The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-08-12
NOT PARTaCULAR ABOUT HIA
WAGES.

Year before last bright-looking young
man entered our counting-room in re-
sponse to an advertisement for an assistant
shipping clerk He told the usual tale of
how lie wanted position more than
wages for the time being, and was willing
to accept nominal salary to start in on
The old man was feeling in particularly
good humor that afternoon, 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 differentially
replied:
Il want to show you, sir, that mean
business, and will work for cent the
remainder of this month, providing you
think it would not be too much to double
my salary each month thereafter"
"That's novel proposition surely"
said the old man with a smile. Do you
know what you're talking about, my dear
boy?"
"Well, sir, my principle aim is to learn
the business" responded the young fel-
low, and would be almost willing to
work for nothing, but I'd like to feel and
be able to say that was earning some
thing, you know"
cpl take you," remarked the old man.
Gone cent, two cents. four cents, eight,
SIXTEEN" he enumerated. "You won't
get much for awhile" he added.
He took him up to the cashier. "Ths
is John Smith," he said He will 60 to
work as assistant shipping clerk to-mor-
row. His salary will be one cent this
month. Double it every month from now
on"
In consideration of my working for
this small salary might ask you to as
sure me position for definite period ?"
inquired John Smith.
"We don't usually do that" replied the
governor; "but we can't lose much on
you anyhow, l guess, and you look like
an honest fellow. How long do you want
employment?
"Three years, sir, if agreeable to
you?'
Well, by Jove, the old man agreed, and
young Mr.. Smith, on pretence of wanting
some evidence of stability of his place,
got the governor to write out and sign a
paper that he had been guaranteed posi-
tion in the house for three years on the
terms / have stated.
He worked along for six months with
out drawing a cent. He said he would
draw all his earnings at Christmas. The
cashier one day thought he'd figure up
how much would be coming to the young
man. He grew so interested in the pro-
ject that he kept multiplying for the three
years. The result almost staggered him.
This is the column of figures he took to
the old man First month, .ol; second,
.o2; third, o4; fourth, .os, fifth, l6;
sixth, :s2; seventh, 81; eighth, $l:2s;
ninth, $3.50 ; tenth, $5.l2; eleventh, $lo.-
"a; twelfth, $2O,4s; thirteenth, $4O.96;
fourteenth, $sl.92; fifteenth. $l63.s4;
sixteeth, $327.6e; seventeeth, $655.36;
eighteenth, $l,31l.72; nineteenth, ST.
623.54 twentieth, q, ,247Os; twenty-frs
$lO,494.l6; twenty-second, $40, ,9ss.32;
twenty third, $41, ,97e.64; twenty-fourth,
s2,953.2s; twenty-ffth $l65, ,986.66;
twenty-sixth, 1891 ,sl3.l2; twenty-seventh,
$685., s,626.24; twenty-eighth, 81, ,s27,252.-
4e; twenty-ninth, $685., ,5o4.96; thir-
tieth, $4,000, ,Oo9.o2; thirty-frst, $685.
ol9.s4; thirty-second, $l7,236. .os9.6s;
thirty-third, $34 ,472 ,O7s.3s; thirty-fourth,
SOS, ,S44, 1862 thirty-ifth, sla7, ,sss, ,sls.,
44 thirty-sixth, $275,776,626.ss; total
salary: for three years, $552,554,2s3.65.
The governor nearly tainted when he
understood that even if he was twice as
rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined in
paying John Smiths salary. He conclu-
ded 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 $1,000
and bade him good-by. I've heard he
tried the same dodge in Chicago after leav-
ing here.-LOuisviHe C0urier-Journdl