Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1882 — An Incident in Penn’s Life. [ARTICLE]

An Incident in Penn’s Life.

“And now, in conclusion," said William Penn, “for time flies and money is 12 per cent., I’ll tell thee what I’ll do with the£. We didn’t come here to rob thee, but if tbee has any land thee wants to sell, I’ll make thee an offer as square os a horse trade. I don't care to buy, anyhow, and I don’t want to beat thee out of a foot of ground, but if thee is anxious to sell, I’ll give right here, cash and goods right down on the counter, SSOO for the State of Pennsylvania, with all the dips, spurs, angles, sinuosities, stock, good-will, fixtures, subscription and mailing lists, and all the appurtenances thereunto appertaining, be the same more or less, and you take it or leave it.” “They want you,” the interpreter explained, “to make it five hundred and a half.” “Couldn’t do it," replied Penn. “I won’t make a dollar out of it at SSOO. I've paid £16,000 for it already to a man who never owned a foot of it, and I can’t put much more money into it.” “He wants to know, Onas,” the interpreter said, when a native delegate ceased to speak (Onas was the nearest the Indians could get to a translation for Penn’s name, “Onas" meaning a quill; although why it wasn’t just as easy to say Penn, even with two n’s, no one but an Indian could tell); “he wants to know, Onas, if you paid £16,000 for the State to a land-grabber who couldn’t and can’t give you a deed, if you think it is a square deal to offer the rightful owners only SSOO to quiet title?” And the silence that fell on the assembly was so profound you might havo heard a gum drop.— Burdette.