Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-12-10
THE POINT
OF view


Of vIEW|
"A queer thing happened on tho
train this morning said the commu-
ter to his wife. II am going to put the
situation to you and see what you
think Of it.
AT Caldwell two men began to ar
que on the general ~cussedness of hu-
man nature. One was a pessimist, tho
other an optimist. The optimlst did
most Of the talking.
""The average man. said he, IL
honest. I will 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.
1.-THE cynic admitted that they were.
indeed, a pretty decent looking lot.
"eNevertheless. I'd advise you to 60
SLOW he said. How do you propose
to test them?'
""This way said the optimist. 7
have In my pocket a scarfpin that I
have never worn. I only bought It
yesterday and am taking it to town TO-
day to give to my wife's nephew as .
birthday present. Now, I am willing
to give the impression that l found 1t
in this car. If anybody has nerve
enough to claim it he may have It,
"The cynic agreed to these condi.
lions and the porter was called.
"eWill you ascertain said the OBJ
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 1t belong TOT
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 a watch
charm, somebody else a bunch of keys
and another a signet ring. Presently
a man sitting near the middle OF the
car jumped up and said:
"'By George, l have lost my scarf
PIN
"'What kind of q pin was 1t!' K
the optimist. i.
"rIt was an opal set in a gold hand
of peculiar Egyptian workmanship
was the reply.
1.-THE optimist nearly dropped.
els this it?' he asked, and showed
his own scarfpin.
"It is said the man, and he tool
the pin.
1.-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
to floor him. The cynic, although go
cretly delighted, was puzzled.
".Of course" said he, you cam
soueal. You've agreed to let the TEL
low keep the pin. and you're in honor
bound to do It: but I'd demand an
explanation II I were you. The cir
cumstances are really remarkable
and that much is due you
1.-THE optimist thought so. too, sc
he went back and sat down beside the
man who had flched the pin.
"'sir,' said the optimist, there ii
no need for me to tell you that you
are an Internal rascal. You know hat
as well as I DO. You are aware hat
that pin does not belong to you Wha'
I would like to know Is how you were
able to describe 1t so accurately?
Then the optimist proceeded tc
relate his previous conversation with
the cynic. The young man listened
with keen appreciation. He did not
get mad.
"'sir,' he said. when 1t came hi
time to talk, perhaps I'M not such
a villain as you think. I could de
scribe this pin because it belongs tt
me. I lost it five years ago. I have
been looking for 1t ever since.
knew that I 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 1t. have
been particularly anxious to get it II
the last WI years. I am married
now, and I want 10 get the opal Sc
in q ring for my wife. l thank 20,
for returning it to me-
The optimist listened, but he wa
not convinced.
ct now understand the situation,
he said, but I still think you are
rascal. In my opinion you have nj
right to that pin. I bought It yeste1
day in good faith, and I consider tina
it belongs to me-
Finally they submitted the ques
ton to the rest Of the men in tn
car. Opinion vas divided. Som
thought the young man entitled Il
the pin, others that Diogenes had tn
best claim to It,"
Il am surprised" said the commuterl
wife, that there should be any disa
greement. OF course, it belonged t
Diogenes. The ethics Of the case ar
"a plain - q pikestaf to anybod.
except that young man."
Thanks" said the commutel
"That was the point I wanted you
opinion on"
There was . brief silence. Pres
emily the commuters wife looked q
her husbands flushed face. at hi
wilted collar, and the tie beneath.
why, where did you get that pin?
~ho aaked "I nevAr saw II hefore