Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-02-15
A Napoleon
Of Finance
By ROGER l.. SIMPSON

lie was always "dutIHS " lIdut SOIue
thing and invariably came ont with
the best Of the bargain. He was
miniature multimilliOnaire of the pres
ent day, sort Of whirlpool sucking In
all things that came within n certain
radius. We boys at the school could
not figure out how he did 1t. 1t wse
not pleasant when we got new knife
or sled or pair of skates to have Span
gler come around with something posi-.
lively dazzling and offer to trade, for
we knew in the end he would have
our goods and his own too But in
spite Of ourselves our avarice would
get the better Of us, and we would
lose what we had in an attempt to get
something better The funny part OF
It all was that we never could detect
the boy in the slightest dishonesty or
even sharp practice, When he had
anything to dispose Of or was offering
n trade, he would say: "Now. felers.
I'd rather you wouldn't. There are
certain things about this racket I'm
giving up don't like, but you may
L
know whether | shall be satisfied with
what you've got or not. Anyway,
won't blame you if I'm not"
BY the time he left school he had
all the jackknives, tops, marbles, kites
and other such boys belongings. He
went to the high school, and though he
didn't capture any prizes he took away
all the best tennis rackets, footballs
and hockey skates, He got through
with his education when he was nine
teen, and those of his class who didn't
go to college, but went into business,
were surprised to hear that Spangler,
instead of learning something about
mercantile affairs, was going in at
once to be full fledged producer.
And when they heard what he was
going to do every one smelled revenge
He was going to raise chickens.
told my father about SpanglCr's
move, and he said: at is impossible
to raise chickens and eggs at a profit,
because the farmer, with whom you
must compete, will not look upon
his chickens as an asset In other
words. he IS ready to sell them for
what he can get and consider it so
much gained" told this to the boys,
and they all agreed that although
SpanGler's way of getting things had
been all very well at school. now that
he had got out into the world he
would find he was not so superior to
us after all We were told that II
there was any way of making money
out of chickens It must he right along
side of Il good market but when we
heard that Spanger had bought with
money OF his own-the things he had
acquired of us turned into caSh-a lit
tie farm away off in the country, with
no available road to market. we howl
ed with delight
One grudgc | bore the trader. | had
diamond ring that had been worn
by nm aunt of mine and which she had
willcd me Spanglcr got it. If | re
member correctly, in place of 1t | had
pair of skates. four kites. a bag OF
marbles and Il gold watch and chain.
both the latter plated.
Well, this is the way Spangler work
ed chicken farming: He bought up all
the chickens in the vicinity OF his
farm. When we heard that we con
cludcd the farmers must buy from
him all the chickens they needed for
their tables, Then some one suggest
ed that farmers never eat chickens;
when they have them they sell them;
I thnIO thnV t1lsp
no interest in them. 1t was evident
that SpangIer had got out of his depth.
The cffrontcry of the man was made
manifest when he sent me circular
that he was distributing among his
ncighborS He had lost the diamond
ring that had been mine. He didn't
know, but he believed that one of his
/ chickens had swallowed 1t. Then fol
lowed the announcement that his
chickens were for sale ut reasonable
prices and If any one should happen
/ to buy the one that might have swal
lowed the ring he would he some $40
to the good.
! When read this circular all my
IDEAS Of revenge ditruScd like vaQOr
/ | saw his scheme, But surely the har-
/ dy sons OF toll in the country would
not be taken in by this cheap device
| ground my teeth together and wait
ed Presently | got another circular
stating that 80 per cent of SpauC)er's
chickens had been sold and the ring
had not been reported found The re
mining half were still for sale, hut
the price had been doubled
What nonsense. Pay s. for chick
on that might possibly have swallow
ed diamond ring, | couldn't believe
that any more farmers would be guilcd
especially since this ridiculous price
had been put on chicken But they
were. Spaugler sold 40 per cent Of
the remaining chickens nj 50 each. then
raised the price on the remaining ten
chickens skin and houe-to s. apiece
taking three old ROSTERS himself, The
ring was found in the crop OF one OF
the traders birds
1 ~