The Wahpeton times., 1889-08-22
An 1nvol lun, ary Capitalist


An Involun, ary Capitalist n
Not lene.axo.F .Fogg's ssae.was print
ed in, q list of moneyedr menTby the
merest accident. Of course-apd since
| then Fogg's mail has been crowded
daily with prospectuses Of all sorts Of
enterprises which only lack money to
make them the most profitable things
going. 1t is amusing to see Fogg,
who in his life never had twenty-five
dollars to the good, go through his
mail, and il Fogg only had the money
to invest it's certain that he would
outrank Rockefeller, Gould aud all the
other millionaires. But aFogg hasn't
the ready, and so, although he reads
all the circulars he receives with In.
tense interest, he has naught to con.
tribute towards the capital Of any be-
yond a deep drawn sigh and q CORFU
gatad brow; for he Is forced to let slip
the, splendid opportunity vouchsafed
by the Paradise Town Lots and Build
ing company; he is unable to respond
TO the unprecedented advantages held
out by the Papeteric Consolidated Gas
and Electric Syndicate, and he cannot
much as touch the bonanza which
ss freely presented by the Pyrites Min
ing Association. This is not only
hard upon Fogg, who thus sees wealth
incalculable slipping out Of his empty
hands, but it is also positive discour-
agement to the Paradise Town Lots
and Building Company and the other
corporations mentioned above. inas-
much with this money. which Fogg
wishes he had, they one and all m light
be fully developed and perhaps make
little on their own account.
But Fogg's involuntary assumption
OF the capitalistic role is not entirely
unmixed with satisfaction. He is not
only in daily receipt Of scores of cir.
culars, the writer's Of which with re-
freshing disinterestedness show how
Fogg can make millions by the invest.
ment of thousands, but he is continual
ly importuned by sleek-looking gentle-
men. who are desirous OF boing let in
upon the ground floor of these and
countless other enterprises, and who
look upon Fogg as a perfect encyclo.
p@dia of financial information and as
possessed Of influence unparalleled in
the monetary exchanges of the coun-
try.
To see Fogg sitting Mt his humble
desk and receiving one Of these peripa-
tetic money bags is a scene for pain
ter. As he knows little or nothing
about the companies which his visitor
desires to enter. he has no difficulty in
preserving q reticence in regard to
their affairs which impresses his visit
or with a high appreciation Of Fogg,s
sagacity as an operator and makes him
more strenuous than ever 10 cultivate
SO valuable an acquaintance.
Consequently Fogg is invited to rich
banquets and to take part in divers ex-
cursions and junketings all over the
country, and as Fogg says nothing. for
the sole reason that he has nothing to
say, his fame increases daily, and his
reputation as man who knows what's
what in the investing line is becoming
more widespread and more deeply
rooted as one day succeeds another.
AS he passes through the street it is
no uncommon thing for one gentle
man to remark to another. ..There
goes Fogg, the great OPERATOR" the
street urchins all know him, and they
are one and all possessed OF the idea
that he Is rich as mud; a day seldom
passes in which he is not the recipient
of one or more complimentary tickets
to the theatre; and charitable bodies OF
every name and description flood him
with requests for a share in his pre-.
sumably illimitable bounty. If Fogg
were q single man he would undoubt-
edly be free to take his pick out of the
hundreds Of eligible matrimonial offers
which have been laid before him by
maidens and widows with
money in their own right.-Boston