The Portland daily press., 1881-02-07
A SWAN BITE.
The Captain and His Patent Right.

The Vermont Union of Lyndon, a staunch
Democratic paper, tells the following story of
the manner in which Capt. McGaffey, proprie-
tor of the leaaing hotel in that t1ourishing
town-and a well known citizen-answered
one of Hon. 7. B. SWANS circulars, and how
he enjoyed his patent rights:
Capt. Steve McGaffey is not an envious
man as general thing, but noticing how rap
idly his neighbor, Cephas Trefren, was accu-
mulating riches by the sale of the patent grain
sitter, the captain determined to keep up with
MIN by securing the agency of some other
patent which promised equal or larger profits.
While in this state of mind he received a cir
cular from the Eastern Manufacturing Com
pany at Mechanic Falls, Me-, patentees and
manufacturers of the Excelsior Corn Shelter,
simple, effective and easily operated" The
nrm had heard of the captains great influence
IN the agricultural circles of northern Yer
mont and quite naturally selected him as the
very man to introduce their goods. To make
sure of securing his influence and cooperation
IN their behalf, they proposed to furnish him,
for while, shelters, the retail price of which
was $4.50, at the nominal price of $780, CIV
ing him a margin of $3.50 on each machi ne
for his influence in agricultural circles and
efforts in behalf of the firm. As further in
ducement, and to convince the captain that
the concern was genuine, they offered to send
him one machine gratis, that he might see
how 'easily operated it was, and satisfy him
self of its utility. By the way-and this is im-
portant for the reader to remember in order to
thorough insight into the case-the captain
would OF course remit S1.00 to pay charges of
transportation. Now, as the captain is little
shy about adopting new methods and swallow
ing new stories, and, not caring to have his
family see him studying that circular, he re-
tired to the woodshed, stradded the saw horse
and for a half hour was lost in the study and
contemplation of the terms of the proposition
The result of the contemplation was visions of
speedy wealth, air castles of prodigious mag
nltude. and complete triumph over neghbor
Trefren of grain sitter notoriety. There is
nothing small about the captain and that little
suggestion about the $1.00 to pay cost of trans
portation seemed to him the most natural and
reasonable thing in the world. He enclosed
$lOO and the machine was received last Friday
night by mail, three cent postage stamp COW
ering the cost of transportation The shelter
consisted OF piece of thick sheet iron 3x4
inches in size, with printed label of the name
OF the machine and the name of the firm
pasted on one side. The knife sharpener was
SIX inch stick with one end of it dipped in
preparation OF glue and sand. The cantain
received the package from the postoffice, got
out behind the building where he opened it on
the sly, then dropping it into his overcoat
pocket, he unhitched the old mare, gave her a
sc lang" and cut of the whip and disap-
peared down the corner hill. He has not been
down to the village since, from which we con-
clude he is on the road taking orders for ma
chimes, packing away the $3.50 margins and
crowding his neighbor Trefrer in the race for
wealth.
Frank Bell of Lunenburg, bought one of
those Excelsior Corn Shelters for doll ar.
Bell, it seems, is supposed to have some influ-
ence in agricultural circles, and the concern at
Mechanic Falls are willing to sacrifice one
machine, less freight, to secure that influence
in Essex county, VT. 1t is matter of profit
occasionally to be man of influence in agri-
cultural circles"