The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-01-11
PEtTS AS CURRENCY
MINks AND Offers WERE LIKE UNTO
GOVERNMENT BONDS
The Days When Muskrats and Coon.
and Foxes end Wolves and Eears
Were the Peoples Money. So to
Speak. In New York State

and Foxes end Wolves cnL Gear.
Were the Peoples Money, So to
Speak. In New York State.
The man Of leisure from New York
city who had been lazing away q
fortnight or SO Of his not particularly
valuable time at Kyserick. in Ulster
county. \. T., had made up his mind
to return TO his haunts in the metropo-
lis and nonchalantly tossed the tavern
keeper a one hundred dollar note out
of which to take pay for his bill The
landlord could not change the note.
Neither could Deacon Rlimber, who
was by
1t was not until it had been sent all
about the neighborhood that any one
was found with currency enough on
hand to "break" the bill, Farmer
Beacks bad just received pay for his
seasons tater crop ana had change for
more than 500.
1T beats all. an it's singular" said
the landlord as he counted out the New
Workers. change. what folks goes an
does with all their ready money. There
| don't seem to be no currency no more
no currency a-circulatin' at ALL"
This seemed to be Deacon Blimber's
opportunity.
You orto ben here. then," said he,
when my folks settled. somethin' like
seventy five years an more ago. There
was currency enough then. | want to
tell We. 1t want silver. though. Nor
| it want gold. Nor 1t want paper. 1t
| was pets.
1.-The circ'latin' mejum O. the deestric
In them days run from muskrat clean
up to bar. There was minks an there
was offers, an the man that could
manage 10 harvest plenty O them crit.
ters was the man that stood way UP
in the money market. But it want ev-
cry one that could gether In minks an
offers. an SO muskrats an cOODs an
foxes an wolves an bars was the real
eirc'latin' mejum in them days.
"Minks an otters was what you
mowt cal gover'm 'ment bonds Muskrats
an coons an foxes an wolves an bars
was the peoples money. so to speak
If you went TO the tavern an planked
| down your muskrat skin. you'd git your
snifter O. rum and tanzy. but you
wouldn't git no change. If you planked
down a coonskin, though, you'd git
your sntfter an two muskrat skins
change.
"A feller that went In with a coon
skin he was torable well fixed, but
with a foxsbin or q wolfskip he could
shop around quite some. A man with
a b'arskin--oh well. Nobody didn't ask
no questions about man that had
b'arskin with him when be went trad
In!
"It didn't seem pertic'lar queer In
them days the way things was run on
that pelt currency. but I've an idee it'd
strike folks leetle singlar nowadays.
Pears to me I'd have to snort out
laughiD' my own self II Teller should
come 10 me an say: :
deacon. I'm q ieetle financially en-
hsrrassed today. Ken you lend me
foxskin for couple O days or SOP
THAT surely would make me smoker
II | heerd it now. An to hear some
shoppin' goin' on today like I use to
hear 1t many q time | bet would set
me to gigglin' like all possessed. Some
thin like this. fer instance. over yender
to Uncle Sile's store:
How much fer them air .cOwskin
boots. Uncle Siler
Them? Why, fox an a COON
"'Leetle high. Silas. Can't STAN It
Give you three coons fer EN-
mo Can't be did nobow. Best
ken do Is three coons an a musErat.'
"That'd be funnier to me than a mig
ger show now. An somethin' like this
would bust my buttons. ] know 1t
would:
deacon. kep you give me change
fer woifY
"'Yes. but I'll have to give you all
muskrats' --. go.
But we didn't think nothin' o. 1t In
them days. cause 1t was reg'lar bust
ness, That circ'latin mejum was lee
tie onhandy In one way. though. Folks
| had to carry their currency around In
| bushel bag II they was out to do
much cash business. an lf they was
b'arskin men, why. Judas preachln'.
they had to carry 1t In a wagon.
But them days o pelt currency was
the good old days. tell you. Still" said
the deacon after a pause. II dunno but
| Ken manage to slide along jest as
cheerful In these days o. gold an silver
an paper currency. even though 1t Is
all pervadin' skeerce." - New York
| Timex