Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-19

reading these ribald publications, it
would exert a frightful, and, in
fact, 1 may say demoralizing in
fluence upon the party. Eh, Key?"
"No doubt about it." responded
the intellectual giant from the en-
virons of Knoxville, as he stead
fastly contemplated the ceiling and
blew a cloud Of smoke through his
capacious noStrils; sand if it's kept
up" he added, ponderously, 81 can't
answer for the consequences"
Mr.. Key felt instantaneously that
such positive expression of opin-
ion on his part was venturesome,
aud accordingly it was with feelings
Of no ordinary anxiety that he con-
tomplated the countenance of his
fraudulent chief out of the north
east corner Of his ex-Confederate
eye.
The face Of Mr.. Hayes, however,
to his great relief, betrayed no sign
of irritation as he said meekly: 81
know my conduct in reading such
stuff is reprehensible, but Pm afraid
[ can't help it. The fascination of
trying to find out what's said about
one is too great to resist"
81 don't keer a continental cuss
what they say about me-" observed
Mr.. Key calmly. GAS long as my
conscience supports me, Pm 0. K"
And as he gave utterance to this
complacent sentiment, the hand Of
the eminent Tennesseean strayed
absently into the cigar box, and
capturing a sleek and long Havana,
dropped it carelessly down his
sleeve.
"My conscience does support me
and that's the reason | protest
against such outrageous treatment
exclaimed Mr.. Hayes, with more
Yehemence than he had yet exhib
tied. 81 appeal to you, Noyes
haven't | been true to the Republi
can party ?"
Gas true" asseyerated Ministe
Noyes with volcanic vehemence
"iust as true-well, as true as PvC
been myself"
"And haven't / treated the Dem
ocrats right?" quoried Mr.. Hayes
turning appealingly to his postmas
ter general.
GA burned sight better thai
they deserve" responded that wor
thy emphatically, as his hand agail
wandered nervouSly in the direC
ton OF the cigar box.
"And yet" said Mr.. Hayes, DEP
recatingly, "both parties abuse m
in a manner which is absolutel
scandalous."
"They do" replied the Tennes
see statesman, "they do. There
no doubt about that" his hair
hand still Auttering in the neigh
borhood of the cigar box.
"And more than that" adde
the supreme de facto fraud, "don'
| attend to all sorts of fairs, fest
walls and gatherings, simplyto pleas
the people?"
$50 Pve heard" said Ministe
Noyes, with an excellent aSsump
ton of'interast.
didn't | 60 down to Wyomin
the other day." continued the d
jure ex-governor, "and getinsulte
for my painsF"
$50 did Sherman" Clipped i
. Minister Noyes, remembering thu
misery loves company.
. eyes, Sherman, too" assentc
3 Mr.. Hayes, with certain tingo
: satisfaction in his tone, "and eve
: to-day Pve made an engagemer
. to attend a temperance meetin,
D where I've got to pronounce Ion
address simply as a matter Of dut,
? And yet they call me a Fraud, wit
f a big F." and he looked piteousl
at his companions.
"It's treason, | swoar!" ejacul,
F.. ted the postmaster general, as h
4 olenohed his fist about a silve
0 foiled cigar, and glared liercel
r around the room. AS there di
not seem to be any response to h
5 eloquent objurgation, he puffed fl
d riously for a few moments, an
then quietly remarked: "The!
l are AL weeds; where did you g,
S emf"
"Some of General Grants" sa
/ Mr.. Hayes. "He had several tol
a Of this brand presented to him Il
q week before he quilted the Viii
House, and, in the hurry of mo
II ing, a few boxes were left behin
/ don't smoke myself, but ket
t them for my friends"
n "And TO think that a wick
,r press should call such a man
il fraudp observed Mr.. Key tearfull
3 as his left hand pounced 'on a
It Upmana tlity-oenter, and with (
lie experts sleight sent it whizzil
If into a side pocket.
cit is very hard," sighed NJ
3 Hayes mildly; "but as a 0hristii
4 / suppose | shouldn't complain"
le 81 tell ysu," broke out Minist
d Noyes, who had been for some m
p. ments in a brown studv. "ther,