The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-10-25
THE POINT
Of view

queer tHIHS HdppeHeu Ou Tie
train this morning said the commu-
ter to his wife. 81 am going to put the
situation to you and see what you
| think of 1t.
''At Caldwell two men began to ar.
que on the general cussedness of hu'
man nature. One was pessimist. the
other an optimist. The optimist did
most of the talking.
"'The average man. said he. is
honest l will prove 1t to you right
now. There are at least so men in
this car, and not one OF them. ven.
ture to say. will claim anything that
does not belong to him.
"The cynic admitted that they were.
indeed. a pretty decent looking lot
Nevertheless. Id advise you to go
slow he said. How do you propose
to test them?'
This way said the optimist. I
have in my pocket a scarfpin that
have never worn. | only bought 1t
yesterday and am taking 1t to town to-
day to give to my wife's nephew as a
birthday present. Now. I am willing
to give the impression that found 1t
in this car. II anybody has nerve
enough to claim It he may have it
The cynic agreed to these condi-
tions and the porter was called.
"'Will you ascertain said the op-
timist, II anybody in this car has lost
anything recentlyo'
The porter walked up and down
the aisle and bawled out at the top
of his voice:
Lost property found-lost proper
ty found. Who does 1t belong to?
This gentleman has it.
Everybody looked through his
pockets and several persons claimed
to be poorer than when they left home.
Three had lost money. one watch
charm. somebody else a bunch of keys
and another a signet ring. Presently
man sitting near the middle of the
car jumped up and said:
by George, have lost my scarf
pin
What kind of a pin was it, asked
the optimist.
LIT was an opal set III gold hand
OF peculiar Egyptian workmanship,
was the reply.
The optimist nearly dropped.
lis this it?' he asked, and showed
his own scarfpin.
1T is said the man, and he took
the pin.
The optimist was disheartened. He
had lost a valuable pin and his taith
in the honesty of mankind at the same
time. and the double blow was enough
to floor him. The cynic. although se-
cretly delighted, was puzzled.
".Of course said he, you cant
saueal. You've agreed to let the fel-
low keep the pin. and you're in honor
bound to do IT. but I'D demand an
explanation II were you. The cir
cumstances are really remarkable,
and that much Is due you
"The optimist thought so. too, so
he went back and sat down beside the
man who had filched the pin.
Sir, said the optimist. there Is
no need for me to tell yon that you
are an Internal rascal. You know that
as well as | do. You are aware that
that pin does not belong to you. What
/ would like to know is how you were
able to describe 1t SO accurately?
"Then the optimist proceeded to
relate his previous conversation with
the cynic. The young man listened
with keen appreciation. He did not
get mad.
"'Sir,' he said. when 1t came his
time to talk. perhaps | am not such
villain as you think. | could de.
lit lea hnInnpg n
me. ! lost 1t five years ago. have
been looking for it ever since.
knew that should find 1t some time.
In all these years, whenever | heard
Of q man finding anything, ] have but
ted in with description OF that pin.
hoping that he might have It. have
been particularly anxious to get 1t in
the last two years. | am married
now, and want to get the opal set
In a ring for my wife | thank you
for returning 1t to me-
The optimist listened, but he was
not convinced.
~ now understand the situation.
he said, but | still think you are n
rascal. In my opinion you have no
right to that pin. I bought II yester-
day in good faith. and | consider that
it belongs to me
FINALLY they submitted the ques.
ton to the rest of the men In the
car. Opinion was divided. Some
thought the young man entitled to
the pin. others that Diogenes had the
best claim to It,"
II am surprised" said the commuters
greement or course, it belonged to
Diogenes. The ethics of the case are
as plain as pikestaff to anybody
except that young man"
"Thanks." said the commuter.
"That was the point | wanted your
opinion on"