Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-06-07
"JOHN MAS JON"

What kind of people have you here p
asked Of one Of my scquaintaDces. after be.
coming denizsn of the pleasant little vii
laee of M1orfeld.
.Very clever people with one or two ex-
ceptions,' be replied. i am sure you will
like Us very we'll
Who ere the exceptions 2 | asked, for
| | wish 20 keep all exec ptiops at dis
rance. Beiug a stranger will wisely take
a hint IN time. It's an eaev matter to
shun an acquaintanceshi?; but by no
means 80 easy to break it of after it is once
formed
Very truly said And / will warn you
in time, of one man in particular. HIS
name is John Mason. Keep clear of him
if YOU wish to keep out Of trouble. He
IL as smooth and oily as a milestone and I.
like a milestone, abrades everything be
touches. He's a bad man, that John Ma
son.
Who or what is hep l asked.
He's a lawyer, and one Of the principle
holders Of property in the township. But
money can't gid him over. He's bad
man, that John Mason. and my advice TO
you and every one is 80 keep clear of him.
/ know him like book
I'm very much obliged to YOU said l.
"For timely caution, and will take care to
profit by it
My next acquaintance bore pretty much
the same testimony. and go did the next.
IT was that John Mason was not the right
kind of man, and rather a blemish upon
the village of MoOrfeld, notwithstanding
be was one Of the principal property hold
ers in the township.
II it wasn't for that John Mason l
heard On this hand, and if it wasn't for
that John Mason | heard on the other
hand as my acquaintanceship among the
people extended. Particularly bitter gainst
him was the first individual who had whis-
pered in my ear friendly caution and
hardly ever met with him, but be had
something to say about that John Ma
son.
About Six months after my arrival in
MouT6eld, ! attended public meeting, at
which the leading men of the township
were present Most of'them we're st:an-
gers to me. At this meeting fell in COM
pauy with q very pleasant uan, who had
several times addressed those present. and
/ aiwa,s in such clear. fOrcibie and corr
! mousenee way as to carry conviction to all
| but q few who carped and dubbed ct sV-
erything he said, aud in Fery churlish
! manner. Several of these Guibhlers hap
! oeDed to know. He represented one sot nt
! views ana they another. lie bad regard
to the pul lie good; theirs looked. 1t vat
plain, t1 seetiOHa! and private ID teress
'Haw do you like our little town 2 SAID
| this individual to me, after the meeting
had adjourned. and little knots Of lndivid
uals were formed here end there fer con
versation.
Very WE'LL replied.
And the re plef' he added.
The people, answered. appear to bE
fair sample of what Ore to be fouad eV-
erywhere good end bad mixed up togetb
err
Yes. That, suppose. is good gen
eral estimate
of course adde we find in all com
munities certain individuals who stanC
more p-ominent than the rest-distinguish
ed for good or evil. This appears to b
the case here
You have already discovered, then. tina
even in Mourfeld there are some very bae
1 meD2'
oh, yes! there's that John Mason, 70
instance
The man looked a little surprised
but remarked without any change 0
tone:
so you have heard of him. have you
oh, yes.'
'As very bad manf
OF course. You know him l sup
pose p
Yes. very we'll. Have yeu met wit
him?
N, and never wish to-
You've seen him l SUPPOSED
Never Is he here p
The nan glanced round the room an
then replied:
L don't see him.
He was here, suppose
'Ob, yes; and addressed the meeting sey
eral times
In one of those sneering ill.tempereu
answers to your remarks, no doubt
The man slightly inclined his head, q
if acknowledging a compliment.
lite pity that such man as this job
Mason said I, often have wealth an
some shreWdness Of mind to give ther
power in the community
Perhaps said my auditor, your preju
dices against this man are too strong
He's not perfect, l know but even tb
devil is often painted blacker than he il
IL you knew him, l rather think you woult
: estimate him differently
i don't wish to know him. Opportun
ties have offered, but l have always avoit
I ed an introduction
who first gave your character Of thi
man p he asked.
Mr.. Laxton,' replied. Do you knO
y him ?
e oh, yes very WELL he speaks hard
Mason does he 2
lie has cause, believe
= Did he ever explain to you. what
was p
Not very fully. But he gives him
n general bad character, and says that
has done mere to injure the best intere
of the village. than any zen Of it's wor
enemies that exist.
r Indeed that is sweeping declaration
But frankly own that cannot join 10
y broad contamination of the man, thoHe
he has his Isults-and no one knows then
: I think, better than do
The name Of John Mason was associate
: 10 my mind, with everything that was ba
and / replied by saying that was ver
). we'll satisfied In regard to bic oharacte
and did not mean TO have anything TO {
. With him while lived Mooreeid.