The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-22
Une Cent a Month.
JOHN SMITHS MUNIFiCENT SALARY FOR
THREE YEARS.

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 cOuntiug-roOm in re-
sponse to an advertisement for an assist
ant shipping clerk. H 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 the lining
of his hat with his fingers, and deferen-
TALLY replied:
g | want to show you, sir, thai | mean
business, and | will work for one cent
the remainder of this month, providing
you think it would not be 200 much to
double my salary each month there
after"
That's a novel proposition, surely"
said the old man with a smile. ''Do you
know what you are talking about, my
dear boy?''
"Well, sir, my principal aim is to
learn the business responded the young
fellow, "and | 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.
''I'll take you" remarked the old man,
decisively. "One cent, two cents, four
cents, eight cents, sixteen" he enumer-
ated. You won't get much for a
while" 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-
morrow. His salary will be one cent
this month. Double it every month
from now on"
"In consideration of my working for
the small salary, | might ask you to
assure me a position for definite
period ?' inquired John Smith.
eve 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,
anu young MI -HlAkiy OH ETGttuso ol
wanting some evidence of the stability
of the place, got the governor to write
out and sign a paper that he had been
guaranteed position in the house for
three years on the terms | have stated
| He worked along for six months with.
out drawing cent. Fe said he would
draw all his earnings at Christmas. The
cashier one day thought he'd figure uE
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 figure.
he took to the old man;
First month, 01; second, 90; third
Oh; fourth, .0S; fifth, .16; sixth, 80
seventh, "a; eighth, SIPS; ninth, $2.56
tenth, S5.12; eleventh, $1024; twelfth
$20.4S; thirteenth, S4096; fourteenth
SsI92; fifteenth, S163.S4, sixteenth
$327. .6S; seventeenth, 1855. SO; eigh
teenth, s., ,311.72: nineteenth, $2,623.44
twentieth, s., ,246.SS; twenty-first, SO,
1876; twenty second, $40, ,987 50; tween
ty-third, fl ,975.04; twenty-fourth, $50,
9500S; twenty-ffth, s16T ,900.16; TWEEN
ty-sixth, 1886, ,S0032; twenty
$671 ,600.64; twenty-eignth, 81 1888, 30,
| %; twenty-ninth, $2,6S6, ,402.5 Sc; thir
tieth, $5,372, ,S04I2; thirty first, SO,
745. .610 "a; thirty-second, 81, ,4s1 ,220. .4S
thirty-third, $42, 9S2, ,440. 90; thirty
fourth, SS5. 964 ,Ss1 90; thirty fifth, s171
929, 1884; thirty-sixth, $34S, ,85S, ,527 .6s
| The governor nearly tainted when h'
understood how, even if he was twice a
rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruine'
in paying John Smiths salary. He con
cluded to discharge the modest youn
man at once. Smith had figured Vi
how much would be due him, and r.
minded the old man of his writer
agreement. Rather than take chance
in courts and let everybody know ho'
he had been duped, the governor pai'
Smith 5000 and bade him good bye
I've heard he tried the same dodge i
Chicago after leaving tere.