The record-union., 1894-06-09
JASON JAGGERS EXPERIMENT.

copyright, 1894, by Edgar L. Wakeman. All
rights reseryed.l
Mr.. Jaggers rose up.
It was an unusual thing for Mr.. Jag
gers to do this, save for his hurried lunch
at noon. between his arrival at the great
wholesale establishment in the morning
and his final departure for his pleasant
city home at night.
So when Mr.. Jaggers rose up. rose up
almost violently, with his broad back
planted very stiffly against the partition
wall of his box-like private office. and
with something like a slam OF his revoi-
wing chair against his desk, the various
heads of departments and clerks inside,
within, and just outside the doorway,
who, in the line of their various duties,
were in turn awaiting his attention, knew
that his temper was up as well.
This they conveyed to one another as
plainly as men could say 1t, in subdued
and solemn "Ahemsp' sly winks. grave
wrinklings of commercially placid fore
heads and in gentle buzzing of crisp
comment which BODIED i'll for the three
persons seated beside Mr.. Jaggers' desk,
who had precipitated this unusual crisis
by their exasperating opportunities Tor
charity subscriptions.
.'Catch his nibbs' great tragedy pose,"
whispered department head behind the
huttering manifold of an agency's report
on a doubtful country customer.
s'Cold morning for foundllngs," MUIR
INJURED the assistant bookkeeper, gazing
innocently at statement of an overdue
account.
''We'll all git vacation am raise"
- fl,arN ffNffi ina
messenger boy, 'if the Governor shakes
off them rank octopusesW
''Ten to one Jaggers out-nerves 'em
this time," was one of the commercial
travellers quiet observations. and COM
mercial travellers are Judges of men.
Their accounts are closed" prophet
cally sighed the credit clerk TO the chief
stock clerk, who rejoined admirably
with:
"Jaggers must be loaded this morn
ing. Never saw him in such mettle and
formw
"Not another penny" almost roared
Mr.. Jaggers, as If desperate enough to
back through the partition and conscious
of the congestion OF his business affairs
and the observance and criticism of his
employees.
How can you possibly permit our an
nual report TO go to press without your
honored name-not only your name, Mr..
Jaggers, but, | may say, the reputation
of your great business house besides
having representation among our list OF
benefactors?' pleaded one of the ladies.
Not another penny, madam"
why, Mr.. Jaggers, the Needy Moth
ers' Sterilized Milk Fund"
Must sterilize and stew and steam
right along without Jason Jaggers' check
this year," retorted the obdurate trade
magnate. 81 am going right into the
uaadv mother charity mVSelfD
But
mo use now. It's settled. Done my
share already. Tackle some other fellow.
Sorry. But me and my family are going
to do our little good our own little way
1or a while. Just count Jason Jaggers
out of organized charities this year,
The Lady Treasurer of the Needy
Mothers SteriliZed Milk Fund passed
out through the row of bowling employees
disconsolately.
''Now our charity" began the remain
ing lady wheedingly, appeals more di-
rectly to the practically benevolent"
''Oh, Lord, yes. OF course" groaned
the merchant. "But not another
''Our Society for the Moral Distinction
of the Home Atmosphere"
mot penny" concluded Mr.. Jaggers
defantly.
.'Of course" freezingly added the Lady
President rising, ''if gentleman of your
in antagonism TO all the great charitable
movements of modern society, his isola-
ton may be marked and painful, but
suppose these extraordinary exceptions
are TO be met with in all metropolitan
communities. Good morning, Mr.. Jag
gersn
''Good morning, madam"
81 really cannot blame you," commits
eratingly remarked the remaining organ
lied charity beggar, the financial agent
of the Better Way woodward and the
Stranded Strollers' Rest. "These ladies
no doubt represent excellent, fairly ex-
cellent causes, but they are so exceed
ingly persistent.
''Humph!" grunted the merchant with
out relaxing in the slightest degree his
stiffness or his furtlveness.
''It is pretty hard to say mo- whatever
the character of their schemes" contin-
ued the sympathetic financial agent. SIN
fact, we found that female agents for our
grand charity, l might add our charity
which amounts to the actual salvation of
q large increasing and deserving class,
were at times positively offensive in
their opportunities, and would not do.
Our patrons are exclusively of the better
class, Mr.. Jaggers; men, like yourself. of
ability, decision, character; men TO whom
time has specific value; and the execu-
tive board-conndenlially Mr.. Jaggers,
many have suggested that you be in
vited to serve with them!-has for some
time.insisted that call personally, and /
might add, privately, upon our most
prominent citizens
DO. Capital idea" insisted Mr.. Jag
gers with decision.
And leave the question of their sub
scriptions entirely TO their own gener-
osity.o
Mighty good of the board. wasn't it
now?''
The veins were gradually swelling in
Mr.. Jaggers' forehead and neck, as he
gave his waiting group of employees an
almost pitiful look OF appeal.
But you are exceedingly busy now.
Mr.. Jaggers. Pill just leave a few leaf
lets comprising extraordinary instances
of our work. Brands from the Burn
ing 'Sawdust Salvation and Bundle
of Splinters' are peculiarly illustrative of
the miraculous transformations in char
acter we have wrought. OF course, as
you have been exceedingly generous in
the past, we shall not expect an increase
in your
Not another penny,n thnndered Mr..
Jaggers furiously. "In heavens name,
can't you people understand the English
language?"
"Eh? Certainly. Thanksi Take your
own time. Mr.. Jaggers. Any time before
our annual meeting. Never mind mail