1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media. 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 2: Book Club, book Club, book Club, book Club, book Club, 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: book Club, book Club. I wonder how long I can 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: do that for book Club book Club, No, I got bored. Hello, 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 2: and welcome to cools on Media book Club, your weekly 6 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 2: book club that I host. My name is Margaret Kiljoy, 7 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 2: and I host the cools On Media book Club, which 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: is what I had already said. And every week I 9 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: read you different stories. And it's the only book club 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 2: where you don't have to do the reading because I 11 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 2: do the reading for you. You might have other book 12 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: clubs like that, Well I wouldn't be me doing the 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: reading for you, although I do like reading anyway. Okay, 14 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: I've been on this kick where I've been reading old 15 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: stories written by radicals, and I have got for you 16 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: a story that I'm excited about. 17 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: It is written by B. Traven. And if you've never 18 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: heard of B. Traven, that's understandable. And if you have 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: heard of B. Traven, you might be excited. B Traven 20 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: what was a really important Mexican pulp fiction writer. He 21 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: was writing in the twenties thirties. I actually don't know 22 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: when he stopped writing because I don't have his hoole biography. 23 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: In front of me. But if he's famous today, there's 24 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: two old movies based on his books. One is called 25 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: The Death Ship and that's less known, and then there's 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: the Treasure of the Sierra Nevadas and that movie was 27 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: a big old hit before I or most of you 28 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: were born. But the thing that is really neat about 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: be Travan And one day he's actually going to be 30 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: a character on I'm going to do episodes about him 31 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: at some point on cool People who did cool stuff. 32 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: So I don't have all the information right now. The 33 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: thing is is that no one knew who Betraven was 34 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: for so long, Like he would only meet people in 35 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: darkened rooms in order to do interviews and stuff like that. 36 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: He was completely anonymous as this very popular pulp fiction 37 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: writer in Mexico, and a lot of his work was 38 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: translating in English. And you know, two Hollywood movies were 39 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: made after his book books, and almost certainly I believe 40 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: people see this as a known fact now. He was 41 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: a German anarchist named Rhet Marut who was part of 42 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: this There was this whole wave Germany almost had a 43 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: revolution at the end of the nineteen tens, and I 44 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: haven't really covered this uncol people did cool stuff yet, 45 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: so I don't know a ton about it. Rosa Luxembourg 46 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: is a big famous person from all this whole thing. 47 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 1: And there was a bunch of anarchist artists who got 48 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: together and tried to create a Soviet and in the 49 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: Soviet sense of like a bottom up assembly organized society, 50 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: rather than what the Soviet Union became, which has nothing 51 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: to do with Soviets. I'm not bitter. Rhet Marut had 52 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: to flee Germany because of his role in this revolution, 53 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,399 Speaker 1: but he was a fiction writer, and so he made 54 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: it to Mexico and he started writing, and he wrote 55 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: a lot of really popular stuff. And so I'm going 56 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: to read one of his short stories today. This story 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: is called assembly Line, and I've said this with a 58 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: couple episodes recently. It was written in nineteen twenty eight, 59 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: or it was published in nineteen twenty eight in English, 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,359 Speaker 1: and it was probably translated into English by Betraven himself. 61 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: But the way that people wrote about race and indigenity 62 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: was different. And I would also say that the way 63 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: that indigenity versus like radical leftist politics looks different in Mexico. Historically, 64 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: this is going to be a story about an indigenous 65 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: man in Ohaka. And I could not really tell you 66 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: about the relationship of Bee Traven to indigenity in terms 67 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: of writing and things like that, but I can tell 68 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: you that I have studied since like the eighteen forties 69 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: eighteen fifties, this overlap between European anarchist politics, learning from 70 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: and hanging out with and being part of Mexican radical culture, 71 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: including indigenous culture, and so I suspect I don't know 72 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: whatever I'm doing this thing where I'm like, hey, some 73 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: of the writing in this is like not the way 74 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: that someone would write it now, or things like that, 75 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: But I still find it a very interesting story. And 76 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: I also like reading these stories because of how they're 77 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: indicative of the way that radical fiction writers perceived of 78 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: their world and what they like to write about at 79 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: different times. And I think that there's a value also 80 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: in that. I also just like this story. This is 81 