The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-21
LIPTT HEWITT =AN6HS- TAINTED MILLIONS

Peter Wimble was the richest man In
Hartsock, and some said he was the
richest man in Iowa, but for all that
he was simple man, with large foot.
and one minute after Eliph' Hewitt
entered Peter Wimble's Office with a
sample copy of Jarby's Encyclopaedia
OF knowledge and Compendium OF Lit
erature, Science and Art under his arm
the door opened and Eliph' Hewitt
stepped out hurriedly. The richest man
in Hartsock did not wish to buy a copy
OF the greatest book on earth. He had
said so. He had said it with his mouth
and with his hands, and when he began
TO say it with his foot Eliph' Hewitt
came away.
The little book agent stood a minute
on the walk before the Office and looked
up and down Main street doubtfully.
Then he coughed a gentle apology for
Mr.. Wimble, smOothed his sandy side
whiskers, tucked his oilcloth covered
parcel firmly under his left arm and
stepped briskly away. If you cannot
get the richest man in town to head
your list of subscribers the rule of the
game is to get the minister's name. As
a rule, too, it is safer to call on the
minister
"I think" said the minister softly.
when Eliph' Hewitt had opened the
conversation, 81 think if you called on
and his name at the head of your list
would be more influential than mine,
My salary is so SMALL and he has such
great wealth."
Peter Wimble, did you say the name
WASP" asked Eliph' Hewitt. 'Wimble.
the millionaire? Amt his wealth faint
ed? ] can't let myself take money from
any of these millionaires that have the
tainted kind of wealth, Mr.. Parsley. 1
know you mean well by recommending
me to MIN. and 1 know he would be
eager and anxious to buy a copy OF this
beck, but. / ask. is his wealth tainted?
And ! say. If it is it can't buy copy
of this book, not at no price. Not if he
was John d. himself, and was to offer
me millions for It."
The minister hesitated, and Eliph'
Hewitt smiled and shook his head.
No. sir he said, ''if he was John D.
ana had ali John DIS money he couldn't
buy it, and I wouldn't ask him to. II
wouldn't be for sale to him. If ne was
10 come to me on his knees and say:
'Eliph Hewitt, here is $3.50 000, 600 in
tended 10 give away, but I ask you "a
take it and sell me one copy of that
book, without which no man can be sure
he has all the knowledge in the world
I'm one volume and which l consider
cheap at the price you offer l would
speak to him kindly, but / would say.
W. flOs JOllu lJs " SOu Will iiOl sen
It. Tainted your money may be. or
tainted it may not be, but Eliph' Hew-
lit takes no chances. Go and get rid
of your soiled millions some other way
That is what l would say TO him, Mr..
Parsley"
You speak strongly said the mild
Mr.. Parsley.
Yes. sir" admitted Eliph' Hewitt,
''and so would you if you had been a
tainted millionaire the way l was, and
had had the experience have had with
money that was soiled in spots and get
ting too strong to keep. If you had you
wouldn't want to take any chances Of
getting any more of it, from John d.
or from Peter Wimble or from any one
else. You wouldn't want to trade a
copy of Jarby's Encyclopaedia of
knowledge and Compendium of Liter
allure, Science and Art a book that the
best people are glad to get. for lot of
money that you couldn't get rid of even
If YOU fumigated it first"
But General Booth says that the use
TO which tainted money is put. if it is a
good use, removes the faint" suggest
cd Mr. Parsley, whose salary W IOften
in arrears.
so I take notice" said Eliph Hev-
lit land il a beefsteak gets too ripe 1
suppose It makes it fresh again If you
make a present OF it TO a widow with
six children. l suppose If the widow
had fourteen children it would make the
beefsteak so fresh she would have TO
hang it up a day or two until it got nit
TO eat"
But some very worthy institutions
accept money from-from men like Pc
ter Wimble" said the minister. They
accept it gladly
They grab for it and holler for
more" said Eliph' Hewitt. And when
more don't come right away they get
in lire and coax for it. All money looks