The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-03
one MEEK LITTLE MAN..
He Has an Embarrassing Expert
ence With a Huge Afri-
can Lion.
Fiction Illustrating the VicInsi-
tudes of Newspaper Bust
ness Down South.
Confirming. tho Theory of the Transmit
grafton OF splritA-Ths Awakening
Was Most Rude.
[Writt.n for THE INDEPENDENTLY

Written for THE INpEpENpENr.1
N0 RADSLEY WAS EDITOR AND PRO-
TX prietor OF "A small country newspaper
~ published in a billy district of south
Kentucky. He was a meek little man, with
largo ears and large eyes that bespoke the
patience OF n COW. In the community Of
Grny's Point he was a sort of father con-
fessor, in that to him were brought all sorts
of complaints and schemes Of revenge.
Honest people who at least once a wsok
made public profession Of love for their
fellow man, would steal up the rickety
stairway lending to Bradsley's Office
and whisper against a nsighbor the insinu-
ating words OF scandal. Bradsley's weak
mesa was his desire to please everybody; not
at once, for he knew that to be an imposs;-
biliey, but to give each one his tn n. He
had personal grudge against nc man, and
yet no man in the country had so many
enemies rs lie. The Graysons had so infiu-
enced him that he gave tho Taylors u rap in
his newspaper, the Banner of
Freedom, and after that this Iaylors
hated him. Then tho Whit
CONS, not 60 influential as persuasive, in
duced him to slam the Graysons, which, of
course. made them, regardless of the favors
which he had formerly show them, his
sworn enemies for life. 1t was a thousand
wonders people said, that some one did not
kill Bradsley, and it was really a marvel;
atlll, he was too meek a little man. 1t WIS
doubtless his meskness that saved him.. At
a time of anger We are more strongly
tempted to shoot a big man than q little
one, for we content ourselves with merely
slapping tho little fellow. Bradsley did
not escape the slapping. Bless you! he
had been slapped over nearly every avalla-
BILE foot of Gray's Point.
"Why don't you shoot some of those
follows that are constantly ~slapping you? -
ii friend once asked.
II hadn't thought of that" Bradsley
answered. 'B'lieve l will"
He didn't, though, for that very after
noon when lie went out on the street a man
who had been promised a notice in the pa
per, and who had not received 1t, slapped
the editor first one way and then another
until he was quite worn out.
TITS getting to be pretty bad" he said.
when lie went back into the Office. They
not only slap me for wiat write, but nre
beginning TO slap me for what l fail to pub
lish. l don't know exactly What to do. The
newspaper business is getting worse every
Year. l actually believe that have in me the
soul of some ancient rabbit. l know that I
nevsr had the heart to kill \ rabbit. Prob
ably it's because l don't wish to inf1ict pun
ishment upon a member of my own family.
l wish l had inherited the spirit of a lion
and I might Just as we'll have done so. for
there were no doubt a large number OF I'M
employed lions spirits at the TINA Of my
birth. | wonder If there isn't some way to
remedy this. The air all about mo may be
filled with lions souls. Why can't 1 induce
one to drivs out the rabbit and take his
placer
Are you talking TO me, sir?" the Office
boy asked.
mo-" Bradsley answered.
"Pd like to have two tickets when the
show comes," said the boy. ''They say
the I've got ever SO many animals"
I'm not talking about any show. Whom
was bradshaw here?" the editor asked, TAX
ing up a card. .,
jest awhile ago."
''What did he want?'
WANTED to kick you down stairs. he
said"
fWhht for. ! should like to knows
"For giving the Bensons that slam. He's
their cousin
well, but why doesn't he go and kic k
the Patterson's? They weis the cause of il"