The Arizona sentinel., 1886-05-29
A CENT A MONTH.
Smart John Smiths Magnificent Salary
 For Three Years Work.

Smart John Smiths Magnificent Salary
 For Three Years Work.
 At the Pacific Club a 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- sponse to an advertisement for an as- sistant shipping clerk. He told the usual tale of how he desired 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 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 deferen- italy replied
 'I want to show you, sir, that mean business, and I 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 a smile. ''Do you know what you're talking about, my dear boy?"
 Well, sir, my principal aim is to learn the business, responded the young fellow, ''and I would be almost willing to work for nothing, but I'd like to feel and be able to say that I was earning something, you know"
 'tI'Il take you," remarked the old man, decisively. ''One cent, two cents, four cents, eight, sixteen," he 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 go 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 periodp" inquired John Smith.
 "We 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 do you want employment?"
 "Three years, sir, if agreeable to you"
 We'll, by love, the old man agreed, and young MT. 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 a position in the house for three years on the terms l 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, .01; second, .O2; third, .04; fourth, .0S; fifth, .16; sixth, .32; seventh, GA; eighth, SIPS; ninth, S2.56; tenth. S5.12; eleventh, S1O.24; twelfth, S20 AS; thirteenth, $40 96; four teenth, $S1.92; fifteenth, $163.S4; six tenth, S327.6S; seventeenth, S655. 36; S1,31072; nineteeth, S2,- 621.44; twentieth, S5,242.SS; twenty first, $10, ,4S5.76; twenty-second, S20,- 71.52; twenty-third, S41, 943 04; twenty fourth, 3.SS6.0S; twenty-fifth, S167,- 772. 16; twenty-sixth, S335, ,544 32; twen- ty-seventh. S671, ,0S8.64; twenty-eighth, S1, ,342, ,177.2S; twenty-ninth, S2,6S4,- 354. 56; thirtieth, S5, ,368, ,7O9.12; s1O, ,737, ,41S.24 thirty-sec- ond. $21, ,474, S36. AS; thirty-third, S42,- 949, ,672.96; thirty-fourth, SS5, ,S99,- 345. .92; thirty-fifth, S171, ,79S. 691. .S4; thirty-sixth, $343, ,597, ,383. 6S; total sal ary for the three years, $6S7. .194, 767. .35.
 The governor nearly tainted when he understood how, even if he were twice as rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined in paying John Smiths salary. He concluded to discharge the modest young man at once Smith had figured up how much would be due him, and 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 1000 and bade him goodbye. | I've heard he tried the same dodge in Chicago after leaving here.-San Fran CISCO Alta.