Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1919)
NOT VASTLY RICH Anolont Men of Wealth Jgst Comfortably Off. Compared With the Stupendous For tunes of Today Those Old Fellows Would Have Been Considered Merely as "Pikers." For n Ioiir time the names of Croesus, Crassim and Monte Crlsto were used In comparison to express great wealth. The two first historical figures represented riches In Greece and Rome nnd the fictitious figure of the latter did the same for recent times. How rich Croesus was there is no wny of Judging. Tho value of the treasure which ho displayed to Solon cannot bo estimated. A saying ascribed to Crassus gives at least some Idea of what ho considered afllucnce. He declared that no one could bo consid ered rich who could not maintain an army. This, of course, would bo a great undertaking even at that period, though an army then was not In size anything like nn army of today, nor was tlie equipment or sustenance near ly as costly. At i'hnrsall, Caesar had 22,000 legionaries, 1,000 cavalry; Pom pey 45,000 legionaries, 7,000 cavalry. Also history records that ut the time of his election to tho consulate with Pompey he feasted the Roman popu lace nt 10,000 tables and igavo each family corn for three months. The question which came up, how ever, was in regard to the financial resources of Monte Crlsto. Nowhere In the novel are figures given from which a complete answer can be de rived. The prices which the count paid for his possessions and for producing his spectacular effects are frequently mentioned, but not so often that the sum total can be known. Ilowever in the very last chapter, Just before Monte Crlsto disappears In the East, a hint is dropped as to the wealth which Dumas had in mind as original ly belonging to the count and what ac cordingly he believed constituted al most fabulous riches at that time. In almost hla very last words In the book, Monte Crlsto says: "You do not know all tho Joy which life nffords with a great fortune. I possess nenrly 100. 000,000." By this, of course, ho would mean francs nnd therefore nt the end of his career of reward nnd vengeance the count had $20,000,000. When Monte Crlsto arrived In Paris he had his first interview with tho banker. Dan glars, which threw the latter Into such consternation that the count had nn unlimited credit. Ho deelnros de finitely that he will need for the year during which he expects to remain In Fiance 0.000,000 francs, perhaps more, though be says that ho scarcely thinks that he will exceed that amount. Tho interest on 100,000.000 francs would have been about 0.000. 000 so that really Monte Crlsto ap pears to have been living nenrly with in his income. There Is little or noth ing to Indicate that he considered or rather that Dumas considered that his famous character had In any degree Impaired his fortune. Thorofore, the Inference is tfcut the figures set by Dumns In his mind as the wealth of Monte Cristo at the beginning cannot have been very much more compara tively than $20,000,000. tfhnt. of course. Is a goodly fortune even 111 these days, but nothing very remark able and certainly not fnbulnus. Of course, the purchasing nower of mon ey wns considerably greater In Dumas' lifetime nnd his hero might he sup posed to do much more with his riches. Putt(nn Pest Damage to Profit. Every one who 1ms n garden detests a mole every one. perhaps, but a cer tain woman gardener out In Ilrynn county, Okln. This Ingenious person, who reported her experience to tho United States department of agricul ture, puts them to work. A number of these pests undermined her garden, digging diminutive tunnels here, there, and everywhere. It would have dis couraged the average woman ; It didn't disturb this one. She started a little irrigation plant of her own, using its tunnels as irrigation ditches. She fill ed tho tunnels with water repeatedly, until the garden was well watered, and finally drove the moles off the premises. GRANDMA