122 COIN'S FINANCIAL SCHOOL.
as much as his $1.40 wheat did in 1873. He will find his taxes just as much, and it will take all of twice as much wheat to pay them as in 1873.
"While passing out of the Court House suppose he meets a county official and should ask him what salary was paid to his office in 1873 and now. The answer would be the same number of dollars now as in 1873. The same is true of city, state and national officers, also with the army, navy and officials abroad. The 50-cent wheat would only pay about one-third as much in each instance. He starts for the depot and to get there he takes a street-car. He finds the fare the same as in 1873. He gets on a Pullman car to find the cost the same as in 1873. He registers at a first-class hotel. He finds the cost about the same as in 1873. He sends a telegram, and finds it costs the same as in 1873. He gets a shave with the same result. He buys tea and coffee, with the same result. He gets back home and goes to his bank to borrow money. He finds interest, except in cities on first-class loans, about as high as in 1873. Should he now meet the man who told him that his 5O-cent wheat would buy as much of this world's goods as it ever did, it might result seriously for the other fellow." [Laughter and applause.]
And with a smile and a graceful bow Coin retired from the stage. The lecture was over. It had been full of "meat," and the bulls and bears knew more than they did before. If they had learned nothing else than that all of the gold and silver in the world could be put in the main room of the Chicago Board of Trade their attendance on the lecture gave rich returns for the time spent. The bears on the Board the next day were more numerous than they had been in many months.