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: another example kind of like the Toll story stories I've 82 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: been reading where it is a skilled writer who is 83 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: writing these political parables, and I think that that skilled 84 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: writer is important. And I also have a particular love 85 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: like Tulsoi is fine. I have a particular love for 86 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: pulp fiction in adventure novels, and that's what B. Traven 87 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: is more known for. Although this is not as much 88 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: of an adventure story. Write the story assembly line B. 89 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: Travean nineteen twenty eight, mister E. L. Winthrop of New 90 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: York was on vacation in the Republic of Mexico. It 91 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: wasn't long before he realized that this strange and really 92 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: wild country had not yet been fully explored by rotarians 93 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: and lions, who are forever conscious of their glorious mission 94 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: on Earth. Therefore, he considered it his duty as a 95 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: good American citizen to play his part in correcting this oversight. 96 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: In search of opportunities to indulge in his new avocation, 97 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: he left the beaten track and ventured into regions not 98 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: especially mentioned and hence not recommended by travel agents to 99 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: foreign tourists. So it happened that one day he found 100 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: himself in a little quaint Indian village somewhere in the 101 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: state of Ojaka. Walking along the dusty main street of 102 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: this peblocito, which knew nothing of pavements, drainage, plumbing, or 103 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: any means of artificial light save candles or pine splinters, 104 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: he met with an Indian squatting on the earth and 105 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: floor front porch of a palm hut, a so called yaclito. 106 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: The Indian was busy making little baskets from bast and 107 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: all kinds of fibers gathered by him in the immense 108 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: tropical bush which surrounded the village on all sides. The 109 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: material used had not only been well prepared for its purpose, 110 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: but was also richly colored with dyes that the basket 111 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: maker himself extracted from various native plants, barks, roots, and 112 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: from certain insects by a process known only to him 113 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: and the members of his family. His principal business, however, 114 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: was not producing baskets. He was a peasant who lived 115 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: on what the small property he possessed less than fifteen 116 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: acres of not too fertile soil, would yield. After much 117 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,559 Speaker 1: sweat and labor, and after constantly worrying over the most 118 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: wanted and best suited distribution of rain, sunshine, and wind, 119 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: and the changing balance of birds and insects beneficial or 120 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: harmful to his crops. Baskets he made when there was 121 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: nothing else for him to do in the fields, because 122 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 1: he was unable to dawdle after all the sale of 123 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: his baskets, though to a rather limited degree, only added 124 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: to the small income he received from his little farm. 125 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: In spite of being by profession just a plain peasant, 126 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: it was clearly seen from the small baskets he made 127 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 1: that at heart he was an artist, a true and 128 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: accomplished artist. Each basket looked as if covered all over 129 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: with the most beautiful, sometimes fantastic ornaments, flowers, butterflies, birds, squirrels, antelopes, tigers, 130 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: and a score of other animals of the wilds. Yet 131 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: the most amazing thing was that these decorations, all of 132 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: them symphonies of color, were not painted on the baskets, 133 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: but were instead actually part of the baskets themselves. Bast 134 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: and fibers dyed and dozens of different colors were so 135 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: cleverly one might actually say intrinsically interwoven, that those attractive 136 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: designs appeared on the inner part of the basket as 137 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: well as the outside, not by painting, but by weaving. 138 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: Were those highly artistic designs achieved. This performance he accomplished 139 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: without ever looking at any sketch or pattern while working 140 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: on a basket. These designs came to light as if 141 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: by magic, and as long as the basket was not 142 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: entirely finished, one could not perceive what in this case 143 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: or that the decoration would be like. People in the 144 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: market town who bought these baskets would use them for 145 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: sewing baskets, or to decorate tables with or window sills, 146 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: or to hold little things to keep them from lying around. 147 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,239 Speaker 1: Women put their jewelry in them, or flowers or little dolls. 148 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: There were, in fact a hundred and two ways they 149 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: might serve certain purposes in a household or in a 150 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: lady's own room. Whenever the Indian had finished about twenty 151 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: of the baskets, he took them to town on market day. 152 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: Sometimes he would already be on his way shortly after midnight, 153 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: because he owned only a burrow to ride on, and 154 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: if the borough had gone astray the day before, as 155 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: happened frequently, he would have to walk the whole way 156 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: into town and back again. At the market, he had 157 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: to pay twenty centavos and taxes to sell his wares. 