The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-31

&[HHAkt} ~ " confined his operations
N2EM W MGi more to that portion of
&Ek8S WASOi the country lying north
FSEXS&& ~ of Mason and DIxon's
E3! 81 line. while the latter is,
NAHS SSG%bNX or has been, the scoprge
II b Dah aSNSz1 south of the line. Many
amusing stories are told of the ingenious
ways employed by the ever bersted light.
ning-rod agent In inducing the farmers of
Indiana to enjoy the expensive luxury of
having the useless rods attached to their
houses. The feather-renovator's operations
in the South were about as great swindles
as those of the rod man in the North. A
gang of feather-renoya tors from Indisnapo-
lis swooped down upon the little town of
Greenville, Tenn, one fire june day. and
rented an old, deserted dwelling, in which
they put MP their renovating apparatus. Be-
fore night it was known to every resident
of the place that q crowd of the awful
feather renovators had fastened themselves
upon the town. Every body had heard Of
feather renovators, but only few of them
who had been fortunate enough to have
travelled beyond the limits of Greene
county had ever had the satisfaction of
ing else was talked of in the town. The
one question on every body's tongue was.
Have you seen the feather renOvatorsp
During all this time the curios. making no
particular effort TO conceal themselves,
were busily engaged in preparing for bust
ness. On the first day of their arrival they
placed their machine in place in the old
dwelling and were ready for work the Sec
ond day. Before the dew was off the grass
four men sailed forth from the town In as
many directions In little spring wagons
with fiange sides and returned in the even
ing with these same wagons piled with
feather beds. The experiences some of
tbem-all of whom returned to lndianap-
oils long ago-relate were rather amusing.
One of them told of an experience he had
with an old farmer and his wife.
There was an old farmer near the place
named George RAIDER. who prided himself
on a reputation he had gained among his
neigh bors of never buying any thing from
q solicitor. AS consequence. whenever
a solicitor Of any kind came into the neigh
borhood he was warned to let "old RAIDER
alone. and of course he didn't do it. The
young man, in relating his experience,
said: II had been told SO often and by SO
many people what q terrible man old Ra-
der was when approached by solicitor.
weakness in the knees when one
day. having struck pretty hard luck
and not as yet succeeded IN securing SIN
gle bed, / concluded to try the effect OF my
persuasive powers upon RAIDER, the uncon-
querable. drove up to the house. hitched
my horse, and, taking my sample-case in
my hand, started for the front door. which
was standing open. l fully expected to be
shot or eaten up by dogs but was de-
termined to bring my man to time or die in
the attempt. Mrs. RAIDER answered my
knock on the door. / told her hao some
samples which would like to show her if
she had few moments time to spare. care
fully avoiding any allusiOn to the kind of
samples. She invited me in and / stepped
into n room which l saw at q glance
was used as the family room. In
one corner sat q bed. which ! noticed
had a rather fiat appearance: When Mrs.
RAIDER had seated herself. drew my chair
up In front of her, and opened my sample
case showed her It he great difference between
common chicken feathers and the finest
assorted article from1thc goose, explaining
all the while. that the two were IGenLical-
Iy the same feather, before and after TAX
ing' our process of renovation.
Nv she tried to say word now and then.
but it was no nse. ] knew my song too
we'll to be interrupted by the timid, weak
little voice of q woman. and not untls
had finished my lecture upon feathers did
she have an opportunity to say q word.
When ut last stopped 60 catch breath, she
replied: But my feathers are all new
ones
"'All the more reason why you should
have them renovated madam Then l
began oil another part of my feather lect-
ure. and by telling her how the animal
matter in the end of new feather quill de-
aged and bred all manner of diseases.
naming some fifteen which were invari-
ably caused by neaectin9 to renovate new
feathers, i finally succeeded in inducing
her to believe that If those new feathers Of
hers were not renovated immediately the
whole family would be in their graves
within a year. She was thoroughly
alarmed at the impending danger and said
she would like to have every bed in the
house renov ated, but If she permitted me
to take them she was afraid her husband
would kill her when he learned of it. and
die from the disease generated
by the feathers. l knew that
must now tackle the terror of solicitors.
inquired where would find Mr.. RAIDER,
and was told that he was out iO tbs field
| stacking hay. The field was not more than
q hundred yards further down the road, on
the opposite side, and could see RAIDER and
his son at work. Taking my sample-case l
started for him. Coming up to where he was
boy, who was stacking it. / saluted him.
'Howdy,' was all he said and continued
work.
~ have some samples he.e would like
for you to look ct, MIR. RAIDER yentured
| to say.
Got no time to fool with them he an
swered.
"'Well, I'll wait till you get that hay
stacked and then suppose you will have
no objection to me getting on the wagon
with you, and You can look at the samples
while you are going for your next load
HE volunteered no reply to this, and
m he w n