Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-09-03
the POINT
OF view

"A queer thing happened on tho
train this morning. said the commu-
tor to his wife. 81 am going to put the
situation to you and see what you
think OF it.
AT Caldwell two men began to u.
que on the general cussedness Of hu-
man nature. One was a pessimist, the
other an optimist. The optimist did
most Of the talking.
1.-THE average man. said he, IL
honest. I will prove 1t to you right
now There are at least so men In
this car. and not m 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 90
SLOW he said. How do you propose
to test them?'
""This way said the optimist- I
have never worn. I only bought 1t
yesterday and am taking 1t to town to-
day to give to my wife's nephew as q
birthday present. Now, I am willing
to give the impression that I found 1t
In this car. II anybody has nerve
enough to claim it he may have it.
THE cynic agreed to these condi'
lions and the porter was called.
"'Will you ascertain said the op-
dmist, II anybody in this a 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 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
mar sitting near the middle OF the
car jumped up and said:
"'By George, l have lost my scarf.
pin
"'What kind Of a pin was it, asked
the optimist.
"'1t was an opal set in a gold hand
of peculiar Egyptian workmanship
was the reply.
1.-The optimist nearly dropped.
"'Is this it, he asked, and showed
his own scarfpin.
ct is said the man, and he o o.
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 Sc
cretly delighted, was puzzled.
"'Of course" said he, you can't
squeal. You've agreed to let the fel-
low keep the pin, and you're In honor
bound to do it; but I'd demand an
explanation If 1 were you. The cir
cumstances are really remarkable,
and that much is due you
1.-THE optimist thought so, too, SO
he went back and sat down beside the
who had filched the pin.
"'Sir,' said the optimist, there Is
need for me to tell o that you
are an Internal rascal. o know that
we'll 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
his previous conversation with
the cynic. The young man listened
keen appreciation. He did not
get mad.
"'Sir,' he said, when it came his
time to talk, perhaps I am not such
q villain as you think. I could de-
this pin because it belongs to
me. l lost it five years ago. l have
been looking for it eve since. l
knew that I should find it some time.
In all these years, whenever I heard
Of a man finding anything, l have but
ted in with a description of that pin,
that he might have it. l have
been particularly anxious to get it in
the last two years. I am married
now, and 1 want to get the opal set
In a ring for my wife. l thank you
Tor returning it to me-.
The optimist listened, but he vas
not convinced.
"T now understand the situation
SAID, out l Stlll tnlnk you are q
In my opinion you have no
to that pin. 1 bought it yester.
day in good faith, and consider that
It belongs to me-
FINALLY they submitted the ques-
ton to the rest Of the men in the
Opinion was divided. Some
the young nan entitled to
the pin, others that Diogenes had the
best claim to it."
II am surprised" said the commuters
wife, that there should be any disa-
greement. OF course, it belonged to
Diogenes. The ethics Of the case are
plain as a pikestaff to anybody
except that young man"
Thanks" said the commuter.
That was the point I wanted your
on"
There was a brief silence. Pres
the commuters wife looked at
her husbands flushed face, at his
collar, and the tie beneath.
Why, where did you get hat pin? ?"
she asked. II new saw it before.
An opal set in a gold hand-well, upon
world Won don't moan n saw"