The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-02-17

THE CAPTAIN AND HIS PATENT RIGHT.
The Vermont Union of Lyndon, staurch Dem
ocratc paper, tells the following story Of the
ner in which Capt Mctiafiey, proprietor Of the
leading hotel in that tourishing town-and we'll
known citizen-ans wered one of Hon. I. B. Swans
circulars and how he enjoyed his patent rights
Capt Steve McGatfey is not an enyious man as
general thing but noticing how rapidly his
neighbor, Cephas Tretren, was accumulating riches
by the sale OF the patent grain SITTER the captain
determined to keep up with him by securing the
agency Of some other patent which promised equal
or larger profits While in this state of mind he
received a circular from the Eastern Manufacture
ing Company at Mechanic Falls, Me, patentees
and manufacturers of the Excelsior Corn Shelter
simple, effective and easily operated" The firm
had heard Of the captains great influence in the
agricultural circles Of northern Vermont and quite
naturally selected him as the very man to intro
duce their goods To make sure of securing his
influence and desperation in their behalf, they
proposed to furnish him. for while, shelters the
retail price Of which was 81 80, at the nominal
price of $500, giving him margin Of - 80 on
each machine for his influence in agricultural
circles and efforts in behalf of the firm As
further nducement and to convince the CAPTAIN
that their concern 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 i'm
portant for the reader to remember in order to
thorough insight into the case-the captain
would OF course remit 81 90 to pay charges of
transportation. Now, as the captain is little shy
about adopting new methods and swallowing new
stories, and not caring to have his family see him
studying that circular he retired to the woodshed,
straddled the saw horse and for half hour was
lost IN the study and contemplation of the terms
OF the proposition. The result of the contempla
ton was visions of speedy wealth, air castles of
prodlglouS magnitude, and complete triumph
over nelghbor Trefren of grain sif.er notoriety
There is nothing small about the captain, and that
little suggestion about the 81 90 to pay cost of
transportation seemed to him the most natural
and reasonable thing in the world He enclosed
81 90 and the machine was received last Friday
night by mail, a three cent postage stamp cover
ing the cost of transportation. The shelter con
sisted OF piece of thick sheet iron 3xi inches in
size, with printed label of the name of the ma
chine and the name of the firm painted on one
side. The knife sharpener six inch stick
with one end of it dipped in preparation of glue
and sand. The captain 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 unhltched the old mare gave
her &c 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 conclude
he Is on the road taking orders for machines pack
ing away the 50 80 margins and crowdng his
neighbor Trefren in the race for wealth
Frank Bell of Lunenburg, bought one of those
Excelsior Corn Shelters for dollar Bell, it seems
is supposed to have some influence in agricultural
circles, and the concern at Mechanic Falls are will
ling to sacrifice one machine, less freight, to Sc
cure that influence in Essex county, vt 1t is
matter of profit occasionally to be man of infu-
ence in agricultural circles