158 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Each basket cost him between twenty and thirty hours of 159 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: constant work, not counting the time spent gathering the bast 160 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 1: and fibers, preparing them, making die and coloring the bast all. 161 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: This meant extra time and work. The price he asked 162 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: for for each basket was fifty centavos, the equivalent of 163 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: about four cents. It seldom happened, however, that the buyer 164 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: paid outright the full fifty centavos asked, or for realis, 165 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: as the Indians called that money. The prospective buyer started bargaining, 166 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: telling the Indian he ought to be ashamed to ask 167 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: such a sinful price. Why the whole dirty thing is 168 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: nothing but dirty patate straw, which you find in heaps 169 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: wherever you may look for it. The jungle is packed 170 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: full of it. The buyer would argue, if I paid you, 171 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,959 Speaker 1: you thief ten cent of vetos for it, you should 172 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: be grateful for it and kiss my hand. Well, it's 173 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: your lucky day. I'll be generous this time. I'll pay 174 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: you twenty and not one green centavo more. Take it 175 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: run along. So he sold finally for twenty five centavos. 176 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: But the buyer would say, and what do you think 177 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: of that? I've only got twenty centavos change on me? 178 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: What can you do about that? If you can change 179 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: me at twenty p payso bill? 180 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: All right? 181 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: You shall have your twenty five fieros. Of course, the 182 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: Indian could not change a twenty payso bill, and so 183 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the basket went for twenty centavos. He had little, if 184 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: any knowledge of the outside world, or he would have 185 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 1: known that what happened to him was happening every hour 186 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: of every day to every artist all over the world. 187 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: That knowledge would have made him very proud, because he 188 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: would have realized that he belonged to the little army 189 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: which is the salt of the earth, and which keeps culture, urbanity, 190 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: and beauty for their own sakes from passing away. Often, 191 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: it was not possible for him to sell all the 192 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: baskets he had brought to market. For people here as 193 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: elsewhere in the world, preferred things made by the millions, 194 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: and each so much like the other that you were unable, 195 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: even with the help of a magnifying glass, to tell 196 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: which was which and where was the difference between two 197 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: of the same kind. Yet he, this craftsman, had in 198 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: his life, made several hundreds of these exquisite baskets, but 199 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: so far no two of them had ever turned out 200 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: alike in design. Each was an individual piece of art, 201 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: and as different from the other as a marion from 202 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: a Velasquez. Naturally, he did not want to take those baskets, 203 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: which he could not sell at the marketplace home with 204 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: him again if he could help it. In such a case, 205 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 1: he went peddling his products from door to door, where 206 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: he was treated partly as a beggar and partly as 207 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: a vagrant, apparently looking for an opportunity to steal, and 208 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: he frequently had to swallow all sorts of insults and 209 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: nasty remarks. Then, after a long run, perhaps a woman 210 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: would finally stop him, take one of the baskets and 211 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: offer ten centavos, which price, through talks and talks, would 212 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: perhaps go up to fifteen or even twenty. Nevertheless, in 213 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: many instances he would actually get no more than just 214 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: ten centavos, and the buyer, usually a woman, would grasp 215 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: that little marvel right before his eyes and throw it 216 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: carelessly on the nearest table, as if to say, while 217 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: I take that piece of nonsense only for charity's sake, 218 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: I know my money is wasted, but then after all, 219 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: I'm a Christian, and I can't see a poor Indian 220 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: die of hunger since he has come such a long 221 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: way from his village. This would remind her of something better, 222 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: and she would hold him and say, where you at home? Anyway? 223 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: In Dieto? Where's your pueblo? So from Huhutonoc? Now listen 224 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: here in Dieto. Can't you bring me next Saturday two 225 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: or three turkeys from Hutonoc? But they must be heavy 226 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: and fat and very very cheap, or I won't even 227 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: touch them if I wish to pay the regular price. 228 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: I don't need you to bring them, understand, hop along? 