The Lamar register., 1907-11-27
TUE POINT
OF view

"A queer tnln8 happened on inc
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 a pessImist. the
other an optimist. The optimist did
most Of the talking.
1.-The average man. said he. 'is
honest I will prove It to you right
now. There are at. least 80 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. . pretty decent looking lot
Nevertheless. I'd advise you to go
slow he said. How do you propose
10 test themr
"'This way said the optimist. I
have in my pocket scarfpin that l
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, l am willing
10 give the impression that found 1t
IN this car. II anybody has nerve
enough to claim 1t he may have it.
THE cynic agreed to these condi-
dons and the porter was called.
'".Will you ascertain said the op-
nmist, II anybody in this car has lost
anything recently?'
THE porter walked up and down
the aisle and bawled out at the top
u his voice:
"Lost property found-lost proper
y found. Who does 1t belong to?
This gentleman has it.
Everybody looked through his
pockets and several persons claimed
% be poorer than when they left home
Three had lost money, one a watch
sharm. somebody else bunch of keys
and another a signet ring. Presently
. man sitting near the middle OF the
ar Jumped up and said:
by George. have lost my scarf
,in.'
"'What kind Of q pin was it?' asked
no optimist.
at was an opal set In a gold hand
Il peculiar Egyptian workmanship
gas the reply.
"The optimist nearly dropped.
els this it?' he asked, and showed
ais own scarfpin.
"Tt is,' said the man, and he took
he pin.
The optimist was disheartened. He
tad lost . valuable pin and his faith
the honesty Of mankind at the same
| 4me. and the double blow was enough
. door him. The cynic, although Sc
| ,retly delighted, was puzzled.
"'Of course" said he, you can't
| ,queal. You've agreed to let the fell
on keep the pin, and you're In honor
,ound to do It; but I'd demand an
explanation II I were you. The cir
,umstances are really remarkable,
md that much Is due you
The optimist thought 30, too. SO
70 went back and sat down beside the
man who had flched the pin.
".sir.' said the optimist. there is
40 need for me to tell you that you
are an Internal rascal. You know that
70 well As I 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 80 accurately?
Then the optimist proceeded to
relate his previous conversation with
i he 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. l could de-
scribe this pin because 1t belongs to
me. lost 1t Ave years ago. l have
been looking for 1t ever since.
knew that should ind 1t some time
In all these years. whenever l heard
Of . man finding anything, have but
ted In with description of that pin
hoping that he might have 1t. have
been particularly anxious to get it in
the last two years. I am married
now. and want to get the opal SET
In . ring for my wife. thank you
for returning It to me-
The optimist listened, but he wal
not convinced.
81 now understand the situation.
he said. but still think you are 6
rascal. In my opinion you have nc
0SNMess EAs,0vs R1aAaA