THE SPIRIT OF DAN BROCK By Arup N. Garson | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 | Clara Frodahl & Nils Garson Page | HOME | |
| Page 5 places. The farm had lost its attraction, and before the end of two more years Dan sold out at auction, farm and all. Dan died a town pauper. To those of you who may be unfamiliar with the word I will explain that a pauper was an individual living in the pre-more-abundant-life era, who either through misfortune, extravagance, drunkeness, or ill health had lost his estate and earning power, and whose relatives did not resent the stigma. of having one of their kin supported at public expense, and who therefore became a public charge. They were few in number, averaging possibly four to every township. That number would be less in counties where there were 'Poor Farms.' The prospect of' ’Poor Farm' tenancy seemed to stimulate some otherwise pauperly inclined to efforts at self support. Being few in number the paupers had little power. As a pressure group they were a flop. However, they were not abused, neither were they scorned. But they were treated with a cool pity that made anyone with pride in his heart want to shun that form of existence. Dan took pauperism in his stride, with colors flying. The world owed him a living, so he said, and public support was a debt due him. He was the first champion of old age pensions that I ever met, and he would sit by the stove in the old grocery store on cold winter days arguing 'til closing time. He attributed his lack of worldly possessions to two things: refusal by local bankers to extend him sufficient credit, and Wall Street "calling the money" thereby draining the country of sufficient cash. When I entered the banking business in 1917 Dan Brock had been dead for some time, but his spirit had just started on its march. It must have been a companion of the flu epidemic, or else a close relative, because it appeared at about the same time, and acted somewhat the same. Some people escaped it entirely. To others it proved fatal, and the few that recovered never seemed to catch it again, at least not in violent form. It spread over the entire country like a dust storm, permeating every line of activity, and penetrating into every home, smothering rules of success, and changing standards of integrity. Its cure for any and all financial ills was, more borrowing. In the year 1918, when prices were high, I saw a chattel mortgage for the first time. The year after that, while prices were still skyrocketing, I saw my first second mortgage. Implement dealers started selling automobiles as a side line. Notes for car purchases were discounted at the local banks in wild abandon, and gasoline dealers sold gas on credit, borrowing money to meet |