229 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: Now in Deeto, the Indian squatted on the earth and 230 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 1: floor of the portico in his hut, attended to his work, 231 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: and showed no special interest in the curiosity of mister 232 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: Winthrop watching him. He acted almost as if he ignored 233 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: the presence of the American altogether. How much is that 234 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: little basket, friend, mister Winthrop asked, when he felt he 235 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: had at least say something so as to not ap 236 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: peer idiotic fifty centavos patroncito, my good little lordie for Realez, 237 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: The Indian answered, politely, All right, sold, mister Winthrop blurted 238 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: out in a tone and with a gesture as if 239 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: he had just bought a whole railroad, and examining his 240 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: by he added, I already know who I'll give that 241 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: pretty little thing to. She'll kiss me for it. Sure, 242 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: I wonder what should you use it for? He had 243 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 1: expected to hear a price of three or even four pesos. 244 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,199 Speaker 1: The moment he realized that he had judged the value 245 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: six times too high, he saw right away what great 246 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: business possibilities this miserable Indian village might offer to a 247 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: dynamic promoter like himself. Without further delay, he started exploring 248 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 1: those possibilities. Suppose is my good friend, I buy ten 249 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: of these little baskets of yours, which I which I 250 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: might as well admit right here and now have practically 251 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: no real use whatsoever. Well, as I was saying, if 252 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: I buy ten, how much would you then charge a piece? 253 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: The Indian hesitated for a few seconds, as if making calculations. Finally, 254 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: he said, if you buy ten, I can let you 255 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: have them for forty five centavos each, Senorito, gentleman, All right, amigo, 256 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: And now let's suppose I buy from you straight away 257 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: one hundred of these absolutely useless baskets. How much will 258 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: each cost me? The Indian, never looking up to the 259 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: Americans standing before him, and hardly taking his eyes off 260 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: his work, said politely, with out the slightest trace of 261 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: enthusiasm in his voice. In such a case, I might 262 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: not be quite unwilling to sell each for forty cent 263 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: of vitos. Mister Winthrop bought sixteen baskets, which was all 264 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: the Indian had in stock. But you know who does 265 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: have more in stock? Well, whoever's advertising, They probably have 266 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: a bunch of stuff, and you could buy it if 267 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: you want. Or you could press the forward thirty second 268 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: spot in a couple times so you hear the theme 269 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: music again. You could do whatever you want, and we're back. 270 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: After three weeks stay in the Republic, mister Winthrop was 271 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: convinced that he knew this country perfectly, that he had 272 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: seen everything and knew all about the inhabitants, their character, 273 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: and their way of life, and that there was nothing 274 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: left for him to explore. So he returned to good 275 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: old New York and felt happy to be once more 276 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: in a civilized country, rust it to himself. One day, 277 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: going out for lunch, he passed to confectioners, and looking 278 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: at the little display in the window, he suddenly remembered 279 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: the little baskets he had bought in that far away 280 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: Indian village. He hurried home and took all the baskets 281 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: he still had left to one of the best known 282 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: candy makers in the city. I can offer you here, 283 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: mister Winthrop, said to the confectioner, one of the most 284 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: artistic and at the same time most original of boxes, 285 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: if you wish to call them, that these little baskets 286 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: would be just right for the most expensive chocolates meant 287 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: for elegant and high priced gifts. Just have a good 288 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: look at them, sir, and let me listen. The confectioner 289 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: examined the baskets and found them extraordinarily well suited for 290 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: a certain line in his business. Never before had there 291 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: been anything like them, for originality, prettiness and good taste. 292 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: He however, avoided most carefully showing any sign of enthusiasm 293 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: for which there would be time enough. Once he knew 294 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: the price and whether he could get a whole load exclusively, 295 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: he shrugged his shoulders and said, well, I don't know. 296 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: If you asked me, I say, it isn't quite what 297 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: I'm after. It depends, of course, on the price. In 298 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: our business, the package mustn't cost more than once in it, 299 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: Do I hear? An offer, mister Winthrop asked, why don't 300 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: you tell me in round figures how much you want 301 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: for them? I'm no good at guessing. Well, i'll tell you, 302 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: mister Kemple. Since I'm the smart guy who discovered these baskets, 303 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: and since I'm the only jack who knows where to 304 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: lay his hand on more, I'm selling to the highest 305 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: bidder on an exclusive basis. Of course, I'm positive you 306 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,040 Speaker 1: can see it my way, mister Kemple. Quite so, and 307 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: may the best man win. The confectioner said, I'll talk 308 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: the matter over with my partners. See me tomorrow morning, 309 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: same time, please, and i'll let you know how far 310 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: we might be willing to go. Next day, when both 311 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: gentlemen met again, mister Kemple said, now, to be frank 312 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: with you, I know art on seeing it, no getting 313 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: around that. And these baskets are