The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-25
CURIOUS FEATURES OF ACTUAL LIFE.
The Young Man Who Wasn't Particuls
About His Wages.

The Young Man Who Wasn't Particular
About His Wages.
Year before last right-looking young
man entered our counting room in response
to an advertisement for an assist shipping
clerk. He told the usual tale of how he
wanted a position more than wages for the
time being, and was willing to accept
nominal salary to start in on The old man
feeling in particularly good humor that
afternoon and said pleasantly to the new
conner:
Wei, sir, what would you consider
nominal salary. What would You be will
ing to accept in beginning"
The young man picket at the lining of his
hat with his fingers, and differentally re-
piled:
Il want to show you, sir, that mean bus
mess, and will work for / cent the remain
der 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 oil man with smile do you you
know what you're talking about, my dear
boy"
Well, sir, my principle aim is to learn
the business responded the young fellow,
and would be almost willing to work for
nothing, but Id like to feel and he able to
say that | was earning something, You
know
I'm take YOU" remarked the old man
Gone cent two cents, four cents, eight, six
teen he enumerated. You won't get
much for awhile, he added
He took him up to the cashier "This Is
John Smith, h. said He will 60 to work
as assistant shipping clerk to morrow. His
salary will be one cent this month. Double
1t every month from now on"
an consideration Of my working for this
| small salary / might ask you to assure me a
position for definite perioi:' inquired
| John Smith
I'VE don't usually do that" replied the
governor: but we can't lose much on You
any how, | guess, and you look like an hon
est fellow. How long do you want employ
| ments
Three years, sir, il 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 paper
that he had been guaranteed position in
the house for three years on the terms
| have stated.
He worked along for six months without
| drawing a cent He said be would draw all
his earnings at Christmas. The cashier one
day thought he'd figure up how much would
he coming to the young man. He grew SC
interested in the project that he kept multi
| plying for the three years The result
almost staggered him This is the column
| OF figures he took to the old man; First
month, 0l: second, o.; third, .0i; fourth
0S; fifth, 10; sixth, 80; seventh, "a; eighth,
| Sl.2S; ninth, s.. 56; tenth, 81 II; eleventh
| slG24; twelfth, S.D,IS thirteenth, S4e&
fourteenth, SS!.92: fifteenth, Sl63 81; six
| teenth S;i3i.t.s; seventeenth Stl j. Sc; eigh
tenth, Sl,3ll.s2; nineteenth, s., d222 a
twentieth, S5,24.0S; twenty first so, I94 III
twenty second $50, 9sS b; twenty third
SIl, a1,,64 twenty fourth, IS, 9j;i -; twenty
fifth, St65, $50 ~ twenty sixth, s;;jjl ,Sl3 II
twenty seventh, S66}, ga u, twenty eighth
| Sl,:S2' ,253Is; twenty ninth, S2,65i, 5O4. 81
thirtielh, 81, 500, u040!; thirty first, s, 6Is.
0lAsi thirty second, S11,2:id, 05a is; thirty
third, 81, Az 0iS5S; thirty fourth, SIS, 9i3,
1856 -; thirty fifth, sl31, SIS, sl3 II; thirty
sixth, s2z5, IL, GIG IS; total salary for tire,
years, So, sd ,2I,stsl
The governor nearly tainted when he I'm
derstood that even if he was twice as ricl
as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined in pay
ing John Smiths salary. He concluded t.
discharge the modest young man at once
Smith had figured up how much would b
due him, and reminded the old man of hi
written agreement Rather than TAX
chances in courts and let everybody know
how he had been duped, the governor pai'
Smith $500 and babe him good-by Tv
heard he tried the same dodge in Chicag
after leaving here -LOuisvllle Courier
Journal