La Junta tribune., 1907-12-28
John Smith,,
Clerk.
BY Frank II. StVssf.
copyrisht, ls'. by Frank II. Sweet.

~ nee there was a man. He was
clerk in bank ut $40 .
mouth. His name was Johr
smith. At n directors meet
ing one day after the discounts had
,l,een, passed upon and the portly direct
ors were laboriously getting up TO go
the president. who had the ablcst and
most expansive vest OF any OF them,
stopped them. "By the way" he re
marked. Il have Il note from John
Smith-"ne OF our young men. you
know; some OF you know him-but |
guess have lost it. Anyhow. he
wants his salary raised. Says the bust
ness Of the bank Is four times what
Is used tu DE and his work has IN
creased accordingly. Says with in
crease In The amount OF money han
died comes increase in the strain on
his Integrity. Seems To think he ought
to be paid Tor not robhing us. Besides.
he says he can scarcely keep his fam
lily on his salary. suppose | can an
swer II without calling another board
meeting he concluded faccliousiy.
Tell him he ough,u't To have such II
big family" suggested one. quote the
law ngalu>t cmhczZlcment to him.
said another and 80 OF. as they but
toned their overcoa,S and went out
about their businesses.
by and by John Smith got note
like this. signed by the president and
written on the note paper OF the bank,
bearing the imposing array Of direct
ors' names in neat engraving at the
head OF ii
Mr.. John Smith:
Dear SiT-lu answer to yours OF ever
date i Am Instructed by tn. board OF di.
rectors To say that they cannot agree with
your view ~ tn. case. II IL true tina,
your work has largely Increased with thu
growth of tll" bank under it's present sue
cessful mana E"mcut. but 1t X no NOR,
than you are able to do and no more thar
can iird others to do for the salary
We now pay you. The other phase OF tho
matter you prcs.nt--that We should pay
YOU for tH- moral wear and tear incidcn.
to resisting temptation to steal as well ~
for the physical and mental work you dc
has no weight
our relations. however pleasant person
ally. are purely business arrair ON botf
sides. We pay YOU 80 much money for 81
much work Your honesty IL presumed
II you shynli prove dishonest. we wouit
discharge y0u and the law would send
you to prison.
with your family affairs we have moth
ing TO do, but may suggest to you that
careful economy in small honsehold er
p-nditur-s viii result In an annual ssvinr
which will perhaps surprise you.
without referring especially to you-fOi
l never endeayored to pry into your prt
vste ansr. nor Inquired how you lived
1 may SAY that. in my opinion. the pre-
vailing tendency of young people now
adAys 10 10 live too high instead Of beina
caresd cv.la- ur S"msthing for q rainy
day. Yours truly. eto.
The directors hadn't been In session
long the next day when John Smith
opened the door. handed in 4 slip Of
paper and walked back to his desk.
There was silence for a minute. then 4
nurnur; then the clerks outside hes rd
4 clstter Of moving chairs In the hos rd
room. and theu the door opened and
two or three voices called smith
I'm a moment" answered Smith,
checrfulIy laying N blotter between the
leaves Of the book he had been writing
in aud carefully tmcking the pen be-
hind his ear az though he were making
his toilet
what do you mean by this they
demanded when he appeared In the di-