a little works of art. 314 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: They surely are. However, we are not art dealers. You 315 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: realize that, of course we've no other use for these 316 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: pretty little things except us fancy packing for our French 317 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: prelines made by us. We can't pay for them what 318 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: we meant I might pay considering them as pieces of art. 319 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: After all to us. They're only wrappings. Fine rappings perhaps, 320 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: but nevertheless rappings. You'll see it our way, I hope, 321 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: mister Oh yes, mister Winthrop. So here is our offer, 322 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: take it or leave it. A dollar and a quarter 323 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: apiece and not one cent more. Mister Winthrop made a 324 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: gesture as if he had been struck over the head. 325 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: The confectioner, misunderstanding this involuntary gesture of mister Winthrop, added quickly, 326 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: all right, all right, no reason to get excited, no 327 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: reason at all. Perhaps we can do a trifle better. 328 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: Let's say one fifty. Make it one seventy five, mister 329 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: Winthrop snapped, swallowing his breath while wiping his forehead. Sold 330 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: one seventy five apiece free at Port of New York. 331 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: We pay the customs and you pay the shipping. Right sold, 332 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: mister Winthrop also said, and the deal was closed. There is, 333 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: of course, one condition, the confectioner explained, when mister Winthrop 334 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: was to leave one or two hundred won't do it 335 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: for us. It wouldn't pay the trouble in the end 336 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: advertising I wouldn't consider less than ten thousand or one 337 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: thousand dozens, if that sounds better. In your ears, and 338 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: they must come in twelve different patterns. Well assorted, how 339 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: about that I can make it sixty different patterns or designs, 340 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: So much the better, And you're sure you can deliver 341 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:23,719 Speaker 1: ten thousand, let's say early October. Absolutely, mister Winthrop vowed 342 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: and signed the contract. Practically all the way back to Mexico, 343 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: mister Winthrop had a notebook in his left hand and 344 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: a pencil in his right, and he was writing figures, 345 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: long rows of them to find out exactly how much 346 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,239 Speaker 1: richer he would be when his business had been put through. Now, 347 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 1: let's sum up the whole goddamn thing, he muttered to himself. 348 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 1: Damn it, where is that cursed pencil again? I had 349 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: it right between my fingers. Ah, there it is ten thousand, 350 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: he ordered. Well, well, there we get a clean cut 351 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: profit of fifteen thousand, four hundred and forty genuine dollars 352 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: sweet smackers, fifteen grand right in a papa's pocket. Come 353 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: to think of it, that republic isn't so backward after all. 354 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: Buenos tardes, mi amigo, how are you whom he found 355 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: squatting in the porch of his jocolito as if he 356 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: had never moved from his place, since mister Winthrop had 357 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: left for New York. The Indian Rose took off his hat, 358 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: bowed politely, and said, in his soft voice, be welcome, Patronsito. 359 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. I feel fine, Thank you, moebenos tards the house, 360 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: and all I have is at your kind disposal. He 361 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: bowed once more, moved his right hand in a gesture 362 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: of greeting, and sat down. But he excused himself for 363 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: doing so by saying, pardon me, Patrosito, I have to 364 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:36,959 Speaker 1: take advantage of the daylight. Soon it will be night. 365 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 1: I've got big business for you, my friend, mister Winthrop. 366 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: Agan good to hear that. Signor. Mister Winthrop said to himself. 367 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: Now he'll jump up and go wild when he learns 368 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: what I've got for him, and aloud, he said, do 369 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: you think you can make one thousand of these little baskets? 370 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: Why not, Patronzito. If I can make sixteen, I can 371 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: make one thousand also, that's right, my good man. Can 372 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: you also make five thousand? Of course, Signor, I can 373 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 1: make five thousand if I can make one thousand. Good Now, 374 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: if I should ask you to make me ten thousand, 375 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: what would you say? And what would be the price 376 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 1: of each You can make ten thousand, can't you? Of 377 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: course I can't signor I can make as many as 378 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: you wish. You see, I am an expert in this 379 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: sort of work. No one else in the whole state 380 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: can make them the way I do. That's what I thought, 381 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: and that's exactly why I came to you. Thank you 382 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 1: for the honor, Patroncito. Suppose I order you to make 383 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: ten thousand of these baskets, how much time do you 384 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: think you would need to deliver them? The Indian, without 385 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: interrupting his work, cocked his head to one side and 386 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: the other, as if you were counting the days or 387 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: weeks it would cost him to make all these baskets. 