Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-04-05
A FINANCIAL FABLE.

ola remote planet--long since destroyed
by collision with comet-there was
a deep and narrow valley in which
dwelt numerous tribe, thriving and
industrious, This valley was blessed
with a salubrious climate and fertile
soil; but in one thing it was peculiar:
there were no springs in it. In order
that the people should be assured the
necessary supply of water, the Wise
Men to whom the government of the
tribe was entrusted had caused a
great dam to be built across the upper
end of the valley, and in the lake
thus formed there was stored at all
times great quantity of water, namely
about 925, 100000 barrels.
The Wise Men, protesting to fear the
danger ola scarcity ofmoisture, ordaln-
ed that there should be poured into the
lake monthly great number of barrels
of water, to the amount of 4,50O,O 900;
and this was accordingly done. But
in a little time the increasing weight
of water threatened the security of
the dam and it even began to crumble
away under the strain, so that the
jewellers in the valley below were in
danger of being swept away or
drowned. The Chief of the tribe ac-
cordingly called together the Wise
Men in haste, to the end that they
should stop the inflow and avert the
impending disaster. But there arose
up certain owners of swampy lands
that were being drained into the lake
to whom joined themselves such of tie
jewellers in the valley as kept dairy
farms, who were persuaded-after the
manner of their kind-that they
would be able to sell their milk for
more money if the water supply was
abundant; and these men protested
against the proposed remedy, prophe-
sying all manner of evils, from rep
etition of Noah's food to a drouth
more grievous than that which afflicted
Israel in the days of Elijah. But
after these had wearied the tribe and
worn out their own threats with much
talking, the Wise Men made decree
that no more water should be poured
into the lake, and there was rejoicing
by all save the swamp owners and
the milkmen.
Then divers of the Wise Men took
counsel among themselves, and they
proposed that there should be poured
into the lake at once more water to
the amount of 100000 barrels;
saying that this would be even as a
drop in bucket and could in nOwise
strain the dam, more especially as the
same had been recently patched.
And their fellows-professing desire
to placate the milkmen and for sundry
other reasons best known to them
selves-agreed that this should be
done.
The laws of this tribe, however,
provided that the assent of the Chief
must be given to this decree before
the same could be carried into effect !;
and at once many of the tribe went to
the Chief and besought him that he
should withhold his consent, while
others demanded, with dire threats
that the decree should be signed forth
with. But he, being a stif-necked
man, and one, withal, who took coun-
sci of his own conscience as well as of
the fears and hopes, the threats and
entreaties of others, after duly consid-
ering of the matter, refused his con-
sent to the decree
And so it came to pass that the
jewellers in the valley were a second
time saved from the fear and dread of
impending ruin; but they went to
their homes in fear and trembling lest
it should enter into the hearts of the
Wise Men to indulge in further exper-
iments in hydraulics; while the
milkmen comforted each other with
vows that their efforts should never be
relaxed until an artesian well was
sunk in everybody's back yard
MORAL: Though Grover Cleveland
may leave much to be desired in the
matter of turning the rascals out, he
is tower of strength and bulwark
of safety when Congress begins to
play tricks with the currency.
The Cincinnati Enquirer voices the