The Brookhaven leader., 1886-05-20
a GENT a MONTH.
Smart John SIN this Magnificent salary
For Three Years Work.

smart JOhn Sm TINS Magnlnrent SALARY
For Three Years Work.
At the Pacific Club a few evenings
ago the talk turned on the curioSitics of
mathematics, and one of the group sail:
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 YOU be
willing to accept in beginning?'
The young man picked at tM lining
of his hat with his fingers. and deferen-
italy replied:
II want to show you, sir. that | mean
business, and ] 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?'
We'll, sir, my principal aim is to
learn the business, responded the young
fellow, land would be almost willing
to work for nothing, but I'd like to feel
and be able to say that | was earning
something. you know
III take you," remarked the old
man. decisively. Zone 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 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.
1--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"
Well, by 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 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 ne took to the old man:
First month, OF; second, .02; third,
"a; fourth, .O8; fifth, .16; sixth, 80;
seventh, ga; eighth, $1.28; ninth,
$3.50; tenth. 1912; eleventh, S10.24;
twelfth, $40. 48; thirteenth, $40. Sc; four
teenth, S8l.92; fifteenth, $163.84; six
tenth, 1927. 90; seventeenth. 1855. SO;
eighteenth, $l,3l0.72; nineteeth, 3d.
62l.44; twentieth, 5.242.88; twenty
first, $1O,4S5 rs; twenty-second, 800,
97l. SO; twenty-third. S41, 943. o.; twenty
fourth, $83, 1856. 08; twenty fifth, S167,-
772.16; twenty-sixth, 1886, IA. 80; twen-
ty-seventh. S671, O88.64; twenty-eighth.
81 1892, 177.2S; twenty-ninth, $2,6S4.-
354.5 thirtieth, S5,368, 700. IL;
thirty-irst. $40, .418.24; thirty-sec-
ond. S2l, 474, 1856. 48; thirty-third, S42,.
| 1852. 90; thirty-fourtb, S85, $780,.
1852; thirty-ffth, S171. 1893, 691. "a;
thirty-sixth, S34S. 597, 1888. SO; total sal.
ary for the three years, $685.. 1874, 767. IS.
The governor nearly tainted when he
understood how, even if he were twice
as rich ss Vanderbilt, he would b
ruined in paying John Smiths salary
He concluded to discharge the modest
young man at once. Smith had figured
I'D 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 pale
Smith IS, 900 and babe him goodbye
I've heard he tried the same dodge il
Chicago sftsr lsaving here. San Fra's