DIXON By HELEN PATTERSON. (, 1919, by McClur Newspaper Syndic..) Carefully (Jrantliim Dixon loosened tho moist earth around the roots of hur famous larkspur, shook the particles of dirt from the trowel and, before standing erect, touched the tender shoots lovingly with her HtiRers. The larkspur meant more than tall blue llowers to her. It meant memo ries of tlie past; memories of Uie morning when n young soldier lu a faded blue uniform hud found her re joicing over their first blossom. There had been four weary years of war and this, their first meeting, the larkspur had witnessed. Since that morning the tlower had occupied a place of honor in her gnnk'n. "Wnnt any help, grandma?" asked a young tnnn looking over tho fence. "You know, I'm great on digging." "Hless you, Dick. Of course I know It, when I look at this garden, but there Is nothing to do this morning. Thank you. Come here und tell me about your work." "I'll come over, but there Is nothing to tell. I haven't any yet." "Do you mean to say, ltlchard Haw kins, that you are not going back to your old work?" asked grandma, ns the young man vaulted the low fence nnd stood beside her. "That's Just it, grandma. Your hum ble servant has to find n new Job. You know, the girls are doing our work so well that many firms are keeping them, and ISolton & Mnson'B Is one of them." "But the girls wIlL certainly resign when they know you are home again," said grandma. "I remember wlien Ah ner came home from the Civil war, I gave up his school I had been teaching and we were married." "I'll bet you did," answered ltlchard, "but whoso coming through the gate?" "Why, hless hie! If it Isn't Betty,: -. - 'it i- "Knew we'd get together" Cites. Field TTERE'S where the particular smoker XI meets the particular smoke Chester field. Particular is right! Not only do we use !.''. the four choicest varieties of Turkish to bacco Xanthi, Cavalla, Smyrna and Sam l: soun but to these we add the rich, sun- ripened leaves of specially choice Domestic, tobacco. Fine as these tobaccos are, it's , the ex clusive process by which they are blended that gives to Chesterfields that satisfying body, that mellow richness which makes a smoke mean something. , Chesterfields certainly do satisfy as no other cigarette has satisfied you before and to top it off, they are packed in a glass ine paper package that preserves for you all of that delicious flavor. s Amis T'sm and the blend Sor4f V5Z$r Sim, IRtM&i HlUM Having sold my ranch, I will soli at Public Sale on Section 30-17-33, twenty miles north of Sutherland, on the O'Brien ranfih, just above the forks of the Blrdwoods, on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1919, Commencing at Ten O'Clock sharp, the following described property, to-wit: Six Hundred Head of Cattle Consisting of 125 head of three year old steers; 250 cows, mostly all good grade White Faces; 75 two year old steers and heifers; 100 yearling steers and heifers; 125 spring calves; nine young bulls, seven of them registered; eight milch cows. These cattle are in good condition and nearly all of them White Faces. Fifty-eight Horses and Mules Consisting of thirty head of good "work horses, most of them young mares and in foal to a good jack; ton head of yearling colts; six two year old colts; ton head of young work mules, good big ones, 3 to 7 years old; one stallion; one jack; and five good saddle horses. Consisting of 150 hogs, weight 150 to 250, 20 Brood Sows, balance thrifty shoats. Corn, Oats, Rye, Harness, Saddles, Tanks, Ford Tractor, Consisting of 2000 bushels of corn; 600 bushels of oats; 800 bushels of rye; 200 tons of hay and millet; 50 tons of oats and rye straw; 25 bushels of potatoes: 3 bushels of beans; 14 sets of good farm harness; 5 saddles, bridles and blankets; six 55 gallon gas' tanks; three big steel water tanks; 1 cream separator; 1 Ford roadster with Knicker bocker tractor attachment with a field and road gear; 2 Ford truck bodies; 1 single