Life — April 11, 1907 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

516 ~LIFE: Arthur and His Toys IPTLE ARTHUR, the boy magnate, and his father were great chums. His father loved to take the boy around and seemed to have an des, it kept his young with him, because he was so bright intuitive grasp on everything. Be mind occupied. And the little fellow grew tired of playing in his nursery and in his gold-dust pile. For some days the child had been unusually thoughtful, and both parents felt anxious about him. And so it was really a relief when he said suddenly, climbing on papa’s knee: Say, papa, buy me a railroad AMI ioe hi “A railroad! Dear me, haven't you one already, one that runs by electricity 2” “Oh, yes. But I want a real railroad.” Arthur's father and mother exchanged smiles. “And what would you do with a railroad if you had one?” asked his father, gently. Arthur nestled down on his shoulder. “Why, loot it, of course. Isn’t that what you do?” His amused parents could scarcely restrain their laughter. “Arthur, you are a really wonderful child,” said his mother, approvingly. ‘Then she turned to his father. “T really think,” she said, “you should give Arthur a rail road. It will help him to develop manly traits, and give him an idea of how business is conducted.”” said Arthur, clapping his hands. “And I wanta rail- road with real stockholders and —everything you can think of."” “All right,” said his father, “you shall have one.” So the next day he looked over his available railroads, and selected one that he thought would suit, and gave it to Arthur then and there. For the next month the little boy was so busy that his. parents scarcely saw him at all. His private car, which he had thrown aside so often, was taken out and brushed up, and Arthur would be gone in it for days at a time. But one evening he burst into the room where his father and mother were playing bridge with some friends for city franchises, his face alive with excitement. “Well, Arthur,” said his father, “how's your railroad?” “Tm having a bully time,” said Arthur.“ f formed a pool with the other boys in the block, and for three or four days we didn’t do anything but make bond issues. Then we sold ’em off and bought another railroad with what we made.” “Another!” “Oh, yes.” Arthur shook his head slowly up and down “More than one. It’s a splendid game, isn’t it, papa? And so easy. All we do is to water the stock, and every time we sell out we can more.”” Arthur stood up proudly. “We're going to own all the railroads in the country before we yet through,” he announced. The guests were highly entertained “You'd better look out, Arthur,” said one of them, you'll yet arrested. Aren't you afraid of the big policeman on the comer?” “NO, sir!” replied Arthur, strutting around. “I guess I can fix him, with all my money. Besides I made him buy stock in my road, and now he can’t say anything!” At this the company roared. “If T were you, old man,” said one of his father’s guests, “Td be careful of that boy. He's too bright. He will exhaust all of his pleasures before he is grown up.” Arthur’s mother put her hand upon his head indulgently. “Come, my dear,” she said, “you've played hard enough for one day. Now, kiss all around and run off to bed.” So Arthur did as he was told, and in a few moments his Cc “or $5,000-a-year nurse had tucked him into bed and he was fast asleep, dreaming of rolling stock, up grades, freight rates and other exciting things. But the next morning he was up bright and early andoff pain as usual. The wecks went by, and one day Arthur's mother said to her husband: “Don’t you think it is remarkable the way that boy sticks. to the railroad amusement? I really believe -he has some “You wait,” replied Arthur's father; “he'll grow weary of it. I think I begin to notice signs of this already.” ) comicbooks.com