Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1894 — SOMETHING FOR CHARITY [ARTICLE]

SOMETHING FOR CHARITY

A Cattleman Who Never Forgoes What He Belives Brings Luck. iansas City Journal. men of Texas are in the city. Most of them are here with shipment of cattle indothers are looking after the conliton of the markets and theout-look jf the trade for the coming fall season. There are in the number some of the heaviest shippers and most extensive operators in the Southwest. Among them are OeL D. R. Fant. Yesterday afternoon several of the cattle kings were at the Coates House discussing the cattle business and some of the peculiarities of the men engaged in it. They were telling stories of earlier days on the ranches and of their experiences there, From their conversation it was learned that many of the cattlemen are superstitious in their business and some of them are always quite sure that the signs are proper before they make any heavy purchases or sales. “I know one of the ranchmen of the western part of the State who is very superstitious in his business relations,” said one of the men. “I have come to the market with him several times when his shipments were heavy, and in most instance his profits were satisfactory. I would not tell his name, because he is sincere in his belief, and I would not do a thing that might cause him to be laughed at for his convictions. “Just as soon as he make his sales and settlements he hastensd up town, and to one of his friends he gives a sum o' money. Sometimes it is as much as SIOO, and never less than SSO. The friend is instructed to send the money to somecharit b e institution in the citv or else f ive it to some school which is run vndpr religious instruction. He once told me that he considered he would have bad luck with his future ventures unless he remembered some charity with a portion of his profits. Jf be makes a purchase that appears to be certain to be profitable for him he at once sends his remittance to some charity in the city where the trade took place. He considers it his duty to do good with some of his cash,and he gives it up with the most remarkable regularity. “His p'culiarites are rather remarkable for a frontiersman’ but during his career, extending now nearly twenty years, he has held tc his ideas without a waver, and during th at time has disbursed many thousands of dollars, all with letting his name be known, His donations are sent in as ’cash’ or ‘from a friend.’ “Other people in the business have some peculiar ideas, but my friend has a monopoly of the peculiar ideas he holds, so far as I have heard.”