The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-10-27
A MODEST WORD
FROM A PIRATE KING,
The Mail-Ordcr Tyrant Tells How he
Thrives on the Small Community.

| have built up a colossal fortune
from customers whom l have never
seen.
Never have / done nor will l evel
be known to do anything for the
benefit of the communities that sup.
port me. My customers are not my
neighbors; they are personally un.
known to me. care not for Their
veal or woe. l have no interest in
their schools or their churches. ]
pay not one 1.-THE of their taxes.
When they are sick / comfort
them not, nor do l extend credit to
them then or during bad crop sea-
sons.
Good roads do not interest mt
nor churches, nor schools. Nor do
any of the activities that go to make
life more worth living for the farm
err or the dweller in the country CON
Germ me.
Cash! Great, golden streams of
cash.
This is the spirit of my dreams.
Unless they have cash my customers
need not apply.
Let them go to the merchants in
their own home town when they want
credit. That's what the country
merchant is there for--to accomo-
date his neighbors.
Me? Oh. | occupy another plane
altogether.
live in the City.
! W many automobiles, and SER
wants come at my beck and call. |
support the opera and pay fancy
prices for tickets to the Charity Ball.
My name heads the list of all con-
tributions to any cause that appeals
the newspapers. know the value
of printers ink. l maintain a corps
Of experts to watch for charities that
have in them the elements of news
paper publicity for me.
Then | get aboard with a bundle.
And the next day the papers print |
my picture on their front pages and |
ell what a Wonderful Man l really |
am.
What's that, James? A gentle
nan to see me? Have him searched
show him in. But wait! What
loes he look like? A farmer, YOU
ay? How do you know what o
armer looks like, James? Some
INES | think you almost forget your
'lace. Tell the farmer to go to the
No, on second thought III see him.
admit the farmer!
So, you're a farmer. are YOU?
Veil, you've got a nerve, forcing
'ourself into my library this way.
that? Your mortgage DUE?
Veil, I'm generous; I'll take up your
,ortgage if you've got a good piece
f land and if the interest is right
rovided you pay me a good bonus.
You want credit for merchandise
uring the hard times? And charity
OF the sick family up the road? You
ant me to contribute to your chari-
es-yours in the country!
Absurd!
Go to your local merchant.
I'm kept busy with charities in My
wn Home Town.
But these people need help, you
'y-and they have always been my
lstomers? Tut, tut! They have
V e been my customers except
hen they had cash. They have al
avs gotten credit from their own
ome merchant. Now they should
} to him for their charity. Credit
nd charity, in my mind. are on a
ar. 4
Unless, of course. there's a lot of
zee newspaper publicity in it..
no advertising in extending
edit to you OF charity to your
eighbors up the road. The big l
ewspapers would never even hear of
| W a home by the seashore, and I
in the mountains. And
Mother among the palms of the =,
outhland. And a private yacht. 4,
My cellars are stocked with rare ,
ines. Princes and potentates are
ntertained in my home. Ny Wife
nd daughters lead the fashions. II.
ress them in fine raiment and deck
lem with sparkling jewels. -
In short, I'm Some Guy-and I'm I
usy. Don't bother me with your {
affairs. (
If you want to buy goods, kick in {
18th the cash and my men will see I
hat they can DO for you. But {
ont worry me with your little local {
Above all. don't run to me 1
hen you are sick or in distress. Go
your local merchants. If they re-