388 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: After a few minutes, he said, in a slow voice, 389 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: it will take a good long time to make so 390 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: many baskets, Petroncito. You see, the bast and the fibers 391 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,200 Speaker 1: must be very dry before they could be used properly. Then, 392 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: all during the time they are slowly drying, they must 393 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: be worked and handled in a very special way, so 394 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: that while drying they won't lose their softness and their 395 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: flexibility and their natural browks. Even when dry, they must 396 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: look fresh. They must never lose their natural property, so 397 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: they will look just as lifeless and dull as straw. 398 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: Then while they are drying, I got to go get 399 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: the plants and roots and barks and insects from which 400 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: I brew the dyes. That takes much time. Also, believe me, 401 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: the plants must be gathered when the moon is just right, 402 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: or they won't give the right color. The insects I 403 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: pick from the plants must also be gathered at the 404 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: right time and under the right conditions, or else they 405 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: produce no rich colors and are just like dust. But 406 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: of course, hefsito, I can make as many of these 407 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: kind of steethas as you wish, even as many as 408 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: three dozens if you want them. Only give me time. 409 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: Three dozens, three dozens, mister Winthrop yelled, threw up both 410 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: arms and desperation. Three dozens. He repeated it as if 411 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: he had to say it many times in his own voice, 412 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: so as to understand the real meaning of it, because 413 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: for a while he thought he was dreaming. He had 414 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: expected the Indian to go crazy on hearing that he 415 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: was to sell ten thousand of his baskets without having 416 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: to pedal them from door to door and be treated 417 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: like a dog with a skin disease. So the American 418 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: took up the question of price again, by which he 419 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: hoped to activate the Indian's ambition. You told me that 420 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: if I take one hundred baskets, you will let me 421 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: have them for forty centavos apiece. Is that right, my friend? 422 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: Quite right? Hepacito. Now, mister Winthrop took a deep breath. Now, 423 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: then if I ask you to make one thousand, that 424 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: is ten times one hundred baskets, how much will they 425 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: cost me each basket? That figure was too high for 426 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: the Indian to grasp. He became slightly confused, and for 427 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: the first time since mister Winthrop had arrived, he interrupted 428 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: his work and tried to think it out. Several times, 429 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: he shook his head and looked vaguely around as if 430 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,680 Speaker 1: for help. Finally, he said, excuse me, hepasito, little chief, 431 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: that is by far too much for me to count. Tomorrow, 432 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: if you'll do me the honor, come and see me again, 433 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: and I think I shall have my answer ready for you, patronsito. 434 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: And so then the guy, the American guy, he went 435 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: off and listened to ads. That's what he did. I 436 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: totally didn't add that to the story. That's definitely a 437 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: part of the story. That's not true. It's not part 438 00:22:58,720 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: of my story. 439 00:22:59,119 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 2: I've added it. 440 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:13,199 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I can underly to you, says and rebec. 441 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 1: When on the next morning mister Winthrop came to the hut, 442 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: he found the Indian, as usual, squatting on the floor 443 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: under the overhanging palm roof, working at his baskets. Have 444 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: you got the price for ten thousand, he asked the 445 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: Indian at the very moment he saw him, without taking 446 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: the trouble to say good morning. See, patronsito, I have 447 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: the price ready. You may believe me. It has costed 448 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: much labor and worry to find out the exact price, 449 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: because you see, I do not wish to cheat you 450 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: out of your honest money. Skip that, amigo, Come out 451 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: with the salad. What's the price, mister Winthrop asked nervously. 452 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: The price is well calculated now without any mistake on 453 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: my side. Have I got to make one thousand kindastitas? 454 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: Each will be three pesos. If I must make five thousand, 455 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: each will cost nine pesos. And if I have to 456 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: make ten thousand. In such a case, I can't make 457 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: them for less than fifteen pesos each. Immediately he returned 458 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: to his work, as if he was afraid of losing 459 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: too much time with such idle talk. Mister Winthrop thought 460 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: it was perhaps his faulty knowledge of this foreign language 461 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: that had played a trick on him. Did I hear 462 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: you say fifteen pesos each if I eventually would buy 463 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: ten thousand. That's exactly and without any mistake, what I've said, Patronsito, 464 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: the Indian answered in a soft and courteous voice. But 465 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: now see here, my good man, you can't do this 466 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 1: to me. I'm your friend and I want to help 467 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: you get on your feet. Yes, Patronsito, I know this, 468 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: and I don't doubt any of your words. Now let's 469 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: be patient and talk this over man to man. Didn't 470 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: you tell me that if I would buy but one hundred, 471 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: that you would sell each for forty centavos? See Hevesito. 