Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-12-17
a MARTYR TO HONESTY.
Mr. Upandownjohn, Who, Like
washington, Gould Not Lie.

Mr. UpaHuoWuJoAus " AoS Like
washington, Gould Not Lie.
Mr.. John Upandownjohn had the
Misfortune to be strictly honest man,
I which particular he stood lamen-
,ohlv alone. He was constructed
nacnliarly--he was born into an at
mospere of integrity, and his train
mo had added to his natural bent to a
aavree that made him as incapable 81
an untruth, or the semblance thereof,
as George Washington himself. HAY.
inr this tendency, 1t was well for him
salf that he was born with o fortune,
for his rigid adherence to his prin-
ciples untitled him for almost every
occupation. He did try journalism,
Int was dismissed ignominiously for
saving of candidate OF the party
with which the paper acted that he
was thief and trickster. Then he
assayed the law, but he saw enough
of law before he mad been in an office
two weeks. while medicine lasted him
sea cely week. So he determined to
do nothing but live on his income and
be an honest man.
He adopted certain rules by which
he lived, and he could no more depart
from them than he could rise from the
earth and take a place among the
stas He ate exactly 80 much, at
certain fixed hours. and OF certain
kinds of food. He drank so many
times day, OF certain liquors he
fancied were good for him, measuring
the quantity with the accuracy and
precision OF an apothecary; and SO far
did he carry rule into life, that he
put on and off his clothing on certain
days in certain months, without refer
enoe to weather. I saw him shiver-
ing one bright but very cold morning
in June, and demanded the reason.
Il laid off my woolens this morn
ing, said he.
why lay off your woolens in winter
weatherp' | asked.
1.-THE LIST of June is my day there
for" said he. "rhe weather ought to
be warm to-day. can not break my
rule"
He never neglected to pay debt.
and never told a lie. not even a white
one He was cut out of an aunt's will by
responding to her anxious inquiry as to
how she looked in a certain dress which
she had set her heart on by the simple
word "hideous." And the same devo-
ton to truth barred him. no matter
what path he took.
He was frightfully unpopular,
though, Notwithstanding he held a
high position among his fellows. His
child-like simplicity and sterling in
tegrity made him valuable, and be-
sides every one knew that his devo-
ton to truth was honest, and had moth
Ing OF bumptiousness or malice in it.
Mr. Upandownjohn was member OF
the Leviathan Club. write the WORD
was sadly, for he is Leviathan no
more The cause and manner Of his
leaving that delightful association OF
good men is the animus of this paper.
The members of the Leviathan were
pleased with the appearance OF Mr.. Up
andownjohn, and made much of him.
had they known him better they
would have loved him less, for his pc
cuiar virtue was never popular in tina,
club.
DE excited attention, first, by his
aaolt OF correcting loose-talking mem
Oers when their statements were high
" Favored with romances, as, for in
slance when one gentleman asserted
mat his father owned Flora Temple
Snen she was colt, using her as a
common hack, and selling her finally
lor nifty dollars, Mr.. Upandownjohn
quietly put him down.
i knew your father" he said, land
sworthy truthful man he was. He
ueo Just three years before Flora Tenn
PIE was foaled. The mare he used for
mack and sold for fifty dollars must
nave been some other famous animal.
,iora Temple will some day be the
uea'h OF me. Every racing season
some one narrated the circumstance of
MS lather having owned Flora Temple
aAu worked her as hack, and what
msre exasperating, he always sold
.'f Tor nifty dollars. Would that l
wu'a md one man whose father sold
L a ior aiAsy dollars or sixty-two dol
s ,ars and fifty cents. You, my dear
49, are Inc sixty eighth man this
a9oa whose father once owned Flora
,'mpie' She was the most extensive.
about" "o" "ny 'Nins
t.N. A another occasion a gentleman de-
s aaeu with great minute ness how, in
s.,a s 'he regular thing at Niagara by
n.. under the sheet, the wind
p nas.sa The torrent and he stepped out
bou a 'ne shelf outside, when, to his
him . .he opening closed. leaving
.s nav 0Oside the falling sheet on a
NAV Nav ledge of rock. With great
ths s sU. OIL mind he darted through
i,i hi slaling sheet and reioined the
o,t s0. party who supposed him
psusr opanaownjohn took pencil and
next ssr anu a.. worked all night and the
Tbs nas, without sleeping or eating
hero 1 y, ~, evening he exhibited to the
ssub, s ','is marvellous adventure the
Vi 'he water in that sheet, and
be go s, ~" to him the fact thai hud
na sNs under it. he would have been