The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-12-11
TE WERE discussing the
N merits of some of our So
Y Y called "self made men" and

Il WERE discussing the
: N/ merits of some of our so
called "self made men," and
how they had risen from
obscurity to notoriety-or fame, if you
like. Some pointed out how certain of
our self-made men had become bene-
factors to mankind; others gave it as
their opinion that this old globe on
which we fly through space would sud-
denly come to a standstill or 90 to
smash if the two or three hundred self
made men who seem to control the
world and all who dwell therein were
suddenly removed from their various
spheres of action. Still others opined
that even if we managed to wabble
along without the assistance of self
made yuen, life would be hardly worth
the living; it would be so dull, so mo-
notonous, plodding along without hav-
ing somebody to admire, to praise, or
talk about; to set up before the eyes
of the young as noble examples, whom
they should strive to emulate, and if
possible, to surpass.
There were seventeen of us, includ-
ing st. Louis, who sat on a bundle of
brush some eight or nine feet removed
from the rest, chewing the cud of re-
Election. Every one, in setting forth his
ideas concerning the subject under dis
cussion, kept a watchful eye on the "Old
Man" for signs of approval or dis
approval. But the old man seemed
to be entirely unconscious of what
the rest were talking about. He had
laid his hat to one side, and the
autumn breezes were gently playing
with his luxuriant locks, just begin
ming to assume that grayish hue, which
lends dignity to countenance on
which thought is depicted. He proba-
bly, would not have given utterance to
a single word, had not some one, more
bold than the rest, asked his opinion
about self-made men. There came a
sudden change over the old man. The,
fire kindled in his eye. The color in
his cheek became more lively. A faint
smile played around his lips. The
wrinkles between his eyes deepened.
Then, passing his left hand over his
forehead, he said: "Boys, this is SUM-
day afternoon. Let me tell you the
story of J. Muchland Plenticash, Self
Made Man."
Now the man who had been so fool
ish as to ask the old mans opinion about
self-made men began to feel exceed
lngly sorry, and would have sneaked
away, but the men to the right and
left of him forcibly detained him, be-
ing unwilling to let the guilty wretch
escape. Misery loves company. And
plenty of it. The more the better.
Blessed is he who shares his misery
with others. At least, that's my belief.
Therefore 1 repeat St. Louis story:
81. Muchland Plenticash," the old
man began, "'was born somewhere in
West Virginia. When a boy he was
the cause of much worry to his parents,
and his neigbbors voted him nuisance.
He wasn't overfond of work, and was
given to lying, and he always boasted
of his good qualities. Books never
interested him., but money did, He
saved every cent he earned, because he
was too mean to spend any of it,
When fourteen years old he went to
work in livery barn at So a week
and board. When about eighteen
years old his father died, leaving
widow and seven children to mourn
! their loss. j. M, as the oldest of his
children, should have helped his mother,
but he didn't TO excuse his unfilial
conduct he gave it out that he was
engaged to be married, and had to look
out for his. own interest. He asked at
least a dozen young girls to marry him,
but they refused point blank. They
knew j. M. Then he suddenly disap-:
peared, and for three years his where
abouts was unknown.
ave next hear from him as q pros
porous farmer in the western part of