Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-10-01
AMONG LIARS.
"A Charity That Is Novel in Con-
ception and Noble in Aim.
ihe Discriminating Philanthropy of
Ley In jerks, Practical Man and a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the Con-
ditions of the Mendacious

My DEAR FRIEND: You will no doubt
be glad to hear about the ncwlv-estab-
lished infirrlary at Lugville. visited
1t few Gays ago in company with Mr.
Merke, a Boston lawyer, whom | hap
EHred to meet upon the ira n. On the
way down he gave me most interest
ing account of the endowment of this in
stltution by The late Lorin jerks, to
whose discriminating philanthropy the
world owes a charity that is not Jess
novel in its conception than noble and
pr3 ctical in its aim.
Mr. Lorin jerks, as you know, was
PRESIDENT OF the Saco Stocking and
Sock mills. He was a bachelor, and a
very remarkable man. He made a
million dollars one day by observing
women as they purchased hose in a
cheap store in fremont row. Mr.. jerks
noticed that females who hesitated a
good while about paying fifty cents a
par for plain white stockings eagerly
paid serenty-five cents for the same
quality ornamented with red clocks at
the ankles. 1t cost twenty-five cents a
par to manufacture the stockings. The
red illoSelie for the clocks cost quarter
OF cent
That observation" said Mr. Merkle.
,'was the foundation of jerks great
fortune. The Saco mills Immediately
stopped making plain hosiery. From
that time forth jerks manufactured
nothing but stockings with red clocks,
which he retailed at sixty cents. am
told that there is not woman under
sixty-tive in Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, Maine or Vermont who does not
own at least half dozen pairs of poor
jerks siNty-cent red checkers"
That fact" said l, would interest
Mr.. Matthew Arnold. 1t shows that
sweetness and light"
pardon me. 1t shows that jerks
was a practical man, as well as phil
osopher. Busy rs he was during his
life, he took great interest in politics,
like all sensible citizens. He was also
a metaphysician. He closely followed
contemporary speculative thought in
clining, until shortly before his death.
to the Hege!ian school. Every mid
summer he left the stocking mill to
run Itself, and repaired ;oyfully to Con-
cord to listen to the lectures in the apple
orchard. 1t is my private opinion that
Messrs. PLATO. Kant Il Co. bled him
pretty heavily for the privilege. But
ut Concord jerks acquired new ideas
as TO his duty to the race"
Mr.. Merkle paused TO band his ticket
TO the conductor
During the last three years of his
life, inasmuch as he was known to be
eccentric. philanthropic, and without a
family. jerks was much beset by peo-
pie who sought 10 interest him in vari-
Gus schemes for the amelioration of the
human race. A week before he died
he sent for me.
- Merkie,' says he, Il want you tc
draw me will so leatherly that 80
shark in Pemberton Square can bite it
in two
WELL says ], what is it now,
Jenks?'
- / wish. SAYS he, TO devote my
entire fortune to the endowment of an
institution. the idea of which occurred
TO me at Concord
That's right said I, rather sharp
~. Put honest money made in red
clock hose into the Concord windmill
that's a fine final act for summer phil
osophern
g Wait a minute said jerks, and l
fancied saw a smile around the cor
ners of his mouth. 1T isn't the Con-
cord school want to endow, although
l don't deny there may be certain ex-
pectations in and around the orchard
But why spend money in teaching wis
dom to the wise?' And then he pro-
cGeded to unfold his noble plan for the