Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-09-11
A NAPOLEON OF FINANCE.

When an Engllshman fails in busl-
ness he accepts clerkship without u
murmur. The idea never occurs to
him that he can engage in any enter
prise unless he has capital behind
him. When an American fails he
accepts "A clerkship only as last eX-
pedlent. The mere want OF capital
seldom dcters him, however from i'm
mediately having another turn to with
fortune.
Mr.. Biggs was an American. He
was an American who had failed in
business. | met him when he was
teetotally stripped of everything save
his consummate faith in his own abil-
ity. Mr. Biggs believed in himself
thoroughly. He did it so thoroughly
when | saw him that / got to believ-
ing in him, too. | believed in Mr..
Biggs TO exactly the extent of fifty
dollars. Shortly after that | went TO
Europe. 1t was eighteen months be-
fore returned.
l thought / would go and see Biggs.
There was no occasion TO hunt him up.
dozen friends l had met on the
street had told me Of his wonderful
success.
On the fifty dollars Mr.. Biggs had
succeeded in establishing on firm
footing newspaper property that
netted him four times that amount per
week. He was the proprietor OF The
Family Footstool."
Biggs told me how it was done.
There is nothing like business.
How to invest your fifty dollars, ="
said Biggs, twas a question which
vexed my soul for forty eight hours
after you went TO Europe. Ii was
sticky money. In the speculative
world money that is earned by real
hard. honest work is supposed to be
endowed with superior qualities. 1t
doesn't melt away like the other kind.
With us it bears about the same rela-
ton to other kinds as federal scrip to
confederate during the war / looked
you up with the idea OF striking you
for We, but made it fifty when
found you were flush. There it is.
Much obliged. You'll have to take it
in guesses though"
Mr.. Biggs thereupon handed me
sundry rolls OF silver. which contained
quarters. He seemed to revcl in that
particular denomination OF coin, and
presently you shall know why.
after | left you pursued Mr.. Biggs,
al cast about for the best way TO get "a
start. / determined to publish this
paper, The Family FootstooL
What. without capital?'
Not without capital. had quite
a deal of it, Cash isn't everything
Cheek and credit are. l had these
rooms furnished as magnificently as
you now see them, for an immediate
outlay OF $40. the rest of the bill to be
paid on installmepts The rest of the
money / held on TO like grim death.
1t was expended quite judiciously in
improving my personal appearance by
the addition of a new spring overcoat
and silk hat. A silk hat properly
worn, can be made an incalculable
source of credit.
Il sat down and drew up The follow
ing advertisement:
(which Is 1t? 'As White as n
Sheet" or las White as Snow?" Two
thousand dollars will be given in cash
as follows: TO the person who first
answers this question correctly 1000;
to the second $3.50; To the third $3.50.
Each guess must be accompanied by
twenty-five cents, which will entitle
the sender 10 six months subscription
to the Family Footstool. the brightest,
newsiest periodical in America.
IL took my advertisement TO an ad-
vertising agent a total stranger to me,
but man who knew about business.
He inserted this advertisement in 20C
newspapers, ard / went to the Office &c
wait
MY $50 had dwindled TO almost
nothing; the girls | had been com
PEELED to hire to address wrappers for
my new paper, not having received
their pay were growing more and
more insolent when one evening got
a letter from the advertising agent:
Your ad. was out in Rabbits list
yesterday. Look out for squalls.
Next morning there were signs Of
life in the Office OF The Family Foot.