The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-26

man may be in possession of a moiety
of the mythical million, which is the
unit Of real wealth, having an income
from it of $685. 900 a year. and more
than all of it is spent to maintain him
self and his family among their richer
associates. He cannot afford to have
a home, so he lives in d fiat for the
sake Of economy, another one of the
euphemisms of poverty. Again, there
are the $500, OO0 class. the 500. 600 class.
the $4,000 class and so on down the
ladder OF Ollar until the end is reach
ed in the cheap structures, which may
not even be called flats, but are known
as tenementS. Down at the bottom
OF the ladder, il may seem difficult
enough for the ~strugglers to live, but
81 is not more so than it is for those
who struggle farther up the ladder. The
degree of difficulty is not measured by
those who struggle, but by hat with
which they struggle.
John Tankerman was considerably
above the bottom rung of the ladder.
He had a thrifty wife, two sons and
two daughters. and a salary of $4,000
a year; just enough to leave none for
a rainy day which SO often comes TO
those of his kind. At the momen of
this chronicle. John Tankerman was
miserable because the last dollar of
the months revenue had gone to meet
the annual dues on his life insurance.
and the girls wanted new hats. the
boys needed new shoes and the wife
hadn't a gown fl TO wear" He had
worried all day, and had gone to bed
early, matchmaking poverty. and
wondering why every man and woman
did not have an even $780, 600 each. so
they would all be Independent and
happy. This was a very REASONABLE
amount, he thought. seeing that a man
must nave a million to be rich. and
this was but a 1.-THE Of that. 1t was
his last thought as he turned on his
pillow, and the cheer of il seemed to
soothe him TO rest.
He u have oversight himself, for
hh aWoke with that peculiar start one,
under such circumstances. once more
esumes his daily consciousness of the
world, and finds the light streaming in
upon him. 1t was at least an hour later
than usual, because the sun shOne on
a certain spot near the window. which
he noted from his bed only on Sunday
mornings when he allowed himself the
delicious luxury of an extra wink or
two that he had no time for on week
day mornings. He called to his wife.
Who. strange 10 say, was as derelict as
her lord. and when she responded by a
sudden jump as if the house were on
ire. Mr.. TaGkerman spoke.
Bless me, Jane" he said. what can
be the matter with the cook his morn /.
ing? It's far after her time and there's
no sign Of her. I've been depending so
long on her TO wake me up that l sim ;
ply slept on when she didn't. 1 haven't
heard the janitor. either, nor the ele-
vatOr running, and the milk or the
bread hasn't put in an appearance yet.
It's dead quiet IN the street. too.
wonder if il could have showed every
thing under during the night" and he
smiled at his vapid little joke, for it
a June morning, and the air was
delicious.
I'm sure I don't know what's the
matter" responded his wife, visiblv
annoyed, and hurrying about as fast
h could, finally going to the door
TO take an observation in the hall for
further information.
Presently she returned. bringing two
large, legal looking envelopes in her
hands.
Il don't know" she said, where the
cook is or what has happened. but here
is something for ach of US thai may
explain. / wish Mary had let me know
If anything is the matter" J
She handed one of the envelopes to
husband, and as he tore it open she
the same with the one still in her
possession. and out Of each came a neat
package of bank bills and a note. The
note was very brief, without date line
or signature, and was printed in red
II ran as follows:
Herewith please find 800, 900 Zone
hundred thousand d~Ollars) in the cur
rency of the realm, TO be used as you
zee fit"
1T 1rst Nj. IankeTman was stunned,
although the full force of the discov-
cry mad not struck him, because he
lid not instantly realize the measure
Of his good fortune, and he shortly
recovered sufficiently 10 make ali in
With fingers that seem
ID TO stumble over each other. he
the money thus mysteriously
ONE into his hands, while poor Mrs.