The Washington times., 1914-03-05
1.-THE CYNIC."
SeliI.

"htb lcu, we'll SToOfheu
n cynic. and a lean and
~ hungry looking Though
optimisticJ phiIoropher sat
together In their club. They had ad-
vanced the proposition that there
was no such thing as human hon
esty. The philosopher had protested
that 80 per cent of the men one
meets daily on the street can be de-
pended on to do the square thing.
Let's get down to something con-
crete" said the Cynic You say
that nine-tenths of the men out of
jail will not steal. I'll make you
sporting offer on that proposition.
We1l take a stroll through the park
You pick out your honest man. III
provide test for him. And then I'll
bet you 5000 he turns out crooked.
The Philosopher considered the
matter.
Done" he said at last. I'm not
betting man ordinarily. but it's
plain that only by causing him TO
lose 81 900 can one convince 4 cynic.''
The money having been posted. the
Cynic borrowed $1,000 IN cash from
the Philosopher. puI his test OF hu-
man honesty into writing. and sealed
the writing and the :la.Oaela separate
envelopes They started for the
park.
You pick your man." said the
Cynic to the Philosopher. and I will
give him his instructions
They crossed the park, obs, rvinS the
dereIicts there and then walked back
again. At last the Philosopher stor-
red before Il detected young man in
a frayed overcoat and a slouCh hat.
This is my man." he said 20 the
Cynic
The Young man looked up with the
frightened air of IN animal who has
been given one beating and expects
another.
You need not be alarmed the
Philosopher told him. My friend
has some work for you"
The de-elict's look of alarm van
ished.
work" he said. That's what I
want
Tn" cynic smiled on him bsnevo-
lcntli.
FLATS what they all say he OBJ
served in his most cynical manner.
Com" with us went on the
cyuic. for there is that to be done
this evening which demands a des-
peratc spirit
So the cynic conducted the de:elict
TO th. philosophers house. There.
in tie CyTic'S p-cs"nCe, he presented
the d"rclict with two envelopes
This first "nvel"pe," said the
cynic. contains YOUR Instructions.
TIL" second contains something
which you must deliver You are
not under any circumstances to open
it. OF course, Won must understand
that, should vuu open il. We hav" no
way of puuishinC YOU. My friend
here'--acain the cynic smiled in his
most benevolent manner-'is con-
Iinccd that yoI are man of hon
or"
The der"liCt took the two envelopes
and the three men parted. tn" cynic
and the philosopher to return to
their homes. their families. and their
suppers. tn. dcrelict. homeless and
sCpperless, to study his instruc-
S?ns. o,
vclope,' read tn" sealed orders. and
20 at midnisht TO tn" cynic's house.
The last window on the east side
If the building as you enter from
the front will be unlatch"d. You
are to raise the window and drop
the second letter into q brass ;ardi
Mere which will he standing there.
Then you are 70 Return to the philos-
opher and receive YOUR reward.
'"The second Cn:cloDe contains
go 90 in notes
The Derelict. having read these
words. put the envelope in his pock-
ct. Then he took it out again
Ten thousand dollars he said.
"a fortune. These two men are
crazy. why should not ! keep this
money" No one but they will be the
wiser
lie examined the envelopes closely.
So far as he could make ont from