Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-05-30
Trade i'm Green Goods.
WASHINGTON BUSINESS MAN Is
ENLIGHTENED ON TIE
subject.

"A crowd of gentlemen were talk
ing in the real estate office ofa re-
putable dealer here recently, about
green goods. The conversation
stretched to considerable length,
and many incidents of the past in
green goods business were told, but
finally the party broke up, leaving
only the proprietor of the Office and
one other gentleman in the room.
Both men knew each other we'll, and
each knew the other to be a buSineS
man of good standing and some
property. The proprietor of the
| office seemed very much interested
IN the subject of green goods, and
showed desire, by several remarks
he made, to learn something about
the "stuff," and wished the gentle
man who was remaining to tell him
something more of what he knew of
green goods, and the operations of its
workers. So the gentleman, with
out saying a word, rose and locked
the office door, looked around very
cautiously as though he were going
to disclose some great secret to his
friend in confidence, and, seating
himself near the proprietor Of the
office, he took a long wallet from
his inside pocket and brought forth
bunch of 10 new 81 bills.
"This is money which has never
been spent" he remarked. He told
his friend to examine the bills.
The friend tore off the band of
paper which was around them, and
after he had examined them their
owner handed him an older 81 bill,
which he took from his vest pocket,
and asked his friend to compare the
new bills with the old one. After
he had done this the owner of the
money said:
Now, then, George, which is the
good moneys"
Well, l should say it is all good
money"
Then the owner put all the money
back in his pocket except the new
bills. Holding it before him and
looking at it admirably, he listened
to hear if any one was near the office
door, and then said:
Now George, the price of these
bills varies little, but / can buy
them for 80 and 81 cents apiece"
and his friend opened his eyes in
amazement, land if you want them
| will buy them for you"
His friend said nothing, but took
the bill in his hand and examined it
the second time. Well, l never
did any Of this kind of business in
my life, but this looks like as good
money as | ever saw" and he was
assured it was good enough to pass
anywhere in the world without uues.
ton.
After little more talk about the
bills, and after considerable evident
struggle with his conscience as to
whether he should depart from the
legitimate methods of getting "good
money" and embarking with his
friend in the purchase of some of
the money which the sample in his
hand represented, he concluded that
he would like to try little of it.,
and he admitted as much to his
friend. And when he was asked
how much he would like to buy at
these figures he said that to start
with he thought that not more than
50 worth for the first time. When
he had taken the purchase money
out, and was about to hand it to his
friend to make the purchase for him,
his friend said:
NO, George, ] see that you are
willing to buy the goods and that
is all | wanted to know. / heard
you say during the conversation this
morning that you didn't believe a
reputable business man would have
anything to do with green goods, no
matter how genuine it looked. Now,
| said | could buy these dollars for
30 and 81 cents, not 80 or 81 cents,
and you can go up to the treasury
exchange window, where / got
these. and buy all you want at that
price, and the government will
make one cent on every dollar you
buy" and he went out of the Office
door, leaving his friend to enjoy the
joke On himself alone.