New-York tribune., 1907-12-21
PRICE OF DIGESTION.
Plasmon Company Nay Make 1t
Cost Mark TzCdin S32 900.


The Plasmon Company of America, corporation
capitalized at $4,000 with s25O000 paid in. OF which
Samuel L. Clemens mark Twain is vice-pres-
dent and acting president, went into the hands OF
a receiver yesterday.
The famous author must figure IN this story OF
his connection with the bankrupt company by his
right name. for TO use his nome de plume would
/ presage something humorous and the story doesn
present a humorous side.
It is that the bankruptcy proceedings against
the Plasron Company, which is concern manu-
featuring milk food product. reveal the fact that
it may cost Mr.. Clemens indirectly about sSzVS
to cure his indigestion but who would laugh at
that? That amount represents approximately MS
investment in the Plasmon. In letter sent by MI.
Clemens to of the petitioning creditors ne
says that the company's available bank baiance Is
only sl30 0S.
According to Ralph ". Ashcroft, who represents
Mr.. Clemens in his Plasmon interests. the latter
has been an innocent home IN this COM
merciaI venture The author has told about u III
his autobiography, in which he referred 10 tle
men who sold him the stock as the 'Plasnloh DUO
cancers
But to revert to his trouble with his digestive
apparatus-which is the beginning of the story
that when Mr.. Clemens was on tour or the
world, about eight nine years ago. Whiie IN
Vienna, recommended to him mix
food, the continuous of which cured him or
his indigestion. The product came from London
and when Mr. Clemens returned there he was so
the formation of the international Plasmon. Linz
tied. The latter one-third of the shares
of the Plasmon Company of America
When Mr.. Clemens returned 10 Ne" iorh ne WE
still enthusiastic, and several persons to whom he
told the story Of the rehabilitation of his digestion
absorbed the spirit and set about organizing an
American company for the manufacture OF the
magic powder. They promised to let the huIroris'
lin on the ground floor; he went in, but according
to Mr. Ashcroft it was not on the right floor. The
Acbr Said
stock at $50 which, however, cost him 500 SNARE
which the par value.
That was about five years ago Since theh there
have been many MISUNDERSTANDING In the company
management, which hnaHy nave resuileo ia o
ruptcy proceedings
The net,tion I'm bankruptcy filed an inVolun-
tary one. The petitionng creditors were Wiiiam
B. McGann, ex-president Of the company "hoSc
claim is $500; William T. Robson, ex-treasurer'
81 900 and Ralph W. Ashcroft, $500 These Claims
were for services and money loaned
Mr. Ashcroft formerly assistant manager OF
the Plasmon company, and ABOUT -FOUR years u.s.
made certain charges of acknowledgements Inc
controversy that arose resulted in libel suit
brought by Mr.. Ashcroft against John Hays HAM
mond who was interested in the company
Mr. Clemens a witness IN the case "h'n
was non-suited Mr.. Ashcroft SAID yesterday 'ha'
he learned when he made his charges against GER
tain in the company tnat 'hes "eio "S1's ~
freeze out Mr.. Clemens
Judge Hough appointed c. S Brookhelm yester-
day as receiver of the Plasmon company The
papers In the case were served on MT Iiehiehs'
..Your friends say you were outrageousiy SWIM
a,sd Were you?" said a reporter TO Mr.. Clemens
yesterday.
81 was he replied
''Out of how much?
.,Ob about $1,000. But don't mean that was
sw.ndled out of the s25cce Tho company iaieo
because of bad management
was this the first time you were s"indleo?
..T, nv life? The first time in my ifeF
Yes, SIR ~ -,
..oh laughed Mark Twain why have been
;rdIed out OF more money than there is on this
planet - -, ,... o..
But" continued Mr.. Clemens L ouBh.ht 10
cav was swinded out OF all the money Most OF
:. was lost through bad business i was a!"ayS
bad In business ,., A.,
..Don't confound the bankrupt company Win tne
English Plasmon Company ne audeu- %
a,,,rg or 6 per cent. which is doing well FOR an
English company. 1 hold $4,000 worth OF STOCK III
the English company.