The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-17

tress was charged. Although elected two
years before OH the reform ticket. charges
of corruption against them wero now
made. and against them was hurled that
gance was charged and complaints above q
whisper were heard when the county
clerks wife wore to church q fashionabiy-
trimmed blue silk dress The county
paper. the Corn Belt Era. the champion OF
reform. still invited all to subscribe.
but IL was on this issue painfully
and ~ominously silent. There were
whispered muttcrinss against the Insurer
and plutocrat who. with u gilt-iettered
safe and q capital that varied with the de-
posits of the county funds had done a land
offic business buying county warrants,
and who held chsttei mortgages on nearly
every thing. animate and inaDimate. cor
poreal and incor poreal. in the county. I'm
less rain came within \ few days all would
be lost
This was the state OF popular feeling in
the little village when Professor Seneca
Slade limped into town. To his naturally
bright mind came an idea. A sheet of
legal cap paper was procured, and. in
fsultless hand. the Professor wrote as fol-
lows:
RoF SENECA sLADE,
The world celebrated meteorological and rain
maker. deeply deplor:ng the condition Of affairs
In Buffalo Tongue by reason OF the present
drought. offers his services to the people on the
following terms: When $500 is subscribed. 10 De
paid inc on condition that rain To the depth or
one inch falls within ten days on the lands In
and adjoining the city OF Buffalo Iongne. 1 VIII
immediately enter upon the work with my chem,
icals and infallible apparatus. No rain: no pay!
PROF.. SENECA SLADE, Maker
This announcement was placed at the
head of q subscription list. which was
gladly circulated by one of the ring"
county officers. Before midnight the sub
scriptIon was duly signed. Many signed
with great doubtiDgs In their minds. but
the proposition was fair. Rain was wanted.
The new preacher had worked night and
day. and failed, and there was no risk in
the new proposition.
In the morning. from the courthouse
steeple, the white smoke of the rain-msker
assembled. There were no foolish doubts OF
the success of the affair because among the
chemicals used was a rheumatism wash or
dered from the drug store. or that on the
second day q quart of pure whisky was sent
for. or that on the same afternoon ran
lated sugar and three lemons were sent up
from the grocery. The third day a dirty
"one-gsllused" boy claimed that all he could
see when he stole up into the attic under
the steeple was q man rubbing some sort of
O medicine on his back. and that q skillet
OF burning paper was in a corner nearest the
shutters. while on o chair stood q glass of
o peculiar mixture on which fiosted q piece
of lemon. Still. the sky looked brassy. and q
knot of skeptical people. including the
preacher. a new lawyer and the editor of
the Era. stood and laughed and pointed
their fingers toward the sseepie and won
dered how long the people In patience
would allow themselves TO be ruled by the
ring" But in the steepie there fingered
o man with faith in his rheumatic symp-'
toms IN spite OF oil his great pain. On the
fifth day, at noon, the skies commenced TO
change. by the middle of the afternoon
the sun was cIouded and before night the
rain came. And IL was not o shower. bnt a
rain hat lasted until the creeks were full
and some of the bridges fioated away. and
the stage didn't get ID for W days, and
still the rain seemed lonth To quit
The rain extended from the Bad Lands on
the north to the Texas State line on the
eouth. No such rain had ever been seen
before. The only explanation of the vol
nme OF the rain that tho Professor offered
was that somatimes when he USED lemons
In place OF lines 1t would Happen that
way"
The grateful community Of Buffalo
Tongue gathered together snd most will
ingiy paid over 10 Prof. Seneca Slade the
banquet az which the preacher most feel
ingly and thankfully said grace. Resoiu-
tIons were introduced by the editor of the
Corn Belt Era. and seconded most elo-
suently by the new attornsy: 1t IL
night" Among the cheeriest st the
feast were the leaders of the
ring" now hailed every where as the in
c~0rruptible leaders OF the reform party.
Amid It all. calm and satisfied. sat the hero
of IL all, the laureled "Rain-Maker of Ut
faiO Tongue"
The old man hasn't been back to our vii
lage yet. and we ore not looking for him.
One of us was out West about a year ego
and spent some time In the village. lie
brought Us cheering word. There was q
new boom. The railroad bonds had car
ried. and the railroad now ended at Buff
falo Tongue. Prof. Seneca Slade was
still there. bnt his condition was o
prosperous one. He was the sleek. we'll
dressed husband of the village milliner.
He was one OF the solid citizens of the
town. He was lender in all church and
public matters. He was the chairman OF
nearly all TIE meetings SO often called in
Western towns. He always travelled as
che guest of the railroad. On all tickets
was the meme of Professor Seneca Slade.
the unanimous popular choice for county
commissioner. Verify. at last. was found
for u versatile man with an aiiment a good
field. and none has worked that field so
protitably as our old friend. the Rain
Maker of Buffalo Tongue"
EDWARD +. WHITE.