The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-02
d CAUSE Fok EAasssa,rr.A.-s
lople ?. Read, h New York Msreary.l

lopie ?. Read, h New York Msrcary.l There is 10 sympathy for the man who has lost his bat. The most venerable looking man h town may lose his hat in manner easily explained, but when he walks alcng haFeheaded, even his moot intimate friends regard hlm with suspic~ ion. ] have been frequently asked to state the canse of this sill-aErsAgomens, but anything like satisfactory reply would involve 90 much study that am afraid to undertake an enterprise placing me ander the necessity of such mental strain. The man who has lost his hat always looks as though he had been drunk. He may take of hts hat and carry t aiong, and barehcatied aa may walk around h his yard, and he does not SOW the seeds which sprout tn mischief, take root in malignity and grow up to be weeds of great evil. Anyone can sec that he has not Inst his hat. In one instance tsey see that he has it with him in the other instance they suppose that he has icit it in the house.
 Several weeks ago, the Rev. Mr. HtcA- field, as good man and as upright re- vivaliss as ever lived, lost his hat while looking from the window of railroad train. Being man of economy, he de- cided that he would not ride home after reaching the station, and that as he had another hat at home he would not weaken recent collections by unnecessary expen- allure.
 As he walked along the street people stared at him. What's the matter with Mir. Pitch6eld ?s asked a business man, addressing an acquaintance. "Been drunk.S
 You don't teii me sc.r
 Man down the street just now told me that the old fellow was rip-roaring said that he kicked his hatand then wore 1t out against post"
 "That's shameful. didn't know that the old gentleman ever drank anything
 "l didn't either until just now. Fellow said that the old man had been a quiet drinkcr for years. Another man told me that he keeps jug in his closet"
 The morning paper, coming out the following day, contained this paragraph !;
 "One of our most prominent ministers was seen walking along the street yester- day In beastly state of intoxication. He filled his plug hat with fragm snts of stone, tied it to dogs tall and yelled in idiotic delight. His many friends were shocked. and we, in making this chronicle, although we mention no name, are deer ly srieved."
 The church people became excited and began to make inquiries. Some Of the most trustworthy men in town stated that they had seen Mir. ntchfeld going bare headed through the streets. A commit- tee selected frem the unfortunate old gen. tleman's congregation summoned him Astonished and indignant, he appeared
 "Brother Pitch6eld," said the chair. man, " VIC gre greatly humiliated ny the report that you were beastlT intoxicated yesterday; that you tied your hat to a dogs tail, and that you behaved In a very scandalous manner"
 "it is a iie,' exclaimed the justly indig. nant preacher.
 "Hold op, brother, hold on the guilty always fly into passion"
 "llost my from the window of a railway train and came through the streets"
 "Mr. Clerk" said the chairman, re. cord the fact that Brother Pitch6eld ac- knowledges his guilt"
 "I am not guilty and acknowledge nothing but the truth" shouted the min istcr.
 "Also add, MT. Clerk, that when con- fronted he became violent and abusive. '"
 "You arc a sct of scoundrels," ex. claimed Mir. Pltchheld.
 "Also add, Mir. Clerk, that he slan- dered the church. Nov, sir, you may 20. We want no morc of your preachipg."
 No; the man who loses his hat and who goes barehesded through the streets can make bat poor explanation. This is sad. In view of our freedom, our gres. institutions, it is jus. cause for lamen.