472 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: That's what I said. If you buy one hundred, you 473 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 1: can have them for forty centavos apiece, provided that I 474 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: have one hundred, which I don't. Yes, yes, I see that. 475 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,160 Speaker 1: Mister Winthrop felt as if he would go insane any minute. Now, Yes, oh, 476 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 1: you said, only what I can't comprehend is why you 477 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: cannot sell at the same price if you make me 478 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: ten thousand. I certainly don't want to chisel on the price. 479 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: I am not that kind only well, let's see now 480 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: if you can sell for forty centavos at all, be 481 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: it for twenty or fifty or one hundred. I can't 482 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: quite get the idea of why the price is to 483 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: jump that high if I buy more than one hundred. Bueno, 484 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: patron tito, What is there so difficult to understand? It's 485 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: all very simple. One thousand kindistitas costs me one hundred 486 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: times more work than a dozen. Ten thousand cost me 487 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: so much time and labor that I could never finish them, 488 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: not even in one hundred years. For a thousand kindis titas, 489 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: I need more basts than for one hundred, and I 490 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: need more little red beetles and more plants than roots 491 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: for the dyes. It isn't that you can just walk 492 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: into the bush and pick all the things you need 493 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: at your heart's desire. One root with the true violet 494 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: blue may cost me four or five days until I 495 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: can find one in the jungle. And if you thought 496 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: how much time it takes and how much hard work 497 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 1: to prepare the bast in fiber. What is more, if 498 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 1: I must make so many baskets, who will then look 499 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: after my corn and my beans and my goats, and 500 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,360 Speaker 1: chase for me occasionally a rabbit for meat on Sunday. 501 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: If I have no corn, then I have no tortillas 502 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: to eat. And if I grow no beans, where will 503 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: I get my fruholes from. But since you'll get so 504 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,400 Speaker 1: much money from me for your baskets, you can buy 505 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: all the corn and beans in the world, and more 506 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: than you need. That's what you think, Senorito, little lordie. 507 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: But you see, it is only the corn I grow 508 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: for myself that I am sure of. Of the corn 509 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 1: which others may or may not grow, I cannot be 510 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 1: sure to feast upon. Haven't you got some relatives here 511 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: in this village who might help you make baskets for me? 512 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: Mister Winthrop asked, hopefully Practically the whole village is related 513 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: to me somehow or other? Fact? Is I got a 514 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: lot of close relatives in this here place. Well, then 515 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: can't they cultivate your fields and look after your goats 516 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: while you make baskets for me? Not only this, they 517 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: might gather for you the fibers and the collars in 518 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: the bush, and lend you a hand here and there, 519 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: and preparing the material you need for the baskets. They 520 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: might patroancate again, They might possible, But then you see 521 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: who would take care of their fields and cattle if 522 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:06,199 Speaker 1: they work for me, and if they help me with 523 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: the baskets. It turns out the same. No one would 524 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 1: any longer work in his fields properly. In such a case, 525 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,360 Speaker 1: corn and beans would get so high up in price 526 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: that none of us could buy any and we would 527 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: all serve to death. Besides, as the price of everything 528 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 1: would rise and rise higher still, how could I make 529 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: baskets for forty centavos apiece? A pinch of salt or 530 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: one green chili would set me back more than I'd 531 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 1: collect for one single basket. No, you'll understand, highly estimated 532 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 1: Caballero and hevcito, why I can't make the baskets any 533 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 1: cheaper than fifteen pasos each. If I got to make 534 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: that many, mister Winthrop was hard boiled, no wonder, considering 535 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: the city he came from. He refused to give up 536 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: more than fifteen thousand dollars, which at that moment seemed 537 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: to slip away through his fingers like nothing. Being really 538 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: desperate now, he talked and bargained with the Indian for 539 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: almost two full hours, trying to make him understand how 540 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: rich he the Indian would be calm if he would 541 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: take this greatest opportunity of his life. The Indians ever 542 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: ceased working on his baskets while he explained his points 543 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 1: of view. You know, my good man, mister Winthrop said, 544 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 1: such a wonderful chance might never again knock on your door. 545 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: Do you realize that? Let me explain to you, in 546 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 1: ice cold figures, what fortune you might miss if you 547 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: leave me flat on this deal. He tore leaf after 548 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: leaf from his notebook, covered each with figures and still 549 