Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-01
THE DOLLAR OF OUR DADOlES.
Called Cartwheel' by Some People and
Iron Dollar" by Our Ben Turner
Denver News

the family was named Thaler the Sol
OF Joachimsthaler. He was born il
the fifteenth century, and since tha
time his descendants have settled il
almost every civilized country on tn,
globe.
In Italy the family name is Tallero
in China. Tael; in Hayti. Gourde; il
Japan. Yen; in Tripoli, Mahbub: il
Eucador. Suone; in Peru. Sol; il
Spain and Spanish-American countries
Peso.
In the United States. Great Britain
Canada and other English-speakine
countries, the patronymic is Dollar
the early English spelling being Doler
Like all other families transplanted
to new country, there has entered
an admixture into the blood In the
United States the strain is only
nine-tenths pure. But, unlike that OF
other families, the crossing of the
breed was enforced by law Also. by
law, the United States government in
sists that each individual member of
this family shall weigh exactly 4121
troy grains Otherwise he shall not
be eligible to civil service eXamina-
tion nor to change partners" In the
rhythmic dance of commerce.
In 1873 the American representative
Of the house Of Thaler fell into dis
grace. He was a jolly. rollicking, big
hearted fellow, who had come to be
known under the sobriquet of Cart
wheel" Some busybodies had made
complaint to his Uncle Samuel that he
was a veritable spendthrift The old
man was told that unless he stopped
this extravaganza he would become
bankrupt
There were some few who ques-
toned the motives of these Jeremiahs.
They insinuated that more regard was
had for certain Shylocks than for
Uncle Sam. They contended that the
prodigars bounty had been used in
releasing countless horde of other
nephews from the debtors dock and
the products Of only the Shylocks had
been hurt. They insisted that the
beneficent aid given to the deserving
many far Outweighed the harm to the
cutpurse few. Also there were those
who brought the captious objection
that "Cartwheel' was too big for his
size. And again others who thought
him too poor for his wealth All these
objections were thought to have been
sufficiently answered by the accused
ones friends. and they relied upon
justice vindicating him.
But, as has happened often. both be.
fore and since, what was seeming ius-
tice went awry. Uncle Sam waxed
wroth. His wisest and warmest friends
| advised not only disownment, but even
banishment. They loved the old man
so we'll that his hurt was their hurt.
| and they mingled their tears with his.
In their unselfish patriotism they went
so far as to suggest measures by which
a recurrence of such troubles should
fall upon themselves alone. They
would take charge of the old mans
cash-all Of it-even to the making
Of it.
But Uncle Sam would not assent to
this self-sacrifice. He was still strong
in body and vigorous in mind, and
could I 1t think of allowing his friends
to burden themselves with his troubles.
He would be obliged to them for their
always acceptable and thoroughly dis
interested advice. Later on he might
accept their proffer aid, but not now.
He needed work to relieve his mind
OF the family disgrace The atonomy of
ancient Greece had fallen on his house
His coat-of-arms was threatened with
the fell abatement mark. He was dis
graced, dishonored He would scar
upon the scapegrace brow the brand
Of sammata and cry "Avaunt!"
In the meantime Miss Columbia had
packed poor "Cartwheel's" grip, and he
was told to go away by the back stairs
There were some distinguished Sena-
tors and Representatives in the front
parlor, through which he would have
to pass. 1t was more than possible
that they would be embarrassed by
his presence. And so down the back
stairs, with final admonition to be-
ware of the dog, the outcast went
away into the apoious realm of desue-
tude
While his friends deplored and de-
nounced the summary measure meted
out to him. 1t Is said that "Cartwheel'
himself uttered never a word. Il is
possible that he trusted his vindica-
tion to that court which never errs in
Its judgment-the court of time.
A short while later Bill Bryan found
| him lying in ditch, all ragged and
dirty and battered, and with but fifty
cents between him and starvation. Bill
tried to lift him and put him on his
feet. He struggled strenuously and
faithfully, and would have given the
best heifer on his farm to have ac.
complished his purpose. But it was all
Of no avail. The task was insurer
able. The poor outcast would so have
to lie until further help availed Would
so have to lie, unmindful of the beau
ties OF the star-strewn deep unheedful
of the strain of the cricket's song tune
fully stitching the threads of night"
Bin sorrowfully shouldered his sack
of corn and trudgingly wended his way
to the mill, leaving the erstwhile prodi.
gal to slumber the sleep of the exhere
date eremite.