Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-31
The Almighty Dollar.

DNu sOlilt ~ pDi i'HN' HiiiaNi' W % C''i-
cago Nel0s Representative. always re-
minds me of that Kentucky chap who
visited city. III ) friend showed him
all the big men of the place. saying;
There is Mr.. So-and-So. who made a
million by taking advantage of this or
that opportunity. and this mans house
was built by "a gentleman who never
let the main chance 90.
- h. yes. | see. sa Il the Kentuck-
ian. and he went home.
"The next year his friend came 10
visit him. and h host took him around
to see the sights.
:" You showed me lots of big men
who knew when 10 hit the nail on the
head. You see that man over there in
the poorest kind Of clothes?'
Yes
"'Well. sir. invent five years ago
he came here, peddling potatoes in
little basket Guess what he's worth
now
"A million3'
" No, he amt Not n cent. and his
basket is in hook. And yet he always
took advantage Of his opportunities.
Z" How that?'
never refused the offer of dr. nix.
Since | heard of that" concluded
the speaker. ii made up my mind that
it depends upon how things turn out
whether thoy are opportunities. If for
the good they are opportunities.
Otherwise they have another name
Two friends of nine in Nevada."
said Western Traveller. chad ms mar
row an escape from making fortune
as ever knew. They were running a
shaft in the White Pine district. and
had been running it for more than a
year. Every day they walked from
their cabin TO the mine. a distance of
two miles. and used TO sit down 10 rest
on a ledge Of rocks about midway.
One day tramp came along and sat
down on the same rock. Having moth.
ing TO do he stayed there an hour or
two. and out Of idleness began chipp ng
off pieces with "a hammer
which he had with him. To his as
constituent the rock showed most ex-
cellent indications and he continued
prospect ng up the ledge until he found
very rich vein OF silver He took up
claim. and in three months sold out
for over go. 900. The two miners who
had made the stone their resting zee
for months were the cheapest-look ny
pair ever saw. and soon left that part of
the country. unable TO stand the ieers
of their comrades, who never let them
forget what a fortune they had passed
over.
A well-known physician, one of
many. once had an opportunity 10
strike the Granite Mountain bonanza.
One day, just after he had received IL
check for 81. 500 in payment for debt,
lie met friend who asked him If lie
had any none; he wanted to invest.
The phys clan replied that he had a
check for 81, 500 IN his pocket which
he was going 10 deposit in the bank.
and for which lie had no Immediate.
need. His friend told him TO 60
straight to brokers' Office and pur-
chase Granite Mounta n stock with it.
Stock was then selling for 80 cents Il
share. and the ply ician's friend assur
ed him he knew the property Was -
great value. and that in verl short
time stock would be away up But the
medical gentleman gave him know.
ing wink. and said:
oh. no; you don't catch me on
that / want no mining-stock in
mine"
In vain his friend tried to persuade
him 10 make the investment He
would not be persuaded. Ho could
have purchased with his 81. 500 Just
l. 600 shares of the stock, which would
be worth about 500 90. and be bring.
ing in 1888 month.
Before the mining craze struck ST.
Louis Sergeant McGrew, of that ".
had his chance. Mr.. Gus Ewing
had just taken his first interest in nm
ing stocks He was the commiss oner
of supplies under his brothers APP
pointment, and was frequent caller
at the mayors office. A part of the
business Of each day visit WAS to pre-.
vail upon McGrew to take a little
plunge in Granite Mountain stock, but
Mc(irew was steadfast, and used to
play IN the growth of h Jersey stock
and the crop prospects of his Ohio
farm against the small. but favorable
tluctuat ons of Gran te Mountain rs re-
ported to him. lie could have had al
the Gran lie Mountain stock he wanted,
and obliged his friend by taking il.
lie m ght have been "a millionaire had
he taken the advice given him.
Along back in 1920. when ST Louis
was just beginning to look like some
thing. Mr.. j. Il. G. Lucas owned the
tract of land from Fourth to Twenty
fifth streets and from Chestnut to olive
streets. Even in that day the property
was valuable. Mr.. Lucas wanted To
dispose of it and put it on the market
at S20. 600. Zachary Taylor, who after
wards became President of the United
States was a prospective purchaser.
After some considerable q scussion he
agreed to buy the land if he could raise
the money. Either Mr.. Taylor d d not
try as hard rs he might have done or
else his credit was not worth so much
money: but he did not raise the 500
600. and the property remained on Mr.
Lucas hands In 1868 il was worth
several million dollars, and had Mr..
Zachary Taylor purchased it. when
offered. he would have doubled his
money ten times over.
Not long ago an aged negro work no