The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-25

lett as lining to their
ealiets.
Prohibition had too long reigned in the city
for the temperauce-loving part of the popula-
tion to submit tamely 10 have that law placed
in contempt and tranpled under foot. They
had been watching the spirited lights of their
sister cities. which were bitterly opposing the
Original Package business. with that passive
sympathy that comes from feeling secure from
the same evil. But the spaiier ii.il cene,
and Windy Center was stirred ui, street
and down the other with an agitation that out
rivalled everything in the history of the place.
He WAS a dashing. dude-likc specimen of
man hood. this Original Package man who had
dared invade Windy Center. He pnss+s-ed q
slender form, daintily clad in stripes wiki a
stiff hat snrnieuuting u pale, lemon hued co,n-
teuance, and dotted sateen tie spreading It's
wide wings proteetingiy across a fat chest.
He wore yellow Shoes smoked cigaretS con-
stantly. aud with a small brown cane, which
he had ringed " at Fourth of July picnic, he
clipped along the pavements as if in defiance
of the bread threats which the justly iiadig-
nant people of Windy Center could not help
uttering.
Notwithstanding the citizens had circulated
great petition, requesting everybody to rent
no building to the Original Package BIaH for
him to ply his nef;irious trade, he had been
able to secure a dilapidated house once used as
Justices office. situated between the butcher
shop on one side ami tho milliner shop OH the
other. He Only waited for the arrival of the
first shipment oil his famous wares to open
business
An indignation meeting was held at one of
the churches at which all the anti-Orlgmai
Package NEIL and women were present.
Nv That will we do with him ?" was the
question which they debated. The leading
men and not a few women arose and gave vent
to their wrath in warm speeches. which de-
nounced the Original Package and the bold
fellow who had arrived in Windy Center to
force that obnoxious privilege upon them.
Sister Bustle aroused much feeling hy re-
! marking that the respectabliiy of the butcher
shop Oh one side and the miiiiner shop ON the
other would be utterly contaminated by close
association with Original Package concern,
and she was ready to head committee to take
vigorous measures to prevent the landing of
the wares.
She would have said much more, but she
finally became aware that thin voiced little
man behind her calling to her in distrcssed
accents:
.'Sary Jane don't say any more. He'll hear
you. He's herei"
1t is doubtful if Sarah Jane Bustle would
have obeyed her meek lord had it not been for
a voice in the rear part of the church crying
out: The O. p. chap is here! Make him
answer for himself the question you're debat-
The doorway being too heavily blocked with
living illustrations of curiosity 10 permit his
exit the Original Package fellow was obliged
to rise in his slender majesty and remark:
Ladies and gentlemen Of Windy Center, /
| say LET the good work roll on You treat me
and rll treat you-wher my packages come" :"
After the exhibition Of which gait he was
silent-so were the Indignant souls all round
him. At length Sister EGstle regained her
tongue and cried sllriliy:
fWiIi you not depart from Windy Center
| with your accursed packages and leave us IN
peace? For the sake of your wife ana little
/ ones lead decent calling"
Amen! amen." rcsounded through the
church.
There was paIlid smile on the Original
Package fellows face, and he answered cooily:
" have not the honor of possessing those
I interesting adjuncts to mans bliss wiiich the
| good woman would ascribe to me, scattered over
this mundane sphere. Th 2 fat hath gone forth,
my dearly beloved. The Original Package
I cometh p"
/ Sister Bustie gave an angry sniff, while a
| fresh sway OF indignation through the
| crowd.
| "Then sir, you pointedly refuse to leave?"
| asked the Chairman.
I Fuss and feathers yes, You're ali set Of
| dauble-dyed cranks," responded the invader Of
| Windy Center, cdgng his way toward the door.
| Restrain him, somebody. lie has been
| Ruilty-of con ntempt !. " cried the Chairman.
| Some half-dozen sprang TO do his bidding,
| and the Original Package man found himself
| forced TO remain.
/ What have done to deserve this deten-
/ tion?" demanded the Original Package man,
| with poorlv-concealed ire.
/ 'DOne?" cried Sister Bustie as heaudienee
| arose en- masse with the excitement which had
| freshened at that moment.
4 ia
| spoiler come to our fair city with intention
TO operate an accursed business TO sow ruin aud
desDlation in our midst. You have BEEN guilty
OF vile contempt here tonight"
Punish him for refusing to leave Windy
| Center, cried several feminine voices
/ Punish him ~ became the hue and cry.
| "Wed make him think fuss and feathers if
| we were mem," declared other of the women.
That started the men a new line of
! thought, and the Chairman was finally able to
make himself heard above the din Of voices
Ladies and gentlemen, when in tho course
of human events ii becomes necessary for the
citizens of Windy Center TO rid themselves Of a
public nuisance in the shape of an Original
Package man, they generally know how to do
it. The good old method Of tarring and feather
ing obnoxious character has never yet been
used in our town. but under the circumstances
on this occasion | strongly recommend it,
"Tar him and feather him" now resounded
through the church from lip to lip.
When the invader could make himself heard
he asked coolly:
Mr.. Chairman, does the culprit have the
light TO choose his own feathers"
| " / am unable TO answer to that part of the
method, /" returned the Chairman haughtily.
I'm case you rashly decide to employ th,
method, / merely wished to choose peafow
| feathers, as they are so much finer than tha
| of tie common barnyard bird. Besides ther,
ought to be nothing cheap about the affair III
brilliancy ought to be worthy of Windy Cen
. ter"
Howls of wrath followed, and arrangement
were made at once to carry out the culmi
mating part of the Original Package tragedy.
The Iniliiner had brush of elegant peafow
feathers the chairman, Jerry Turner, had
barrel of tar, and Ike Sweeney had a big draw
The band of indignants with their prisone
surged up the street The night was dark, an,
owing to some deficit in municipal goyernmen
the city was but poorly lighted at certain
points. At dark street corner the cry wa
raised that their culprit had escaped But, il
moment more some valiant nen had rushe
forward, and their man was again in thei
S e.=,sp. This time he was gagged and bouu
: Sect rel v 90 that he could not even make n
s outcry, much less attempt second escape Th
8 | tar was spread lavishiy over the dudish attir
of their victim, then profusely ornamente
+: with tnfts Of gandy peafowl feathers plucke
G from the miliner's brush.
Torches were forthcoming as Sweeney's dra
drove up, and the tarred- and feathercd ebjet
was elevated to the top of an empty kerosen
: barrel, where he was tied fast Then Sween