The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-08
DEBTORS LUNCHEON.
Novel scheme of . Blacksmith In
Kansas.


Kansas.
1t has been left to Kansas blacksmith
10 make debt paying pleasure. All cred
itors will be eventually forced to adopt his
plan. Next time you pay your debts de-
mand what this man gives his creditors.
Under the system adopted by Fred West
hoff of Wathena, Kan, his customers look
forward to settling their accounts with
him much as the suburban youngster
longs for the coming Of the greatest show
on earth. Instead Of regarding his debt
ors as undesirable persons to be particular
ly friendly with, no welcomes them royal
ly on an appointed day and they all feast
and make merry at his expense.
The beauty of Mr.. Westhoff's idea Is Its
absolute originality. He has considered
the collection problem, after the fashion
of almost every Kansas man, on the basis
that 1t is a very difficult one to solve. 1t
Is the misfortune Of the country black
smith that almost all of his work is done
on credit, the farmer, MS rule, nnding t
Inconvenient and often impossible to pay
spot cash. So Mr.. Westhoh studied his
books and racked his brains until be
formed this plan. As first step to carry
Ing IL out, he issued an Invitation TO every
debtor, In which he said
"As have To meet payment OF note, I
flnd it necessary to call upon oil those who
are indebted to me to help me out as much
as they can. Therefore have decided to
select one day, and kindly request your
presence at my shop at Wathena and pay
the amount herein stated, and all these
complying with this request will receive
special treat Lunch and refreshments
will be- served from l p. IN. to 8 p. IN. In
nv basement that day, and very good
time assured to all present. Please present
| this card when you call, and show tae
amount of your account, which Is - dol
lars and - cents Hoping all will re-
spond and you will have good social
afternoon.
1t may naturally be supposed that this
absolutely unique invitation created aston
ishment No one had ever heard the like.
To think Of a man inviting his debtors to
meet and enjoy themselves with him, and
making tho open sesame to that enjoy
ment the settling of their bills. 1t seemed
like a Belshazzar feast, and no little deri-
sion was excited by the blacksmith's new
departure The day came-it was only
very few daye ago-when It was decided
that the debtors should gather, and what
a gathering It wasi Ii there was one farm
4
tion they enjoyed has not bcen equaled
since the days in Kansas City, just across
the line, when Martin Regan was running
for the city council.
Not the least expected feature OF the CO.
casion was that without exception, every
debtor who attended the feast squared ac-
counts Possibly this might have been
induced by the fact that the beer and other
beverages that cheer were dispensed In
plenty. and also that it was good beer,
which is q recommendation that no tip
Ming Kansau can afford TO pass lightly
over When IL comes to beer In Kansas, "
is always clearly apparent TO the purchaser
thereof that while the intention of the
man who sells him the amber liquid may
have been excellent when he supplied
himself. the fulflllment was of an ex
ceedingly weak nature Not so with Mr.
Westhoff's beer 1t was of the regulation
blue ribbon variety, such as delights TIT
thirsty soul and increases the capacity o
the consumer. Kansas has many quee
things placed to her account, and there u
no question but that this takes ranl
among the first.
J "It was new experiment, Mr.. West
hoff said when questioned, but hgure'
, out that couldn't lose by It nohow. Yo'
i
There were three particular points that
, calculated my idea would cover. The FRS
, of these was that this Is n prohibition
, state, and that tho beer ought to go prett.
, we'll IL 1t was good. The second was tina
the accounts due mo would all be paid II
one day, and In that way could use th
receipts to much greater advantage thar
4 could " tho money came In driblets
When cash comes i'm dollar mt time nov
, and then, &c don't bring any returns, ant
it Is spent as fast as il comes in. The frs
, you known it's gone and you haven't go
anything tn show for It. The third poin
was that I believed I could 30 conduc
such an affair that IL would be on a pay
Z ing basis OF course that is matter tina
has got to be left to the wit of the ma
who IL getting the idea up, and though
I had brains enough to run 1t.
at don't take much OF man to SEQ, nc
cording To my way of thinking, that sue
cess IL much moro certain in collectin
bills of persons who might not pay at a
IL you tried TO force them 60 do 10 In thi
way than I'm any other. Besides that, 20
don't mako anybody your enemy There
a whole lot of people who would be viii
ing to give 90 or 20 cents for the kind {
treat set up In fact, think they
!. give that much rather than he left out S
' you see I collect my bills, keep my friend
AMI get new customers, because ! te
! thom I am going To do this sort or thin
= right along. There is no humbug abor
my treat 1t rs as FREQ as air. r."-Philade
phia Times