how to use 1,000,000 pounds that one cannot spend

"A Banker is a Fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain" -Mark Twain

The Million Pound Bank Note is an ultimate rags to riches story. The main protagonist, Henry, becomes the fortunate subject of a bet between two brothers. One brother believes that if a poor but honest and intelligent man was given a rare million pound bank-note he would thrive even though he would be unable to cash or exchange it. The other brother believes he would end up in jail or worse for trying to use what clearly does not belong to him.

Henry's first reaction is to think the brothers made a mistake and that he would be the one who ends up with the blame, even though he clearly was not at fault. I believe Twain is commenting that someone wealthy enough to have such money lying about would surely be the kind of person to hoist his own blame onto someone beneath him. He is unable to return it, but soon discovers that by waving it around he is able to buy whatever he wants without actually spending a dime. In no time he becomes a sudden celebrity and "swam in glory all day long" (pg. 387).

Later he is invited to a dinner, but most of the guests ate before attending. The situation is absurd because they are unable to sit down to eat because they cannot concede who has the highest precedence over whom. This ridiculous show of pride is apparently a common and expected occurrence. Instead they stand and eat strawberries and sardines, the order determined by a coin flip. At this "dinner" Henry runs into an old friend of his who is in dire need of investment help. He is faced with a choice of either declining his friend since he has no money to give, or falsely getting his hopes up. Instead he cleverly uses the only capital he has, clout. Henry tells the potential investors that he does know the man and can vouch for him and the mine. In the end he did thrive, and was able to marry the girl he loved as his prize.

I think this story raises a lot of interesting questions about where the power of money really lies. Henry simply gives the impression of wealth but it becomes just as powerful as if he really had everything people assume he does. Once they see it, no one he encounters actually questions why a man dressed as he was in the beginning of the story would have such a bank note. They are so impressed by it and desire to use his wealth to their own advantage, like the eating house manager and the tailor. He also is readily accepted as being extremely wealthy, nothing in his behavior or mannerisms gives him away, which I believe is suggesting that people are not inherently suited to be either poor or rich.

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