The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-10-26
The Premium
Brides


by George, We'll starve him out" said
the managers of the diamond mines
at Kemberly, South Africa. For Ma
thanson, the notorious buyer of Illicit
diamonds, was back again from exile,
ubiquitous and smiling and evidently
prosperous.
Nathanson's first move was to pur-
chase some waste land adjoining the
Phoenix and to set up native store.
Therein we're displayed goods cal
culated to drag the money from the
native iaborers' pockets-blankets
beads, mirrors, hair oil, canned foods,
glass jewels-all the miscellany Of
the trade. And thither fiocked the
natives of the Phoenix mines, to the
detriment of the company's own store.
Native laborers in South Africa are
recruited from the interior villages by
contractors. They work for year or
more and then return, to purchase
wives from fathers Of daughters with
their accumulated savings, thencefor-
ward to exist in idleness while the
women work for them. But good
portion of the natives earnings Is
spent in the stores.
At once furious competition broke
out between Williamson and the COM
pany. Prices were cut below whole.
sale; the companys purse was longer
and gradually Nathanson's patronage
fell away; bankruptcy menaced him.
Kimberly surmised that he was at
his wits end; yet knowing Nathan.
son, they waited in anticipation Of
some coup.
One morning the inhabitants were
amazed to see the daily down-country
train steam into the station, bearing
twelve dusky maidens of marriage
able age. Formed into a phalanx.
they were conducted by military
band to large waffle and daub build
ing newly erected on Nathanson's
land, attended by all the colored
riff-raff of the town. Then Nathanson
appeared at the entrance of his store,
shouting vigorously in half score
of native dialects and beating a drum.
Walk up" he cried, walk up and
see Nathanson's unrivaled premium
attraction. To every urchaser of ten
shillings' worth of goods will be given
one red trading stamp. Fifty stamps
entitle the holder to the selection Of
wife among Nathanson's newly ar.
rived stock. For such as desire it, the
ceremony will be performed free OF
cost by a colored clergyman"
This attraction proved irresistible.
In vain the manager Of the Phoenix
invoked the law against slavery. Ma
thanson, still smiling, offered liberty
and free passage home to all the
girls who desired 1t. Not one &C.
cepted. Why should they relinquish
life of luxury, with food and quar-
tiers free The company's store was
abandoned and Nathanson took on
half dozen assistants to handle his
increasing trade.
No more boarding of shillings for
the lative laborers! They flung away
their money like prodigals, secure in
the knowledge that brides would thus
accrue to them. The race was close,
but by the end of six months dozen
Of the Phoenix laborers, mostly old,
thrifty men, were running neck-and-
neck for the flftieth red trading
stamp.
The last pay day arrived; twelve
proud and happy laborers, each with
fifty red trading stamps, marched In
body to the church, where an enor-
nous throng had collected to see
twelve weddings performed stimuli.
taneously by the Rev. Ezekiel Brown
of the African Baptist congregation.
Nathanson, wearing his widest smile,
was present, as was the scowling
manager of the Phoenix. In the sta
ton near by the up-country train
was getting up steam. The brides
were late. and the train that was to
convey the newly married couples
would start in half hour.
Where were the brides? Time
passed. they had not arrived; no one
could find them. Slowly the train
pulled out, and, as 1t passed the
church a dozen comely negresses and
dozen shiftless young laborers
| leaned from the windows and saluted
| the gathering with ironical cheers.
| Then the train passed and was swa''
lowed up in the distance. The mara
| ger Of the Phoenix was the first to
break the silence.
by George!" he roared, trust
women to outwit man. That's a
knock-down blow for our friend Ma
| thanson!"
He paused he glanced over toward
the magnificent emporium and his own
deserted store. An expression of per-
| plexity passed over his features.
"By George!" he murmured slowly.
WAS 1t a knock-down dow Tor Ma
thanson after all ?"