Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-21

John Smiths NJ I'M fl Salary for Three
Years.
Erom Ms So Rrancieco IA.

LFAEh.
From tie San Francisco alta,
At the Pacific Club a few evenings ago
the talk turned on the curioslties of math-
ematics, and one OF the group said:
"Year before last a bright-lOoklng
young man entered our c-ounting-rOOm
in response to an advertisement for al as
sistant shipping clerk. He tod the usual
tale Of how he desired a position more
than wages tor the time being, and was
willing to accept a nominal salary to
start in on. The old man was feeling in
particularly good humOr that after
noon, and said pleasantly TO the new
conner:
"Well sir, what would you consider a
nominal salary? What would you be
willing to accept,in %beginning?
The young man picked at the lining Of
his hat with his fingers, and deferentially
replied.
II want to show you, sir, that l mean
business, and l will work for one cent
the remainder OF this month, providing
you think it would not be TOO much to
double my salary each month tnereai-
ter"
That's a novel proposition, surely"
said the old man, with a smile. do you
Know what you're talking about, my dear
boy"
"Well, sir, my principal aim is 10 learn
thO OholuCSbs IbSDOuuCU kuG young lGi-
low, land would be almost willing to
work for nothing. but Pd like to feel and
be able to say that l was earning some
thing, you know"
"Pll take you" remarked the old man,
decisively. "One cent, two cents, four
cents, eight, SIXTEEN" he enumerated.
You won't get much for awhile" he add
ed.
he took him up to the cashier.
. IfhIu - VAI, kANf4h. - l,.antI ALI i. I'LL
20 10 work as assistant shipping clerk to-
morrow. His salary will be one cent this
month. Double i: every month from now
on"
I'm consideration OF my working for
this small salary, | might ask you TO as
sure me a position for a definite period %
inquired John Smith.
CIV G don't usually do that" replied the
Governor, but we can't lose much on
you, anyhow, guess, and you look like
an honest fellow. How long oyOu want
employment"
"Three years, sir, if agreeable to you"
Wei, by Jove, the old "a agreed, and
young Mr.. smith, on pretense of wanting
some evidence Of the stability OF his place,
got the Governor TO write out and sign a
paper that he had been guaranteed a posi-
ton in the house for three years on the
terms | have stated.
lie worked along for six months with
out drawing a cent. He said he would
draw all his earnings 1t Christmas. The
cashier one day thought he'd figure up
now much would be coming to the young
man. He grew so interested in the pro-
ject that he kent multiplying for the three
Years. The result almost staggered him.
This is the column OF figures he took to
the old man:
First month, .01; second, .02; third, .O4;
fourth, .OS; fifth, .l6; sixth, %; seventh,
81; eighth, 81 IS; ninth, 81 s.; tenth,
So -; eleventh, $40 "a; twelfth, $40 As;
thirteenth, $40 90; fourteenth. $S1 90; Ill
tenth, $l63 81; sixteenth, 1927 IS; seven
teentb, $3.50 36; eighteenth, $1.3l1 p; nine
teenth, S2,623 "a; twentieth, $5,247 OS;
twentv-trst, $IO,494 IS; -twenty-second,
$2O,9SS -; twentv-third, SAL, 976 "a; TWEEN
%ty-fourtb, $50, 953 IS; twenty-fiftb, $780,
sos 81; twonty-siXth, 1881, Sl3 y; twenty
seventh. $G63,62 "a; twenty-eightb, ST.
J2t,2o2 As; twenty-ninth, 81, 654, 504 96;
thirtietb, $4,609,0 900 %; thirty-frst. $S,61S,-
0l9 81; thirty--econd, $I7, 236.C39 6S; thir-
third, S34,4I2,O1S IS; thirtv-fOurth, $63,-
944, l56 Y; thirty-tifth. $13I ,SSS,313 A;
thirty-siXth, 1919, 1868 80; total salary
for three years, $500 5j4, 253 So.
The Governor nearly tainted when be
understood how, even il he were twice as
rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined in
paving John Smiths salary. He con-
Guided to discharge the modest young
man at once. Smith had figured up how
much would be due him. and reminded
the old man of his written agreement.
Rather than take chances In courts and
let everybody know how he had been
duped, the Governor paid Smith s., 900
and bade him goodbye. Pve heard he
tried the same dodge IN Chicago after
leaving here.