Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-10-21

VOou, WOOD, ana so on Tor thirty
or forty times. The envelopes otter
contained silver, but the postal notes
ana postage stamps were most fire
quently employed. 1t is due to thede
partment to say that all letters came
safely, for [ only received two com
plants from people who declared they
mad sent me money. The non arriva
OF those letters may have been due tC
mls-dlrection. But l made them eoua
.sharers in the good work"
You sent them copies of the Testa
ment ?"
Yes indeed, I could afford to ex-
pend eight cents without hope of re-
ward occasionally. was modest and
aostemious in my daily life, and may
say, without Standardization, that
put S., 900 in the bank during the
two, years [ dispensed the knowledge
| that endureth.'
Are you the person | have heard
spoken OF by the delivery clerks at the
post-otiice as the Testament Man p"
asked your correspondent.
lit is more than possible that the
ungodly servants of nation that re-
spects not the humble strivings after
righteousness of an earnest soul may
nave given me such q title" the old
man answered with considerable
chagrln and modification. IT am
proud to bear such a Cross" he went
on, though his looks belied his words.
You spoke of the letters you re-
celved. Did they ever express graft
tude?" the writer asked innocently.
Evidently you do not understand
the wickedness of this world, young
man. am glad, for your sake, that
you do not. Most of the letters from
the recipients of the books breathed
curses and revilings. | would dislike
to show you some of them, for fear of
shattering your faith in mankind.
Here are a bundle of the letters; you
can look over them at your leisure"
A glance at dozen or more showed
that they were nearly all in the same
tone. They were generally on paper
with letter heads, and represented all
professions and trades. Not few
were from young ladies seminaries.
One from a judge in Kansas was
peculiarly dignifed and caused even
my misguided companion to smile.
Here is copy of it verbatim:
1t has been my misfortune, in the course
OF my life, to meet good many dirty and
contemplate people. / will do you the
honor to say that, without exception, YOU
are the dirtiest and most contemplate OF
all.
Below was the name, with full title.
Here Is another characteristic letter
from Buffalo gudgeon:
My DEAR FRIEND-I can get the Revised
Testament here for twenty five cents.
Here IS one from Utica, under the
letter head Of drug firm:
Your very valuable book came to hand.
AS am going to Chicago as missionary it
will be OF use to me.
Letters from Singapore, Madras,
Mexico and St. Johns, n. F., showed
the wide reach Of this scheme. The
captain Of a Savannah steamer ordered
three copies, a guest at the Lafayette
Hotel In this city got five for $25
land never kicked" A lawyer, who
signs himself Solomons, threatens to
prosecute the good man if he ever
comes to New YORK.
"Dld you ever meet a victim after he
had corresponded with your"
"Well, Iheard from a man at Woon-
socket, r. l., not long ago. He sent
me large box, express charges collect
$1.25.' My wife paid the money, and
when Returned home Iopened the box
to find it full of sand. He was a most
ungracious fellow"
Here theinterview with this remark
able specimen of the crank spe-
cies ended. A visit to the Bible
Society at Seventh and Walnut
Streets, verified Mr.. Woods decla-
ration that he purchased several hun
dred Bibles there. The clerk, a neat
Irishman, with quite a business air,
told your correspondent that he re-
membered the man. He generally
paid for the Testaments with stamps.
Many of the stamps were of large de-
nominations, the clerk said. They
were highly gratified at the work they
believed the stranger to be doing. It
was learned at two other Bible deposi-
tories in this city that the same per-
son had also made large purchases
there. Not few of the Testaments
came from New York, in addition.
The trade has been crushed, and the
fools who bought Testaments can now
turn to the saWdust swindle.