The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-20
THE DECAY OF GREATNESS.
The Village Big Man Goes TO See the
Postmaster General.
From the Nen York Sun.

From the NeD York Sun.
The village OF R was dissatisfied
with its postmaster. Several petitions were
forwarded to Washington, and as they
were not Immediately acted Oh, it was de-
termined thai the big man of the town
should proceed to Washington and lay the
case before the Postmaster General
The big man of the town lived on the in
terest of his money. He was called Judge. A"
NJ 1st of his letters came addressed TO the
Hon" SO-and-So. He ran a church and a
school, always headed every subscription,
boSSed the Fourth of July, dictated the
policy of the village trustees, and was the
only man who subscribed to New \ OrK
daily paper and talked stock.
The big man had never been nominated
for cover or, but that was because-he
didn't want office. 1t was pretty generally
understood that he could have a cabinet
position any time he desired. a d that he
somehow i fuenced all the political al
pOintments in SIX C unties.
"Gentlemen,n said tie big man. as he
swelled up, Il will go down to Warrington
ID arrange this matter. You can rest
easy
II he had told US that he was going down
to washington to secure an act of congress
TO remove the Bu.iker II II monument TO
Chicago we should have had faith in MIN.
he dep irted. The band was at the depot
to honor his departure, and the few citizens
he deigned to 81 Ike hands with at once
gained five pounds in avOirdupois. The
train had scarcely moved off before our
Big man beg IN to decrease in size. There
was general in the car; also a millionaire:
also senator. No one knew our big man
or paid any attentiol to uim. Whel he
reached Washington his hat was whole
size too large for him. When he was pul
in back room on the fourth floor his chest
measure decreased two inches.
The name of our big man on the hotel
register produced no conmUtIon. There
was no rush of cards to his room. If the
ad nlStratlon knew of his arriv Il 1T didn't
call. In the lobby he heard mel address ed
as Senator" Judge" General" "COlo-
nel," and so on until her felt that his coat
was too big for him. Next morning when
he started ont TO call on the Postmaster
General. no band playel. There was
Send-of. N one in Washington knew
whether he was our big ma or our cobbler
and no one seemed to care. Eve rod he
Travelled seemed to produce a Snrinkage.
he had always supposed that he was a bug
ger man than the capitol building. Oae
ga &c satisfied him that he had made
mistake.
Our big man intended to talk very
plainly to the Postma ter General. He
would look very 50 ere when he inquired
why this taing was thus He inquired his
way to headquarters, but ha / no sooner
reached them la1 he fou id himself weak
l the knees. His hat was now two whole
sizes too larye, and his vest would have
pi med over two inches. He halt hoped
hat the postmaster uld be out, and he
was gratifed. The postmaster was not out,
but the Hes,ian who too6 his card and
looked him up aud down in a suspicious
way soon returned to say:
VERY busy, sir Leave your papers and
call again. Call next week or the week
aftern
But I have no papers. and am Mr..
Smith of Smithville," protested our big
man.
Yes, but the Postmaster General is very
busy. Have to call again, sir. We never
heard of you, sr-never heard of you nor
your town. Better make your written
ap9ication for the post office and mail
itn
Our big man returned home. He was
wabbling i'll his cl It eS. He had paper in
the lining or us hat to keep it 70 II falling
| over his ears. His heels and toes had an
inch play in his shoes. His lordly stomach
mad wilted away, an1 his autocratic bear
i g had gone he CO. Our Big Man had
met the enemy, nd he was theirs. He had
Travelled beyond the CO fl .es of our village.
and his greatness had melted away like a
| SeDtember frost