buggy; 1 single harness; buff do overcoat; 1 bear skin overcoat; 1 pair of.hlp boots; 4 dozen chickens; a lot of household goods: 2 rifles; 2 shot guns; and many other arti cles too numerous to mention. BIG FREE LUNCH AT NOON. TERMS OF SALE Sums of $25 and under cash; on sums over $25 six months time will be given on approved notes with Interest at ten per cent. No property to be removed until terms of sale are complied with. T. J. O'BRIEN, Owner. COLS. 1U I. SIIAPPELL and EI). KIEKIG, Auctioneers. KAY C. LANGFOItl), Clerk 20 for 20 cents Bald grandma, hurrying to meet u young girl dressed In ti stylish suit nnd n very becoming small lint "Come on Dick, you Know Betty. Why, you used to play with lier when she was u tiny girl. You remember, she Is the only grandchild I have." Nothing loath, ltlchard followed Grandma Dixon down the garden path und was reintroduced to Betty. Vor a moment a pair of laughing blue eyes, tlie color of the larkspur, looked Into his while they uttered a few common plnce remarks, and then Betty fol lowed grnndma Into the house. ' It was not until ltlchard had walked tho length of the garden that he remem bered, with a queer feeling, that he had seen those same blue eyes In the girl that occupied his desk at Bolton & Mason's ofllce. In the meantime, Betty In tho house had casually asked grandma "When had Itlchard's people moved back to the old homestead?" "They haven't moved buck," an swered grandma. "Richard Is spend ing the week with me trying to re cuperate from his work of the lust two years." ''Was he In nil of the war?" asked Betty. "Most of It" replied grandma, "al though It's little he talks about It Just now he's all upset over not get-1 ting his old work back." i "But grandma," protested Betty, "perhnps the girl needs tlie money she Is earning as much as he does. I know some of the girls In our ofllce are tak ing care of their mothers and younger brothers and sisters." "It may be all right for those girls to keep our returned soldiers out of a Job, but what nuout the girls like you, Betty Dixon, that don't really need to work?" Indignantly asked grandma. "Why grandma you know wo girls took up their work so the boys could go and fight, and we have all bought Liberty bonds and worked for tho Bed Cross," stammered Betty ns she thought of the young man she had casually glanced at at tho cement works yesterday. "Yes, you all did your best while the war was being fought und won, but now that It's over, show your grati tude to the boys In a more substan tial wny than cheers. I'm ashnmed of you." "You won't need to be ashamed of me any longer, grandma," said Betty meekly. "I'll make good. I Just hadn't thought about it before; and now I'm going to look at your tulips." But It wasn't tulips; It was ltlchard that Betty found sitting disconsolately on nn old sent by the lilacs. No one could resist Betty when she wanted to bo extra charming and soon they were Uilklng and laughing like children. Tho next day Betty returned home j and the day afterwards ltlchard re- reived two letters; one was 110111 Dei ty, which after reading, he kissed and nut In his Inside pocket. The other me wns from Bolton & Mnson, In vltlng him to call nt their oillce. It was ut tho close of tho summer, on ono moonlight night that tho tall hi lie llowers invoke from their sleep to hour u low voice say: 'Hetty, I'm to be mude sules inuti- ngrr next week and the salary Is very good and oh, Betty, dear, l'vo al ways loved and wanted you. Won't you please Hay 'ies? But us Richard's urms closed around Betty tho lurkspur discreetly turned awny and whispered: "Did you hear that?" "Yes," answeiyd another sleepily, "and It reminds nie of the story of an other young girl and the soldier la blue." New York's Beginnings. Tho first street rnilwny In tho world wns the New York and Harlem road, built on the Bowery In New York city nnd opened for travel from Prlnco street 'to the present site of Union square, In November, 