The Colfax chronicle., 1890-12-20
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS WELL
SPENT.
That Is the Sum One Man Paid 60 oo'
Sound Opinion.

That Is the Sum One Man Paid TO Cos
Sound Opinion.
A former Louisvillian, who is largely
interested in the large corporations
tolls this interesting story OF how ne
became acquainted with Henry George
ideas:
Il was travelling ON railroad train III
Northern Ohio one day." said he, ana
the newsboy came through and hung
book into my seat. picked it up look
cd at the title page and read: ':sociai
Problems. by Henry George had
never read any of Georges books ana
from the political dispatches concerning
him, had taken up the idea that ne
was mere labor agitator. So threw
down the book. and amused myself py
gazing out OF the car window. fres-
emily the conductor, who knew me. came
up, took up the book carelessly and ask
ed me if had read it.
"'No,' said /, i haven't
"'Well, said he, you ought to. 1t Is
one of the most remarkable books ever
read, and to man like yourself. who
has made his own way in the world, 1t
will be particularly interesting
''Thc conductors remarks struck me-
and paid the boy fifty cents for the
book and began to read. 1t nailed my
attention from the beginning, and every
now and then the conductor would come
through and smile knowingly as he saw
me glued to the pages. read it all day,
took 1t home, read it all evening, and
for the next week my head was greatly
bothered Finally l took the book to
my lawyer, member OF rich firm OF cor
poration counsel, and asked him il he
had read it.
"sNo,' said he, Il have no time for
such rubbish
"'I have read it, replied, and some-
how it strikes me as being remarkable.
wish you would read it and tell me
what you think OF it
If were to do that he answered,
4 would charge fee of $780,
I'll pay it, said ]. because / want
to have an expert opinion upon its logic.
have had no school discipline, and l
am not sure of my ability to judge this
book. want you to read it carefully.
mark such passages as you may find
where there are flaws in the logic, and
then go over it with me and give me
your opinion of it,
''He agreed to do it for $500 and told
me to call in week. l did so, and he
said: I've read that book and marked
good deal of it up for you, but I'm not
through. Call again Several days after
/ met him on the street and he stopped
me and said: Look here, I've read that
book through again, carefully, and I've
rubbed out good many marks made
against it last week. At the end of the
week called again.
"sWell,' said he, I've studied that
book carefully, and I've rubbed out all
the marks in it. There may be differ
ence of opinion as to some of his facts
and the premises from which he starts,
but If one accept these no human being
can deny the irresistible logic of his
conclusions. There are no flaws there.
and so I've nothing to discuss with
you.'
"'But, said /, what about his prem
ises?
| "'Ah,' said he that's more than
know. He is as likely to be right as any
body, and more likely to be right than
/, because he has devoted his life to the
study
After that" concluded the speaker,
II bought and read all of Henry Ge,rge's
| books. What do think of them. Well
think never paid $500 for any legal
opinion that gave me more satisfaction
and information. Courier Journal.