The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-13
0VERPLAYED HIMSELF.
A YOUNG MAN WHO PUT HIS FAITH
ON THE WRONG SIDE.
He Plays a Brief and Brilliant Engage
ment in Memphis Business Circles
and Leaves, After Causing Consider
able Losses to His House.

Commercial circles are not fruitful OF
news items as rule.
Transactions OF magnitude are made
and defeated day in and day out and moth
ing is said OF them.
Occasionally, however, things come to
the surface that reveal certain phases OF
business life, happily unusual, and inter-
esting because unusual. One of these
items was accidentally brought to light
yesterday that will serve to point moral
ii not adorn a tale
This is the story: A young gentleman
came into Memphis in the latter part OF |
the year OF Our Lord ono thousand eight |
hundred and seventy-seven. He was |
shrew young fellow, Of urbane manners
and pleasant address. He had credentials
with him introducing him as the author
lied agent Of one Of the largest, il not the
largest cotton house in the United States,
videlicet: Messrs. Hubbard, Price & Co.,
OF New York. He came TO solicit bust
ness for the above firm in the matter OF
spot and future cotton sales, and
he soon became familiar and
interesting object TO cotton men. His
name was not Jones. Cotton men who
wanted 10 try the tickle goddess either on
the long or short side OF the market, came
to the young gentleman to have their or
AStrs placed through his New York house.
Everything went along smoothly and the
young man prospered. His commissions
rose up into considerable sums, and he
.nnt la
policy to be liberal; he made friends 10y
making the sparkling juice Of the grape
pop. The gistening globules that rose 10
the surface and cleaned invitingly upon
the exhilarating liquid brought him Gus
toners, and customers meant money lie
was prompt He was accurate. lie was
good counsellor He was close observer
He could tell as well as any one how the
market was going, and. finding that his
advice to others was so good, he concluded
TO try IL on his own account. He bought
and sold futures and roaped the profits or
suffered the loss. He had some money
and lived high. He "trotted in the fastest
class" among the young bloods, and
was considered solvent as the bank. His
prodigality coupled with a few reverscs
changed all this lie was pennicss. lie
had to keep up appearances or loso his
business, and TO keep up appearances cost
money. To get money was a problem that
could be solved but one way, and that way
was-to get IL. lie determined 10 take the
bovine by the horns and replenish his ex-
chequer.
One good deal would put him In good
shape, and one good deal he concluded TO
make. The market could only move one
OF two ways-up or down. II IL went up,
hn tranII ha uaan
clear $500 or $780, lie purchased 500
bales for future delivery lie did not have
money to put up the margin and knew
that his individual credit would not do, 80
he ordered tho trade In the name OF Mr..
Napoleon Hill. Mr.. Hill had good
credit, and Hubbard, Price & Go. would
put up all the margins Mr.. Hill desired
without n word.
Cotton declined.
Messrs. Hubbard, Price & Co. notified
their agent, whose name is not Jones, that
they wanted n romargin on the Cotton,
The agent put them of from time 20
fine until there was a loss Of Sl.09i 10 on
the 500 bales, when the New York house
became suspicious and called for the mar
gin from Mr. Hill direct. II was then
they discovered that the trade was unau.
thorizcd aud that Mr.. Hill was not respon.
sible for Il.
They wrote their agent.
The young man replied In n long letter,
making full breast OF his oilensc. Ills
case was set out with q wealth Of detail,
which, " IL could have been used la his
praise, would have immortalized him. lie
explained the insidlous and bewldetinp
alluremenis with which his yodng lie had
been surrounded, the expensive habits he
had contracted, the fast crowd with which
he had TO keep pace, and how In a moment
OF desperation, he had give way 10 chest.
nuity impulse and lost n large sum In try
ing 10 recover a small loss. He grew clio.
quent about the middle Of his long letter
and pleaded piteously for charity. liz
callcdupo Messrs Hubbard, Price & Co. e
think, oh, think, Of their brothers ant
sisters, their fathers and mothers ant
aunis and 10 have mercy on his col
lateral and consanguineous kinlolks
and not disgrace a whole family connec
ton by exposing his dclinqueneies which
he was generous enough 10 confess, full,
and freely, humbly and abIeotly; III,
while shifting his breast and cxclaimini
lugubriously "Mea Culpa, Mca MaXiml
Culpal" lie would mako the loss goo,
II he had TO forfeit his souls inheritance
In order TO obtain something negotiable
Win which 10 TAltc INC MlNus ~ lutl
would hold up on him Just the ghos
OF little while he would oycr,urn al
the Grabbed theories Of crusiy philosopher
- who claim that when the twig is ben
and tho tree inclined there Is no chang
ingiL lie accepted his discharge from
the service Of the company and the!
granted him time.
The young man resolved 10 turn over
new leaf lilo has boon turning then
over ever since but somehow the credit ]
uniformly on the wrong side OF each. III
went TO New York and made a good salar
but whenever pay day struck hin
amidship, II knocked him silly A
each months stipend was handcI
over TO him bis evil genius stood by L
lead him TO where the wine was red an
strong drink was raging. lilo squan
dcrcd his substance IN ri0tous living, an
In trying 70 make his system" win on
went the bank roll. lie could not rcduc
his indebtedness and finally concludes
that his creditors had more money tina
they could spend anyhow, and that lac di
not "haye 10" pay them.
Finding they could not collect from hin
By persuasion, Mcsrs. Hubbard, Price
Co. laid the documentary evidence bcion
Attorney General Peters and asked tha
the Criminal Court take the matter ]
hand. They say the young man is now !