18U2. Two horse-drawn vehicles fashioned somo whnt like n stnge conch of the period were run over the lino on tho day of the opening, carrying ns passengers Mayor Walter Bownc, the city coun cllnien nnd other Invited guests. The affair attracted ninny speetntors nnd convinced the most skopUni! (hat the now horse cars were certain to be a grent convenience. The road was ex tended to Murray Hill In 1838 nnd reached the Harlem river In 1839. Fares were paid In sliver sixpences of the. old Spnnlsh currency then In circulation, and one of the rond's orlg Innl fenturcs still In existence Is the old Park nvenne tunnel under Murray Hill, norse enrs were discontinued In New York city on July 20, 1017. when a few officials of the New York Rail way company and tho public service commission boarded nn old enr of the Bleeckcr street line, nnd took turns In driving tho nntlquated vehicle on Its flnnl trip. ::o:: . LOTS FOR SALE I want to soil throe lots, location very desirable, west 12th street. Need the money. J. W. LI3 MASTER . 90tf Origin of Sand. It Is calculated that nine-tenths of the coasts of the world nro covered with sand. What Is the origin of this sand and to what circumstances Is Its nbundunce due? Men of science, says the New York Sun, have explnlned this In pnrt by saying that it Is duo to tho erosive effect of the waves upon the rocks, but 11 Is generally admitted that this Is not sufficient to account for the vast quantity of sand that borders our beaches. Undoubtedly a very con siderable portion represents the mate rial cnrrled to and toward tho ocean by the storms nnd glnclers of tho Ice nge. Pennsylvania's Bituminous Mines. According to D, II. Downey, lu Pennsylvania the greatest number nt one time of bituminous mines em ploying ten men or more underground was 2,000. There wore In 1018 prob ably us many as 2.000 small temporary workings, but the aggregnto produc tion of theso small operations was less than one per cent of the whole out put -!K-rr Peppermint Production In Japan. The production of peppermint in the prefecture of Okuyama during the last flscul year amounted to 00,725 kin, val ued nt 011,255 yen. This Is a reduc tion In quantity from the year before amounting to 0,073 kin. But owing to tho rise In price thero was an Increase In Its valuation amounting to 59,000 yen. Now York Post 1 tll.-rtive You TiJS U nt .t lfl it... I J Wond.rful Ut-iMtlfitr wfff Drlnii It H w 3J of h p i ' 1 1 I m I 9? beauty 1 1 ihc 'laL wnfti. tic rSiSl. r,,rrr.Cr,ff,l RhiunnUiai Neuritis Lumbago Cbett l':3! Catarrh Headache Ear Diltliti Hardtn'ng of Arteries Wrinkle Skin Diieasei Falling Hair Lie. Lie. 1 Iteamcm Uiari furnlilieii thotvinc uk lor over lui Omenta. ('Iwtrinrv from your lirht aocUt traiuformed into the greatet health- Kivininci ncy known In bcience VIDLt.T KAY powerful" eflcctive, n poolhin .mil Remit in action Denefiti of trcincnJoui voltage oi tr ity ttbwrhi-d ly the lylnm lincly without the li(hlet jhoclc. StAnuLnfa Viol eft J&av ' " 'Srfiig FirecjBiciicy Ocnerator ITjr J iid cic-'Jianl by iHylr!in and le.iuly inerialUta; aaturatia the Ixvy with otl. nn, n-..:r-.nj, i Maine violet rayi, producing New 1 1 , Cower ami Uautvi uurihfi the Uood atreani and bnnga tho r r. iV.toi t.t ana !.' I, rcnc.iu and Uiiiuj up, vtloua inventions )'ntil ev-iy ily temovlng the caujc, bringing person in uckncjuor health, i ill. bj' k normal conditions. ia h.i.int, okcI or Mile. It u r'iwm. LOWEST PRICE rot a tun all tut eaia .rScT; iLreffully a wide gJjSspSjU? i frn Uae arcus 9 in id' i) U'wefr priced, nuW efftcttvw i ii it mil in the wrtrlil. ivd. ,trv r u that ltf feilui to l wuhdut it At Homo Get Book "Health" FREE - pi! for ftur lxkW 'lU-!ttr UUbu ,n ili-uil tin. wj i-icfful atujy ni ttie Viol. i ur in 111' priwi ; tM Jf d I1 J tui-lolore.-nly rfflSO t r.x title ibrouKb J kiJ Free Demonstration In Your Home REPRESENTATIVES AND DEALERS WANTED . RENULIFE ELECTRIC CO. 3rd Floor Patterson Block, Omaha, Nebr. 4