Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-12-23

ter into the courts would ONLY s3ry c
to let five hundred people hear tic bad
words used when not more than fifty
people had heard il in the first in
stance. l promised to look into the
matter carefully, and if the facts were
as stated. to see that the fireman was
properly dealt with. urged the but
Ter not to leave his place, and not to
take any further steps until had
made an effort to settle the difficulty.
To this. after some hesitation, tic butler
consented.
The writer then sent for the fireman
and asked for his side of the story.
Strangely enough. it agreed entirely
with what the butler mad said. The
fireman admitted that he was entirely
in the wrong, said he was very mucn
ashamed of what he had done, and
promised to submit to any punish
ment which the master saw fit to in
flict. He was spoken to very sharply
about his offense, and told plainly that
had he been foreigner, his words, if
used towards the family of another for
eigner, would very likely have cost him
his life.
After allowing the matter to rest two
or three days, the butler and fireman
were summoned before the master and
their fellow-servants. The master re-
cited the facts, which both admitted to
be correct. The fireman then COLI
fessed his fault, and went upon his
hands and knees before the butler,
knocking his head three times upon the
floor by way of begging pardon. He
was then sent with the butler and an
other servant TO the buffers house,
where he made q similar apology to
the wife and mother whom he had in
suited. This was the Chinese way Of
settlement, a0d with it the writer sup
posed the trouble had ended. as the in
jured party said he was satisfied.
But two days later the butler came
to his master again to say that while
he and his family were satisfied with
the apology made; yet the insulting
words had been shouted in the ears of
all the neighbors, who knew nothing
about the tireman's confession and
apology. that the neighbors Were al
ready looking askance at him, and, to
quote the exact words used by him.
''unlesS he could find some way to re-
paint his front door, that is, find
some way to make the fireman's
ar ology public-the neighbors would
refuse to have any thing to do with
him, and might drive him out of the
neighborhood.
The writer admitted the force of this
point, and after a moments thought,
said:
.Well, think you are right. And
I will fine the fireman half months
wages, and pay you the money. Then
you can tell your neighbo9s that have
done SO. Here is the money, and
will take it out of his wages at the end
of the month.
Three dollars were handed to the
butler. But he refused them, saying:
''Oh no, l can't do that. 1t would
only make the matter worse. The
neighbors would then say that l had
allowed my family to be insulted for
three dollars
"Well, what shall 1 do with the
case?''
The butler replied: ''Give it to one
of the other servants, telling him what
it is for, and he will know how to use
it.
This was done. The money was
given to the groom, who was told to
use it in whatever manner he thought
best to satisfy the neighbors of the
butler that the fireman had made due
PREPARATION. The writer presumed that
the money would be spent for feast,
to which the neighbOrs would be in
vited. and a. which the fireman would
publicly repeat his confession and
apology.
But three DAYS later the groom
came to his master and said:
81 have attended to that matter
which you gave me. l paid a dollar
and forty cents for paint. and dollar
for a painter. The work has been
done. and l have sixty cents left.
What shall do with it?"
The writer, astonished beyond meas
ure, said:
Il don't understand you. What do
you mean about paint and a painter?''
The groom explained then that the
butler had meant literally what he had
said about ''repainting his front
door," that it was a custom in Picking
that in similar eases of insult to the
members of a family, the front door
should be freshly painted at the ex-
pense of the person guilty of the in
suit, as 4 public act of apology and
retraction. Hence he had caused the |
buffers door to have new coat of
paint, and thus public opinion was
satisfied. and the insul.ed dignity and
wounded honor of the butler were
avenged! The groom was directed to
return the sixty cents. cash balance in
hand. to the fireman. Chester IDOL |
conabe, IN Youths Companion.