Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1897 — An Unsafe Criterion. [ARTICLE]

An Unsafe Criterion.

A story is going the rounds which illustrates the vanity of estimating numbers by noise. It sets forth that a Yankee once went to a hotel where he tried and liked a dish of frogs’ legs—for which, however, he had to pay a large price. “What makes you charge so much for ’em?" he asked the landlord. “Because they are scarce,” answered the hotel-keeper.' • “Scarce!” exclaimed the Yankee, “why, I’y agree to get you a million of ’em.” “Agreed,” said the landlord; “if you bring me a million I’ll find a market for them.” “All right—l’ll have ’em by to-night, sure.” The Yankee went away, and at night came back with eight pairs of frogs’ legs. •T- ---“ Where are the rest of the.million?” asked the landlord. “Well, to tell the truth,” answered the Yankee, “I formed my judgment of the number by the noise!”