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: more figures, and while doing so, told the peasant he 550 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: would be the richest man in the whole district. The Indian, 551 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: without answering, watched with a genuine expression of all as 552 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: mister Winthrop wrote down these long figures, executing complicated multiplications 553 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: and divisions and subtractions so rapidly that it seemed to 554 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: him the greatest miracle he had ever seen. The American, 555 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: noting this growing interest in the Indian, misjudged the real 556 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: significance of it. There you are, my friend, he said, 557 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: that's exactly how rich you're going to be. You'll have 558 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: a bankroll of exactly four thousand pesos. And to show 559 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: you that I'm a real friend of yours, I'll throw 560 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: in a bonus. I'll make it around five thousand pesos, 561 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: and all in sober The Indian, however, had not for 562 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: one moment thought of four thousand pesos. Such an amount 563 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: of money had no meaning to him. He had been 564 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: interested solely in mister Winthrop's ability to write figures so rapidly. 565 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: So what do you say now? Is it a deal 566 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: or is it Say yes, and you'll get your advance 567 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: this very minute. As I have explained, patronsito, the price 568 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: is fifteen pesos each. But my good man, mister Winthrop 569 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: shouted at the poor Indian, in utter despair, where have 570 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: you been all this time on the moon? Or where 571 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: you are still at the same price as before? Yes, 572 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: I know that hepacito, my little chief, The Indian answered, 573 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: entirely unconcerned. It must be the same price, because I 574 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: cannot make any other one besides signor there's still another 575 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: thing which perhaps you don't know. You see my good 576 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: lordie and caballero. I've to make these canistitas my own way, 577 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: and with my own song in them, and with bits 578 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 1: of my soul woven in. If I were to make 579 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: them in great numbers, there would no longer be my 580 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: soul in each or my songs. Each would be like 581 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 1: the other, with no difference, and such a thing would 582 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: slowly eat up my heart. Each has to be another song, 583 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: which I hear in the morning, when the sun rises, 584 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: when the birds begin to chirp, and the butterflies come 585 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: and sit down on my baskets, so that I may 586 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: see a new beauty. Because you see the butterflies like 587 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: my baskets and the pretty colors on them. That's why 588 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: they come and sit down, and I can make my 589 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 1: canistitas after them. And now signor he fasito, if you 590 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: will kindly excuse me. I have wasted much time already, 591 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: although it would be a pleasure and a great honor 592 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: to hear the talk of such a distinguished caballero like you, 593 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 1: But I'm afraid I have to attend to my work now, 594 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: for day after tomorrow is market day in town, and 595 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: I've got to take my baskets there thank you signor 596 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: for your visit, adios. And in this way it happened 597 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: that American garbage cans escaped the fate of being turned 598 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: into receptacles for empty, torn and crumpled, little multi colored 599 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: canistitas into which an Indian of Mexico had woven dreams 600 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 1: of his soul, throbs of his heart, his unsung poems. 601 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: The end, we don't have a lot to add to it. 602 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: I think it's a pretty self explanatory thing. You know, 603 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,479 Speaker 1: it's called assembly line. There is no assembly line in it. 604 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: It doesn't even come up that anyone considers an assembly line. 605 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 1: And it gets into something that I've covered a lot 606 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: on both book Club and on my show. Cool people 607 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: did cool stuff about like the move towards industrialization right 608 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: and what we lose in factory work and things like that, 609 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: and that I really like. And also it actually reminds 610 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: me a lot of some of the stories that I 611 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: read by William Morris a while ago, which, you know, 612 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: whereas this fiction writer who presaged a lot of like 613 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: Tolkien and Lord of the Rings and stuff, but was 614 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: also mostly known for making wallpaper and inspiring the arts 615 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: and crafts movement. And this idea of like really seeing 616 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: the beauty in ornament and putting time and effort into 617 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,160 Speaker 1: the things that you make, and I like seeing that 618 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 1: reflected in these different ways, and yeah, you'll be enjoyed 619 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: it too. I'll be back next week with more goalson medium. 620 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 1: It could Happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 621 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from. 622 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 2: Cool Zone Media, visit our website Coolzonemedia dot com, or 623 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 2: check us out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 624 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 2: wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find sources where 625 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 2: it Could Happen here, updated monthly at coolzonmedia dot com 626 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 2: slash sources. 627 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.