Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1920 — A LETTER FROM JOHN DOE [ARTICLE]

A LETTER FROM JOHN DOE

Somewhere In Indiana, March 23, 1920. Everett Halstead, Rensselaer, Ind. Dear Sir —The carload of fence posts arrived O. K. I sold them all to one farmer. This farmer went home and drove his car back, bringing his wife and four boys, and the way they set upon this load of oak posts was a sight to behold. As soon as the car was unloaded this man’s wife and his four boys began to split and pile up posts right In the street. You see, Everett, your posts were too large; you are giving too much for the money. By evening they had all these posts spilt in two, and Instead nt 1,000 posts the dear man had 2,000 — thanks to. his Industrious wife and four boys. The next day this farmer sold out all these posts to his farmer friends and you see he doubled his money. I forget to tell you the city marshal wanted to arrest me for post splitting In the street. I says: "I’m not splitting posts, Mr. Marshal.” “Well,” says he, "what are you doing If you are not boasing this job?” “I am praying,” says 1, “for the Lord to send me a wife and four boys like these so that I can get some posts split, too. I can sell a few more carload of posts down here this spring, but please do not make them so large; and you are sure foolish to sell them so cheap up at the farm when I can get twice as much here for them. Get Thompson & Kirk to truck them to the railroad as they could advertise their trucks that way you see. Very truly yours, JOHN DOE.