The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-03-28

gan Mr.. Fay, as soon as
had seated myself in his pri-
vate office, one summers day,
"that the majority, or minority, of men
are endowed with an instinct which
we sometimes allude to as the gamblers
instinct; but 1 will designate it the
speculative instinct, as an apology for
my real estate venture. All men are
prone, more or less, to speculate. There
is Silas Brown, who resides arouad the
corner; he will speculate on anything
from dog fight to presidential elec-
tion. And it's pretty near the same
with all persons. They expect to better
themselves one way or another, and
reduced to concrete terms, life itself is
sort of speculation. So you can infer
that this instinct is sort of heritage
to mankind in general.
"By following our natural inclina-
tions we either rise or fall; and as to
what constitutes rising in life, that de-
pends principally on our individual
opinions. Now, at one time in my ca
reer my standard of success was meas
ured by the dollars could command.
Accordingly, by few neat measures in
the stock market, 1 corralIed enough
money to have retired, but being young
and energetic, concluded to invest
my capital in real estate. 1 was in
Kansas City at this time, and tho l
knew nothing about the real estate
business, figured that it / furnished
the capital some one else would fur
nish the brains. was right in this
conclusion, for two days later met a
Mr.. Strong, glib of tongue, dressed in
an up-to-date business suit and in
short, as he said: on the lookout for a
New York capitalist who was anxious
to join him in little boom of Kansas
real estate. But If 1 desired to JOIN him
in this little venture he would not wait
for the New Yorker, as he had once
learned not to depend on New York
capitalists.
"Nevertheless, was trife skeptical
about entering realms hitherto uh-
known to me and so informed Mr..
Strong. He apparently realized the
potency of the English language, and
suggested that we wander down to his
office, where we could talk the matter
over. We had scarcely seated ourselves
when in came Mr.. Arm, the partner OF
Mr.. Strong. was introduced to him
accepted proffered cigar, and as blue
wreaths of smoke assembled toward the
ceiling, Mr.. Strong unfolded a plan
which was to put us all on easy street
have ample reasons for remembering
his words. He spoke as follows:
"My great grandfather, my grand
dad, aud my governor were real estate
agents.. Thus you may infer that rh'
vocation is one that L should naturall.
follow. 1 was bred to the business, al
it were. Therefore, may say that
am, to say the least, somewhat capable
of managing a boom. You need hav'
no compunction, Mr.. Fay, about in
vesting your capital in Kansas rea
estate; for assure you that you will
greatly multiply your capital, and pei
haps, your name will become bywor'
in every home in this glorious state
Think of it, the happiness you will de
rive from the knowledge of having as
sisted many fellow-men to obtain
home of their own. What ambition
could be more laudable! The satisfac
tion you will derive from this littl
dead-sure speculation will linger il
memory, make life worth living, an
comfort you in the last moment er
you depart to that distant shore to re
ceive your final reward.
"Kansas land will never-no never
become drug on the market. Yo
ask, whyp 1 will tell you, in poetics
language:
"Of all the states, but three shall live in stor!
Old Massachusetts with her Plymouth Roc
And old Virginia with her noble stock.
And sunny Kansas with her woes and glory
These three will live in song and oratory.
While all the others with their idle claims
viii only be remembered as mere names"
"sNow, you perceive that Massachr
setts gains her renown from q famou
rock; old Virginia from noble stool
In an hours drive l guarantee to sho