fast, and then | set out for your office.
| had heard that you were willing to
help the poor, and so says to myself.
iii confide my secret to the Ban
ner.'"
Possibly you've found pot of
goldP"
''No; my scheme is this: There are
thousands and millions of men in this
country who are rich. There are more
who are not rich. Now, my scheme is
to have these rich men help the poor
men to get rich. See? And when we
are all rich what a beautiful world we'll
have. How do l propose to do thisp
For instance, propose that every man
and woman in the State who can afford
it shall give me fifty cents. That will
make me rich. See? l win take that
money and start me family grocery.
and then we rich men will take up
similar collection for you, and then YOU
are rich. Then with you on our list
we'll take up the next man and make
him rich, and so on. until every body is
on the rich list. See how it works.
Beautiful, isn't it?"
81 guess it is"
80, it's boss. It's wonder some-
body didn't think of it before. So SIM
pie, you know. Why, we can all be |
bondholders in few years, and own
stock in railroads and canals and Ma
tional banks"
"Well?n
Il want you to publish the scheme |
and let the people know what we are
doing, and tell 'em where to send their
fifty centses Elijah Pudd, Station ID.
Nashville, Tenn. You see. l, being the
originator of the plan, ought to be made
rich first, so as to show 'em how it
works. Now, the honor of organizing
he plan is glory enough for me; so, ii
7ou say so, I'll let you have the privil-
,ge of paying in the first half dollar,
md you can pay it now, and I'll enter
7our name on the fly.leaf of this book,
Mentioning in brackets that you are the
irst man. Shall put you down for
fifty cents?''
g l don't think care to-"
mo? Remember. it's nothing to me
Who puts his name down first. It's a
privilege that will be granted to but
ew. Ii you want you can pay me tweu-
y-five cents now and hand me the rest
t another time. Shall l put down
twenty-five centsP Mop Then I'll be
nore liberal still; give me ten cents and
IL enter your name and give you credit
or the full amount. No? I'll go; and
s you won't give me a dime, maybe
GU wouldn't mind loaning me a chew
t tobaccoP NoP All right and he
assed out.
An hour later the reporter found him
Torking on the streets with the chain-
ang, and. as he passed along. heard
i'm mutter: Its a mighty poor man
Tho won't give ten cents toward making
mother man rich. "-Nashcilte (Tenn.