The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-26
A CENT A MONTH.

smart JOhn SmfCh'S 18SntnCenU SALARY
For Three Years. Work.
At the Pacific Club q few evenings
ago the talk turned on the curiosities OF
mathematics, and one of the group said:
Year before last bright-looking young
man entered our counting-room in re-
Spouse to an advertisement for an as.
sistant shipping clerk. He told the
usual tale of how he desired a position
more than wages for the time being, and
was willing to accept a nominal salary
to start in on. The old man was feeling
in a particularly good humor that after
noon, and said pleasantly to the new
conner:
"Well, sir, what would you consider
a nominal salary? What would yon be
willing to accept in beginning?'
The young man picked at the lining
of his hat with his fingers, and deferen-
italy replied:
81 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 thereaf-
ter"
"That's a novel proposition, surely"
said the old man, with smile. ''Do
you know what you're talking about,
my dear boy?"
"Wel. sir, my principal aim is to
learn the business, responded the young
fellow, land l would be almost willing
to work for nothing, but I'd like to feel
and be able to say that l was earning
something, you know"
"I'll take you," remarked the old
man, decisive1y. Zone cent, two cents,
four cents, eight, SIXTEEN" lie enumer-
ated. "You won't get much for awhile. ="
he added.
| He took him up to the cashier. "This
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, l might ask you to as.
sure me position for a definite period?"
inquired John Smith.
ave don't usually do that, p" replied
the governor, "but we can't lose much
on YOU, anyhow, I guess, and you look
like an honest fellow. How long do you
want employment"
"Three years, sir, if agreeable to
you"
Well, bv Jove, the old man 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 paper that he had been
guaranteed position in the house fol-
three years on the terms have stated.
He worked along for six months with
out drawing 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
project that he kept multiplying for the
three years. The result almost stag
gered him. This is the column of fig.
ures he took to the old man:
First month, .O1; second, .02; third
.O4; fourth, .OS; fifth, .l6; sixth, .32
seventh, ga; eighth, S1.2S: ninth
50. Sc; tenth. 1912; eleventh, S10.24
twelfth, S2O.48; thirteenth, S40.96; four
; teenth, S81.92; fifteenth, $163.S4; six
tenth, $327.68; seventeenth, $655.S6
eighteenth, S1,310.72; nineteeth, 49,,
62l. "A; twentieth, S5,242.SS; twenty
first, $1O,4S5.76; twenty-second, $50,
971. So; twenty-third, Sal, 943. Oh; twenty
fourth, 1888, SS6.OS; twenty-fifth, 1857,
772. 16; twenty-sixth, 1886, 544.S2; TWEEN
, ty-seventh, $671, 0SS.64; twenty-eighth
1882, 177.2S; twenty-ninth, S2,6S4,
354.56; thirtieth, $685. 700. IL
thirty-frst, s10,737, 1921; thirty-sec
, ond. 1921, 474, 1856. 4S; thirty-third, $40,
949, 67296; thirty-fourth, SS5, S99,
1852; thirty-fifth, S171, 79s. "a
thirty-sixth, $34S, 1897, S3.6s; total sal
, ary for the three years, 1861. 1914, 767. 35
The governor nearly tainted when h
understood how, even if he were twc
as rich as Vanderbilt, he would b
ruined in paying John Smiths salary
He concluded to discharge the modes
Young man at once Smith had figured
up how much would be due him, ant
reminded the old man of his writer
agreement. Rather than take chance
in courts and let everybody know nov
he had been duped, the governor pal
Smith SIS, 900 and babe him goodbye
I've heard he tried the same dodge il
Chicago after leaving here.-San Fran
cisco Alta.