Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-10
Canvassing for the Heathen.
an, kha nafrnit Eree press

| From the Detroit Free Press.
A man about thirty years old, wearing
battered plug hat and seedy clothes,
looking as hungry as man who had
been wrecked on an iceberg and evi-
IDENTIFY an imposter, softly entered q
Gratiot avenue saloon yesterday, and
leaning over the bar whispered to the
proprietor;
My dear sir, | am canvassing for
subscriptions for the benefit Of the
heather"
"Ish dat so2" replied the saloon
keeper, rinsing glass.
Yes, my friend, that is so, continued
the man, taking out very greasy pass
book. Yes, am collecting money fer
the benefit of the poor heather, who ere
living in state of vice and ignorance.
Some put down ten dollars, some five,
some one, all give something. Here is
the book, and You can subscribe such an
amount as you think best"
Ish it bedition to dem common
gouncil2" inquired the saloonisL as he
looked at the book.
No, sir, you do not understand my
object. am collecting subscriptions
for the benefit of the heather, and you
can write your name aud give me such
an amount as your conscience directs.
We're ish dem heathensY' inquired
the beer-seller, looking coldly at the
strangers battered hat.
g In Africa" replied the agent, "in far
off Africa, where all is gloom and lone
illness because the heather has no educa-
ton"
And vat country is dat Africa in2"
inquired the ssloonist.
My dear man, Africa is country
a great big country, far o'et the deep
blue sea. Is it possible that you never
heard of Africa"
II haf lived in Toledo and Chicago,
but l didn't hear some one ever say a
word about Africa.
Well, that is neither here nor there.
Tam authorized to collect subscriptions
for the heather, who is running about in
a state of nakedness and srnfulness, and
who must have bread for his mind and
be brought to realize that he should live
for something besides this life.
yah, dat is 20, replied the saloonist
in reflective tone.
you contribute whatever sum you
may think bsst, and l will forward it to
Boston by the first mail, where it is turn
ed into bibles and the bibles shipped to
Africa. Most people esteem it privi-
lege to be allowed to subscribe to this
fund. Will you write your Ilame DOWN.
II thinks l will, replied the man, and
he hunted up his pencil, and after much
labor wrote his name on one of the pages
and handed the book back with the re.
mark:
!" / dunno if you can't read il"
THAT is all right, but you have neglect
ed to mark down the amount Of your
contribution. Let's see-wll you say
a dollar2'
"Vhat9
"Will you give the sum Of one dollar
for the heathen2'
"Hal Vat you spoke about2'
"Will you give me dollar to forward
to the poor, benighted heather2'
"Money-gif you money!"
"Yes--for the heathenl'
"Gif you Won dollar2"
"Yes, dollar for the benighted race
who are dwelling in darkness"
The saloon'keeper looked at him for
half minute, and then, reaching down for
a club, said:
You'd better go out py dat door
l sign dat pook to get dat heather some
close by de poer-master, and dat is
plenty. If you sthay here some little
while more, | shall hit you NIT dis Club
on de headl"
my dear -"
"Go aus NIT dat doorl" yelled the
saloon keeper, running from behind the
bar, and the canyssser had TO go.