Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-06-07
No. 49,.
Sustaining the Cause.
Brooklyn Eagle. |

Are the springs of life eternally flowing
around this section of the vineyard ?" asked
hard-faced woman with a reticule, glaring
hard at the managing editor.
Il reckon so" replied the editor trying to
get the corkscrew into his boot.
Are they flowing freely?" demanded the
hard-faced woman, surveying the managing
editor distrustfully.
II don't think l have Diet, cted any abate
ment," sighed the editor, abandoning the
cOrkscrew and endeavOring to draw his hat
over the flask on his desk. "The springs of
life appear to be doing land Office business
in these quarters. How do you find it in
others quarters of the vineyard ~ and the
editor succeeded in kicking an empty bottle
into the city editors room.
us the cause of temperance taking a
strong hold on the sinners of this establish
ment ?" she inquired, with frown.
That's the only thing that may be said to
have death grip on the newspaper bust
ness" returned the managing editor with
pleasant smile. II should say that the pro-
fession of journalism is the only one that
now practically supports the temperance
cause on principle" and the managing editor
ostentatiously called the Office boy and de-
manded glass of water.
tirely abolished from this office ?" demanded
the woman, making few memoranda in her
pOcketbook. "The evil of intemperance has
been completely rooted out of this institu-
ton 2"
Never got in here, ma'am," averred the
editor, solemnly, II wouldn't permit it" and
the editor worked around so that the beer
bottles behind his chair would not show.
"AIe you worker in the cause" and the
hard-faced woman looked at him suspi-
ciously.
''That is the way l spend most of my
time," returned the editor. Every spare
moment and great deal of my business
time is put in in that way. Pm right on
the temperance racket from the first rattle
out of the box to the last card in the lay
out"
The woman regarded him intently for
moment and then made another memOran-
dunn.
"Have you collected any moneys for the
great cause 2" she asked after long pause
Not as yet, maam. But I have great
deal promised" and the editor threw his
overcoat over demijohn in the corner.
II ind your assessment to be $2," OBJ
served the woman, after a careful scrutiny of
her tablets. "If you can collect it well and
good, but you will have to pay me now or l
will strike you from the rolls"
'How much is mine ?" asked the religious
editor, stepping upon the scene and greeting
the woman with pleasant smile and hearty
shake of the hand. Lump his and mine
and the city editors all together" and the
religious editor pulled out a ten dollar bill
and held it temptingly in sight.
"That just makes it," said the hard-faced
woman, grabbing at the bill. THAT is just
right. Thanks. Good day. Keep up the
cause, no matter what it costs :"
Il don't know how you could have made
bigger ass of yourself with your money"
the managing editor, as they tip
ped over the demijohn aud proceeded to
keep up the cause.
That's all right" smiled the religious
editor. Don't you bother about me. Pm
all right. That ten dollars was counterfeit,
and I've been working it off for several
months but l never fetched it. This is very
nice where'd you get it ?"