to learn what money is, and wherein our financial system has been changed."
The little speaker, without intending it, through a feeling of honest indignation, had burst forth in a recital of this catalogue of crimes. It had a perceptible effect on the audience. His earnest eloquence was melting hearts that never before had thawed to the presentation of the subject.
It is one of the wonders of the world—how the people have been so slow in grasping the financial problem—in learning what it is that measures values, and that the lesson should have to be learned through an experience so bitter.
"And now," continued Coin, "if my explanation of what is known as the fifty-cent silver dollar is not plain and satisfactory I want to hear from you. It also accounts for fifty-cent wheat."
Mr. Ed. Pardridge, a noted bear operator on the Board of Trade, who had been listening attentively, here stood up. He had commenced bearing wheat in 1893, when it was 80 cents, and to the surprise of every one had continued confidently to sell it short down to 53½ cents, until he had made something like two millions of dollars and was still hammering away.
With a smile on his face and a wink all around him at his fellow members of the Board, he said:
"I have understood the relation of redemption money to values for now little over a year, and have profited by it; but you," addressing himself to Coin, "have given the snap away." Then amidst laughter and applause Mr. Pardridge took his seat.
Mr. Chas. Henrotin, a Board of Trade operator, then said that he had read in a morning paper, a statement signed by a Mr. Wheeler, that wheat in 1859 was as low
