Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1901 — A Collapsed Bubble. [ARTICLE]

A Collapsed Bubble.

The news came recently from Honolulu that one Isaac Newton Hayden had died there and left $20,000,000 and that heirs were wanted for the estate, Haydens being so scarce in Honolulu that there was danger the estate would be left unclaimed. Rather than have this calamity occur several public-spir-ited claim agents in this country have been viborously promoting a Hayden boom. Haydens by blood and Haydens by marriage have been asked to furnish their pedigrees to the promoters, not forgetting a bonus to reimburse the latter for expenses. The scheme was

well under way, Haydens were turning up in all directions, eager for slices of Isaac Newton’s fortune, and bonuses were just beginning to come in when news came from Honolulu that instead of $20,000,000 Isaac Newton’s fortune amounted to just S4O. In the face of such a shrinkage as this the bubble burst, and the Haydens are no longer interested in the matter. So far as the claim agents are concerned, they will get no sympathy. Their business is that of profiting, by popular greed and credulity. Hence it is a matter for congratulation when one of their schemes col-

lapses before it comes to a head. As far as the 'Haydens are concerned they have probably been saved from throwing away their money. Even if Isaac Newton had been worth $20,000,000 there are so many Haydens that each heir would have had but an infinitesimally small slice, especially after the claim agent had made his grab, and all the heirs would have been unhappy. At a recent congress of naturalists in Berlin it was resolved to petition the government to supply the funds foj a floating biological laboratory on the Rhine.