New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11

we dl "eie very DtlBHt ana Snny. One day
momentous thing happened to me- was
what they call put in circulation That is, I
left the Mint, my birthplace, and went out
with certain Of my brothers and sisters mo
the great world.
Immediately went into business and after
number of interesting experiences, which
haven't the time in composition hour to tel
you, was taken by man to the Tax Depar.
ment of the great City Of New York, and Their.
put through little window along with some
filthy bills, paper money which | have always
loathed, into the hands Of another person. a
city employe One Of the bills, the Oldest and
dirtiest Of the lot, said we were being paid
in taxes by somebody, evidently by the man
who brought US in, for he grumbed and
swore"-
Teacher-Sreore is not nice word,
Willie. Say complained.
Wilie-Yes'm.
For he grumbled and complained the
whole time he stood on the line. Well after
while and my paper companions were sepa-
rated, much to my relief. l do not know VIVA,
became of them, but was dumped in a bag
with a number of other silver dollars, and
finally taken to another large building which
learned was called bank. also learned tina,
I had become part of city deposit, and tina.
81 ~ bo,1
2 per cent, or two cents every year, for tia
privilege of entertaining me.
81 supposed from this that the life Of a city
dollar was a most pleasant one, full Of rest
and enjoyment. | also heard that TIA
banking men who got me had been favored by
the city officials, something which I could well
beieve-and for this reason also | expected to
be treated as a person of consideration. Blu.
was /? No; not on your life. p
Teocher-Don't say not on your life,
Willie That is slang. Say not so you
could notice it.
Wulie-Yes'm.
-"But was I? No; not so as you could
notice it, Instead of being allowed to remain
at ease and enjoy the society and conversation
of my equals in the vault where silver was
kept, was taken out and made by the bankers
to work early and late And how worked.
| heard reports, Incidentally, that wasn't
working for the bank exactly, nor for the city
which owned me- but for mysterious some
thing known as a syndicate. | did not know
at the time, nor have | now very clear idea,
what a syndicate is, but whatever it is IL
certainly made me work for it, and work until
| thought my silver would be worn through.
got thin from work. | used to make for my
masters-those who paid the city per cent. as
have said, for the privilege of entertaining
me-10 per cent, II per cent, 20 per cent. even
50 per cent, sometimes, according to another
mysterious something known as call money
rates What made matters still more disagree
able. was compelled to again associate -
Teacher-Dont split your infnitres,
Willie. Say again to associate.
WMie--Yes'm.
-"I was compelled again to associate with
that filthy paper money. Even this | could
have borne, though, had my mind been at rest
knew, however, because | had once been to
church, and remained for an hour in the COL
lection basket up near the pulpit, where could
hear everything distinctly that no man can
serve two masters. l. unquestionably, was
serving two, the city and the syndicate and
growing thin at it. 1t didn't seem right yet
what could do? Being city deposit, was
too good thing to lose, or
Teacher-WWie, do you use the icords
good thing IN the slang sensel
WiUie-No'm, / asked Pop about II, and
he said that that cas chat city deposit
wGs-a good thing.
Teacher-Very UeH. Go on, Willie.
TOO good a thing to lose or handle care
lessly, so there was no help for it. kept on
working and am still working for the syndI-
cate.
81 never have any time to myself. I'm SIM
ply rushed to death. If | were working Tor
the city, my real owner, probably ! "ouldn'
mind it so much. would then be OF some
benefit, perhaps, to the man who paid me IN
as taxes, or of some benefit to the genera
public anyway, but as it is, am simply wear
ing myself out making few mysterious men,
whom | have never seen nor whose names, even'
! don't know, rich. | wish there was some
way could tell the city about it, and the othe'
day said as much to an experienced old pil'
named Tenspot, whose acquaintance nave
made Tenspot has been out in the world