San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-09
A STROKE OF ECONOMY.
A Young Man Living Three
Months on a Nickel.
Only One Case Out Of Hundreds OF
Mysterious EKistence-Free Lunch
PhiIanthropists.

How is that Tell me about it, re-
piled the reporter.
will, If you don't mention names. lie
belongs to good family and is educated
and refined, and it might make him feel
uncomfortable to figure in newspaper
article in that role"
R.-"All right; names don't go"
We'll. you see, he is we'll dressed and
wears his clothes AS one USED to it. But
n week ago he was different look ing
man. HIS clothes were OF good material
and make. but unnistakaDly seedy, just
falling below the shabby gen teel grade.
Some six months ago he came TO san
Antonio and stopped at this house. He
WAS looking for location. Had come
West to grow up with the country
Contrary to expectations he was not
worried to death with offers of employ
ments, with big salaries and nothing to
do. He was free with his money,
treated us clerks often and lib
orally, and saw the elephant, pay
ing regulation entrance fees. fhis
lasted for several weeks, and then he
sought private boarding place, just for
home comforts, you know A sort of
anxiety settled on his face, and his Wis
its to the hotel we're less frequent, as
were his treats. He came sometimes
and seriously asked If knew OF anyone
needing bOOk-keeper, travelling sales
man, etc. Then he became leks partic.
ular in his choice ri emplOymenIs. till he
MAS iIling to do anything HE changes
Of clOIhing were less frequent, and final
~ settled down to one suit vi cashmere;
the rest he had probably left al his
uncle's for 81 excepting. Often u visit
full, wOllish lock gltamed in his keen but
honest eyes. lhIs lasted for several
months, and as cold weather came on,
became more and more settled in express
sion. About n week ago he came in.
hardly knew him. A great change mad
taken place. His face was radiant, and
new, neat business suit had replaced
the fast tattering one that had done SO
long and faithful service. He had the
old spring in his step, and heartiness in
the clasp of his hands. | knew "a change
had taken place-in other words, he
must nave struck il" at Lass. In answer
to the usual question as to what he was
driving at, and how he had come on
since | had seen him, he said that he had
secured n situation at $50 month in a
mercantile establishment. When he first
arrived an offer of less than $50 would
have been Nh insult. The growing
cold weather and continued adverse for
tune had broken his pride. and he had
written to the old man back East who
had RENTED him 500 with some whole
some advice. lie took both and prOfited
by the same. During the holidays he
accep ed a pOr.ership in a mercantile
house here, and by making himself
HANDY whenever an opportunity offered
he proved his ability in an advanced pO-
sition, and secured n permanent en-
gagement at the above modest salary,
with promise Of rise if merited.
Wonderful how welcome This had be-
come, after his siege with poverty. My
hearty Sympathy in his good fortune"
gained on his confidence, aud he said:
do you.know lhave BET n.awful hard
mp. actually maintained myself for
three whole months on the sum of five
cents, and here is the original capital
yet, showing nickel coin
You don't tell me. How was that.
Jack:'
well, I'll tell you, but, old boy, it's
between us, you know
Little by little my money disap-
peared, and having had falling out
with the Governor and left home in a
milf. was too proud to apply for assis-
lance. | had several offers of situations,
but they did not come up TO my idea,
and declined. Then the offers stopped
and | made applications, but nobody
wanted me after looking me over
and noting the shabbiness Of my 'tOgs. ,
Fortunately had made a friend, true
friend, as he was friend in need. He
is a professional man who barely
ekes out enough for his room rent and
to pay for an occasional square meal.
He knew that | was hard up, and so
offered to share with me his humble
quarters and bed. But he did
not know how awfully had up
| really WAS. and was too con
siderate and delicate to make too
close inquiries as to my financial stand
ing, Ny last article of value had found
its way to my uncle's, and my last
nickel lay at the bottom of my pocket.
| had pretty we'll learned the free lunch
racket, and found that as good as il was
for an inpecunious fellow. little capt.
tai was necessary. and | bad gotten
down to the small end. The question
was. how to get the full benefit OF the
nickel? ! screwed up enough courage
TO ask my roommate II he could make
use Of cigar a day, and pay me a
nickel for the same. He elevated his
eyebrows, and with generous delicacy
forebore questioning, answered in the
affirmative. Going into saloon where
a free-lunch was set out, | would step
up TO the bar and ask for u nickel cigar,
aud then csrelessly walk to the lunch
counter and eat all | could, and then
pass out unobserved If possible. 1
would then sell the cigar TO the good
Samaritan of doubtful social position,
but of big heart, with whom roOmed.
With said nickel another saloon
would be visited next day, and
so around, each day the free
lunch racket was worked for all
there was in il. For over three months
that nickel did service in getting me a
lunch once a day, until the saloon men
began to become little too well ac-
quainted with me, and often gave me
rather hard and suspicious looks when
the cigar MAS transferred to my pocket.
My pride gave away, and the rest you
know, old boy. think that | have
learned a few things that will be Ofvalue
TO me, and with the new year of 1886
have turned over new Leaf. ! have
learned the value Of money, and also of
friends. During Dixie Williams visit |
heard him abuse gamblers for all the bad
on earth, but | found that gambler.
and one-horse gambler at that, had
shown more Of that divine virtue, chart
tn, than many who prayed so long for the
miserable sinners
" You keep your eye on him,
Mr.. LIGHT, and mind you. If he
lives be will yet make his mark or sm
badly mistaken. Pity that some OF the
chairmen of the ways and means COM
mittees of Congress had not his financial
ability"