The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-02
VERDICT ToR DEFENDANT.
Bob Burdette's Version of a Certain Higtori-
cal Dialogue.


Bob Burdette's version of a Certain HigtorI-
cal Dialogue.
'George, said his father, with countenancG
more III sorrow than IN anger; George, SONS
one has cut down my favorite cherry tree Do
YOU know anything about it,
Young Washington did not quail before his
fathers accusing glance. He looked him straigIlB
in the eye, and an expression of honest resolu-
ton cleaned in the clear eyes and frank counts
nance.
t.3ly father he said II will not deceive you-
l do know something about it, but that is not
the issue at all You have, in effect charged
me with being privy to the destruction Of your
favorite tree. Now, the question is, since You
have filed information and laid this charge
against me, what do You know about itlH
i know that you have hatchet, replied his
father sternly. Il know what boy with q
hatchet is liable to do know that some one
has cut down my favorite cherry tree
''Stop right there interrupted the future
father Of his country. You say this was your
treegr
Il do.n
How came it yours97
Il planted it
Now, sir, are you certain it was not on this
farm before you came hereln
mo, sir, it was not.
'sThen why did you say sog'
why did say whatF
THAT'S right; evade bubble, crawl out of it
somehow. All right If you don't want to
answer fair, plain, simple question: you don't
::..pur d,an5 ssy it was on the farm when |
came here
.'Oh, very we'll deny it. Is there any other
retraction you would like to maker
Il don't retract anything. l merely declare
that Inever said that tree was on the farm
when came here
'aOh, well, father, don't get excited and talk
loud. You may go back on your entire state
ment if you wish. Perhaps you will next try to
make us believe that this farm wasn't hera,
either, when you came.
''Why, Of course it was here don't
Didn't you say, moment ago, that it was
tThat was the treels
All, yes; you turn it off on the tree, now.
You've been talking about the tree all this time,
Them
why, certainly / have.7
Then you just admitted that it was here
when you came here}a
'.No, my SON. that was the farm. y
But not half dozen questions ago you adj
mitted that You said in these very words:
Why, Of course it was here, did you nots
u said those words, but was speaking Of the
farm.
'sAnd yet you said but this very moment that
all this time you had been talking about the tree.
1t is useless to continue this examination My
father, of all human vices lying is the com mon
est, and doubt not it is the worst. 1t bluutS
our moral sensbilities; it leads US to distort and
exaggerate simple statements of fact; it blurs
our powers Of intelligent observation until even
man of ordinary scholarship and intellectual
development is unable to tell whether he is talk
ing about farm or a cherry tree The COM
| plant is dismissed / doubt very much il you
can even establish the fact that you ever owned
tree Go to the nursery, and if you intend
! planting tree in the place of the one you inn
| agine you have lost you had better take man
! with you to show you the ground lest you might
plant the tree in yonr hat. You may go.
Sadly the old man turned away, but he told