Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1914-02-26
"A Shrewd
Business Deal
Though Questionable, 1t
Bespoke the Gen.
tleman
By f. A. mitchell

Baron GuStaVuS Carl Won Henlner-
stein, said to be the handsomest man
in Berlin. went to Nice to get rid of
the winter and while there concluded
to run over to Monte Carlo He spent
ten days over the gambling tables. at
the end of which time, one evening
about 10 O'Clock, he had gambled away
the last pfennig of his fortune. The
baron had excellent self control, and
when he arose from the table not ~
person there suspected that he was
ruined. He sauntered out into the
brilliantly lighted gardens, where he
did what an American would call 3"
job of thinking
The fact was evident that he must
come down from his exalted position
as an intimate associate of the EN-
peror, a leader of fashion, pet of tht
ladies and general high flier This is
what stared him in the face. But for
the present he was to the world the
same handsome, rich, aristocratic Won
Hemmerstein he had always been. He
well understood the value Of credit
and it occurred to him that there was
chance for him since the world did
not yet know that he was ruined.
But how should he avail himself OF
this advantage? Marriage with a
wealthy woman suggested itself as the
easiest way out of the difficulty. There
q ere a dozen rich spinsters in Berlin
who would be glad to get him, If for
nothing else sor his social position.
and it was quite probable that con
fession of the state of his affairs would
not with some of them stand in the
way But this scheme was not to the
barons liking. He preferred independ-
ence to subseryience to rich wife.
He turned it down at once and went
on with his deliberations.
If Won Hemmerstein had been born
a commoner and a business man he
would have displayed a genius for
making something out of nothing.
Quite likely he would have distinguish
ed himself as a promoter He looked
upon the financial part of ones life as
ninety-nne hundredths of 1t, for, born
aristocrat that he was, he realized that
without means his blue blood would
be as red as that Of other peoples
Whether or no he had heard the state
ment Of certain resolute business men.
81 will look for my money wherf
lost IT," be certainly acted upon that
principle. His ideas rapidly took shape
/ in raising the wherewithal to take his
place at the gambling tables and win
/ back what he had lost
But how do this? Borrow from a
friend? No Having never been oblg-
ed To borrow a pfennig, he knew that
/ to do so he would injure that credit
which was now his only financial pos
session. With the instinct Of true
financier, he Stunned a field that would
weaken him. To whom, then, should
/ he turn? The answer was simple to
the tradesman who gives credit TO
/ those to whom credit is believed to be
\ due.
Won Hemmersteins problem was too
I difficult to be solved at once He went
/ back 10 Nice. and. acting on the priE
| ciple that only poor man can afford
/ luXuries-ou credIt-he informed his
4 landlord that he was dissatisfied with
| his rooms and removed to the most eX-
pensive suit at the hotel. He did this
not only TO keep up his credit but he
could think and act better under the
influence of luxuries. With this i'm
view. he ordered expeI siye wines and
the most dainty foods. Under this eX
hiaRting influence he formed a plan
worthy Of his genius.
1t was not a scrupulous plan; hnt
while there is no intention here TO al
yocate dishonesty, how mauy Of the
acts of ultimately successful Speculu
| tors. at times when they are swamped
with debt are scrupulous? Some per
son or persons must be made to take
risk on them, and there are instances
where rich man has knowingly lent
poor man large sums with no 9th
er security than his confidence i'm his
creditors genius.
Without giving up his rooms he
would not have been able To pay his
/ biIl-Vou Hemmerstein went 20 Paris
There De sought a jcweler uumeJ
I Cheseul doing business ON the Rue
de Ia paiN. and asked TO see some vail
liable gems After looking over
number OF stones he appeared to be
much pleased with q ruby valued at
10000 francs The ieweler kept bring
Ing ont other stones but failed TO draw
/ the baron from the ruby
Monsieur said the baron az last
Il wish 10 purchase the ruby, but
do not wish 90 pay tor it Immediately
refer you TO the German embassy
/ which will give You q report on my
social position and advise YOU as to
my credit kindly attend to this mat
ter tomorrow afternoon. for will come
in at tHat time for the gem
Tossing his card on the counter. hp
lett the shop NJ Cheseul following
him % the door. rubbing his hands
obseguiousIy
The ieWcler sent at once TO the EN-
hassy fora report on Baron Gustavus
4 Ca. vou Hemmerstein. The reply was
that Che haron'S social position was tho
hest that he was known to be wealthy
lnR fhHf 81 Ehpepul ygoulI Ia fugtffipl1