Another thing important is that the company purchase three or four vials of oil to stand in the window—­some in the crude state, the rest clarified.  Genuine specimens from Venango County.

Another important thing:  there must be a large working capital, for the company do not mean to be idle.  They have derricks already building; and there will be large monthly dividends.  Let it be known that there were companies in some cities who, claiming to have a capital of four hundred thousand dollars, yet had that capital exhausted when they had sunk one well costing five thousand dollars.  But never mind.  The thing must be right, for some of the directors are eminent for respectability.  You say it is certainly important that there be some land out of which the oil is to be obtained.  Oh! no.  Why be troubled with any land at all?  It is an expense for nothing.  You have the circular, and the glowing map, with the creeks and three vials of oil in the window, and a flaming advertisement in the newspapers.  Now let the books be opened!  Better if you can have a half-dozen offices in one room; then the agent can accommodate you with anything you desire.  If you want to take a “flyer” in this and a “flyer” in that, you shall have it.

Coming in from the country are farmers, dairymen, day-laborers.  Great chances now for speedy emoluments.  Pour in the hard-earned treasures.  Sure enough, a dividend of one per cent. per month!  Forthwith, another multitude are convinced of the safety of the investment.  The second month another dividend.  The third month another.  Whence do these dividends come?  From the product of the wells?  Oh! no.  It is your own money they are paying you back.  How generous of this company to give you five dollars back, when you might have lost it all!

But the dividends stop.  What is the matter?  Instead of the advertisement which covered a whole column of the newspapers, there comes a modest little notice that “a special meeting of the stockholders will be held for the purpose of transacting business of importance.”  Perhaps it may be to assess the stockholders for the purpose of keeping the little land they have, if they have any.  Or it may be for the election of a new group of officers, for the present incumbents do not want to be always before the public.  They are modest men.  They believe in rotation of office.  They cannot consent any longer to serve.  Where have they gone to?  They are busy putting up a princely mansion at Long Branch, Germantown, or Chelsea.  They have served their day and generation, and have gone to their flocks and herds.  Where is the Church of God, that she allows in her membership such gigantic abominations?  Were the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received denounced as unfit, and shall the Church of God have nothing to say about this price of blood?  Is sin to be excused because it is as high as heaven, or deep as hell?  The man who allows his name to be used as president or director in connection with