Smyrna times., 1885-09-09
jeremiah COmstock, a Typical
MisanthrOpe.
A MAN WITH MANY GRIEVANCES.

ANO uOuub llAC ACttOCA htN9 AAtANtN NV
acquaintance Of the man with Il griev-
ance, because there are several of them
in every town. l refer to the man
with a grievance, because there are
several of them in every town. refer
to the man whose feelings are always
being hurt by something somebody has
done or said. Feeling sore about some
thing is his natural condition. He
talks of nothing else except the out
rage to which he is subjected at the
hands of his friends.
jeremiah COmstock, who lived at
San Antonio, Texas, was just that
kind of a sufferer l unintentiOnally
trod on his feelings, and after that he
never spoke as he passed by.
l met him on the Houston Street
bridge one day. He was gazing sadly
at the gently flowing water, Being a
local reporter on the lookout for start
ling news, bv which to increase the
circulation Ofthe paper, l asked him if
he saw a snake.
mo-" he replied, with a sigh,
am musing how like this flowing water
everything in life passes away"
Not everything, for there is a dead
mule in the river near Commerce
street, and it doesn't pass away very
fast. It's been there for a week
already"
81 suppose you have heard about the
treatment l received last week from
my employees, Pirtle and Smith?"
Comstock seemed surprised that
had not heard of it.
"Well, you know last week was my
birthday"
&" No, l didn't know it,"
"That's what | supposed. Nobody
cares whether have a birthday ornot
I've always been good friend to you
Alex, and l don't think you are treat
ing me right. Have l ever interfereC
with you in any way? Have you got
a deep-seated grudge against me
Why do you single me out for persecu
ton ?"
-" really don't know what you art
talking about, Mr.. Comstock.'
:" 1 think, as a live reporter, yOu
might have known that my birthday
was on the 9th, and give me little
notice in the Bugle about my higl
moral character, particularly as I am {
regular subscriber"
l made a note of Comstonk's birth
day, and then asked for the particulars
of the outrage committed upon him b!
his employers, intending to hold then
up to public scOrn through the medium
of the press.
" For three long years have toileC
and shaved for Pirtle and Smith.
have always been at my desk, rain o
shine. l have always treated then
kindly, and never sassed them once.
have even lied for them, when thr
sheriff came around to put them OF
the jury. said they were out of town
The other day my birthday rOlle'
around. l thought when my faithful
services were taken into consideration
that the least they could do was t.
take me aside and surprise me with
gOld-headed cane. 1 expected oil
Pirtle to say: Mr.. ComstOck, ALLOW
me to present you with a slight tribut
of our appreciation of your nobility {
character Do you suppose they di
anything of the kind? No, sir. the
didn't even say, 'Comstock, go into tn
store, and pick yourself out pair {
new suspenders, and charge them u
to Profit & Loss What do you say t
that ?"
I replied that such conduct was
disgrace to the Nineteenth Century
and to change the subject
asked him who was his candidate fc
Mayor.
A panied expression came over h
face, and once more he broke loose :
"I've lived in this town for the La
ten years. I've never been indicte
for murder or keeping a disorder
house I subscribed three dollars
have force pump put on the Militar
Plaza. I am public-spirited citizen,
good husband, an indulgent parent.
am popular with the Mexicans, Il
niggers have confidence in me, I'll
property owners rely on me. am IL
friend of the working man, and yet yC
have never brought me out in yOl
paper as a candidate for anythin
). What have I ever done to be persec
ted in this way? Are you never goir
: to let up on me?" and Comstock's ch
quivered and his voice was husky as
cast a genuine Et tn Brute " sort of
look at me.
Pm sorry, COmstock, but I'll NAL
|. it all right in the next issue of t
BugIe," and did, for I wrote half
S column about his fitness as city undC
taker, and his ability to cast a gloo
over a city twice as big as San Anton
After that he summed me, for sol
. reason or other.-Terds SUtings.
4 A BAD QUARTER. WHAT'S \