Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1892 — Aristocracy Open to Offers. [ARTICLE]

Aristocracy Open to Offers.

The following advertisement lately appeared in an English newspaper: “Directors wanted of good social standing for a new company now in course of formation; qualification will be found for selected applicants, and remuneration will be on a liberal scale.” To this there were 141 replies received; one earl, one viscount, four barons, seven baronets, one knight, thirteen honorables, six members of parliament, four generals, one admiral, nine colonels, four majors, fourteen army captains, three minor naval officers, and seventy-three without rank or title. There were some very amusing letters accompanying the applications. The earl said: “I need not point out that, should you entertain my proposal, an important leverage in procuring a good subscription of public capital will be gained by my title, which Is an old one, and likely to prove an attraction to investors. I may also state that if appointed I should always make it a point of driving to the general meetings in my brougham and pair, with servants in full livery. This, I have been told by friends sitting on company hoards, is a great factor in inspiring shareholders with confidence. ” One of the barons wanted to know “if the fees were paid in advance, irrespective of any profits made by the company.” One of the members of parliament wrote that he had no doubt that, if he were appointed, it would result In heavy purchases of shares in his constituency, wnere he was very popular. “And,” he added, “it would be well if the bona-fldes of your scheme were assured—at any rate on the surface.” The last part of the sentence would seem to rather give the virtuous legislator away, as he evidently did not care whether the scheme was good or not.—Financial World.