Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-09-12
PROF. GATES, HONEST MAN.
An Event That sent This college
Graduate Into the World an
Optimist.

ward OF three years to his triennial,
says the New York Sun. Il am per-
suaded that every college should have
a chair for the. propagation of hon
esty in the sale of old furniture, and
have Prof. Gates to fill it.
Didn't you know Gates? Why,
he was as much a part of the college
as the president himself. don't
know but that he was more impor-
tant part; certainly my last inter-
view with him impressed me more
than anything the president said in
his baccalaureate address.
''Gates was short on flesh, but long
in the hearts of the boys. He bought
their old furniture. He didn't have
much to do except to sweep up a
little now and then and look down
the college we'll for stray freshmen.
He was bear on furniture in the
spring, and bull in the market in
the fall. You will understand by
this that he bought all The old traps
the seniors had to sell in the col
lege-days OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES season, and
resold them to the freshics when they
came in with the September equi-
noctial. The beauty Of Gates was
that he would buy anythilg-let him
name his own price.
II remember with awe the hush
and solemnity that attended the .inal
services in the college church, when
the president began: Young gentle
men, members of the graduating
class But somehow they didn't set
my heart a-futter half as much as
did Gates on the following day, when
he came to my room to set price
on my belongings We haggled lit
tie over the chairs and the bedstead,
but came to an agreement when I
threwin the student lamp. 1t had had Q
good many hard knocks in four years,
and thought final throw wouldn't
| hurt it. Then came the question of
the carpet.
"'Now. Mr.. Gates said I, what will
You give me for that fine carpet?'
HE looked at the rag from this
point of view, and from that. He
poked with his foot at several worn
spots and turned back flap by
pulling out few tacks, just to en-
phasize the fact that the carpet had
been turned. Finally he straight
ened up and said:
"'Well, sir, don't think it's very
fine carpet
''But there had reply for him.
Hold on now. Gates I said, Just
recall how you praised it when you
sold it to me four years ago.
"That seemed to stagger him
little, and he wanted to know what
I would take for it. I told him that
/ wasn't setting any price on it, but
was waiting for bids. I was eying
him closely, and presently detected
by the way he stropped his chin with
the back of his right hand that he
had evolved an idea.
"'I'll tell you what I'll do said
Gates, I'll mark with YOU
Mark with me, what do you
mean by that?' said I.
why, I'll make on slip of paper
what I'll give for the carpet he re-
piled, and you mark on another slip
what you'll take for il. Then we'll
split the difference and Til give you
whatever that is
agreed said T, and we marked.
"Well-and this is what crowned,
the close of my college course with
optimism and sent me out into the
cold world believer in a public con-
science-Gates marked twelve dollars
and 1 marked eight dollars"
An Island of Cranes.
Away off in Minnesota, at that pop
ular summer resort, Lake Minnetonka,
there is picturesque island which
takes it's name from the fact that it is
uninhabited by man and given over
to the cranes. Generations back these
birds decided upon this spot for sum-
mer resort. As time went on and the
surrounding islandspopulated, no man
had the heart to disturb them, until
now Crane island is pointed out from
passing boats as one of the curiosities
Of the northwest.-Albany Argus.
Never Can satisfy Them.
1.-THE idea of man holding one Of
fee entering upon a campaign for an
other one!'' exclaimed the politician.
TITS outrageous. He can't help using
his official position to advance his
own interests
''But the man in question has just
resigned"
What! Resigned! Well, that's .
despicable trick to gain public favor.
l didn't think he would do such .
thing.".-Chicago Post.