FINAL SELECTION 



THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF ALL 



IX SOME farming districts of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley they have a curious custom in 

 selling cattle at auction. They drive a herd 

 of cows together and the auctioneer asks his 

 audience to bid for first choice, no individual 

 animal being specified. 



The highest bidder makes his choice, and the 

 animal he selects is taken from the herd. 



Then the auctioneer starts over, receiving 

 bids for "first choice" among the remaining 

 animals. This process is repeated again and 

 again until all the exceptional animals have 

 been selected. 



A curious result of the method is that it very 

 commonly happens that different bidders have 

 their eyes on different animals. Farmer A, who 

 bid highest at the outset, did not have in mind 

 the animal for which farmer B was bidding. 

 And so it often happens that after six or eight 

 selections have been made an animal still remains 



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