Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-10-04
The POINT
OF VIEW


think of 1t.
AT Caldwell two men began to ar
que on the general cussedness of hui
man nature. One was A pessimist, the
other an optimist The optimist did
most of the talking.
The average man. said he, is
honest. 1 viii prove it to you right
now. There are at least so men in
this car, and not one Of them. I 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. I'd advise you to go
slow, he said. How do you propose
to test them?'
This way said the optimist I
T have in my pocket a scarfpin that
have never worn. [ only bought it
yesterday and am taking it to town to-
day to give to my wifes nephew as a
birthday present. Now, | am willing
to give the impression that l found it
in this car. If anybody has nerve
enough to claim it he may have it.
The cynic agreed 10 these condi-
lions and the porter was called.
Will you ascertain, said the op-
timist, if anybody in this car has lost
anything recently?
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 it 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, 1 have lost my scarf
pin
What kind of pin was it?' asked
the optimist.
1t was an opal set in a gold hand
Of peculiar Egyptian workmanship
was the reply.
The optimist nearly dropped
rs 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 faith
in the honesty of mankind at the same
time. and the double blow was enough I
to floor him. The cynic, although Sc
cretly delighted, was puzzled.
"'Of course said he, you cant
scueal. You've agreed to let the fell
low keep the pin. and yC re in honor
bound to do it; but I'd demand an /
explanation if l 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 flched the pin.
Sir said the optimist, there is
no need for me to tell you that you
are an Internal rascal. You know that
as well as l do. You are aware that
that pin does not belong to you. What
would like to know is how you were
able to describe it 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 it came his
time to talk, perhaps 1 am not such
a villain as you think. | could de-
scribe this pin because it belongs to
me. l lost it five years ago. | have
been looking for it ever since.
knew that l should find it some time.
In all these years, whenever l heard
Of a man finding anything, have but
ted in with a description of that pin.
hoping that he might have it. | have
been particularly anxious to get it in
the last two years. l am married
now, and l want to get the opal set
in a ring for my wife. l thank you
for returning it to me-
The optimist listened, but he was
not convinced.
- now understand the situation,
he said. but | still think you are a
rascal. In my opinion you have no
right to that pin. l bought it yester-
day in good faith. and l consider that 1
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
he pin, others that Diogenes had the /
pest claim to it."
4 am surprised. said the commuters
wife, that there should be any disa-
OF course, it belonged to
Oiogencs. The ethics of the case are
Is plain as a pikestaff to anybody
Except that young man"
Thanks said the commuter. ,
Thai was the point I wanted your ,
opinion on" s
There was a brief silence. Pres I
.ntly the commuters wife looked at
Ter husbands flushed face. at his
yilted collar. and the tie beneath.
why. where did you get that pin?"
he asked. 4 never saw it before.
In onal set in a gold hand-well, upon