Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-25
OUTCOME OF 4 JOKE.
Money to Get Travelling Man
 Hair Cut Starts a Home.
EIGHT CENTS GROWS TO s2oo,ooo

EIGHT CENTS GROWS TO s2oo,ooo Coprers Contributed by Travelling
 Men to Pay Companion's Barber Bill Become Nucleus of Fund For
 National Home at Cedar Rapids, h.,
 For Widows of Knights of the Grip.
 Eight cents contributed as joke, to buy Sheldon ua.) travelling man g hair cut at Sioux City, Ia., four years ago has formed the nucleus for fund which will build national home for the widows and orphans of the knights of the grip, says an EldOra Qa.) dis patch to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The building will be erected in Iowa, inasmuch as the national body bestow- ed upon the state the privilege in recog- milton of the planning and promotion of the original scheme. A number of the cities of the state are clamoring for the location of the home, and at the coming meeting of the order to be held soon at Cedar Rapids, this will be de- cided. It has been decided to spend at least $2O0 900 for the establishment of this national home, and, having the patronage of the national association, it will be the pride of every travelling man in the nation.
 F. w. Houck of Sheldon is the famed travelling man for whom the original eight pennies were subscribed. Houck struck Sioux City four years ago with a draft of $50 in his pocket and not a penny in money. The fellow travelling men learned of his predicament early in the day, and, for joke and for the purpose of having some fun at his ex- pense, spread the rumor around at the various hotels that the draft was bo- gus and that any one who cashed it would be swindled. The banks and some of the Sioux City stores were also notified, and poor Houck found himself unable to obtain money for his draft.
 To add to his predicament members of the order suggested that a penny collection be subscribed at the morning session of the state meeting to buy their Sheldon friend hair cut. Eight cents were contributed, and Houck re- fused to accept the purse, and the sum was turned over to the secretary. c. Olmstead, who guarded the 8 cents all through the year, and at the next state meeting laid particular stress in his an nual report about the eight cent Houck fund in the treasury. Houck, in rath- CT bantering manner, told the members of the order in convention assembled that the 8 cents was not enough to pay for a hair cut and suggested another collection be taken at once. This was done, and with good will many more pennies were added to the Houck fund.
 Secretary Olmstead carefully guard ed this addition to the fund for another twelve months and then at the annual meeting at Cedar Rapids, Ia.. last year the members became somewhat seri- ous about the fund. It was suggested that the money be used for some good purpose, basis of fund for home. A resolution was presented and adopt ed to the effect that a delegation be sent to the national meeting, asking that national home he built in Iowa. The proposition at once met with hearty and unanimous approval by the national council
 A third collection was then taken and this time dollars took the place of pennies, drafts commenced to roll in to Secretary Olmstead and throughout the last year the local lodges over the state have contributed to the Houck fund, and now big deposit is in the hands of the treasurer credited to the national building fund. The travelling men all over the state are enthusiastic over the prospects of new building in the state and the chief interest at the Cedar Rapids meeting will be centered about the location of the home.
 Comparatively few people. know about the U. c. T.. as 1t has blown it's horn" but little. so to speak. Here are some of the benefits which come from It's organization:
 If member is injured his case Is looked into immediately by the officers of the local council and he draws S25 a week as long as he is disabled. If he dies as the result of an accident his wife or beneficiary receives S5,000 cash and S25 a week for fifty-two weeks. or $6,3OO If he dies from natural causes and leaves his wife or family depend. ent his wife will receive a pension of $250 year as long as she lives unmar. ried and each of his children receives S10 month till sixteen years of age. Ample provision will be made in the annual dues of each member in the world for the support of the national home. This travelling mems order is now organizing in every state fin the