The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-29
KNEW 1T WAS HEREDITY.
The Old Fellow Could Tell a story
When He Once Got started.

Galveston Letter in Philadelphia Times
A party of gentlemen were seated in the
rotunda of the Waldorf House, a few nights
ago, and the talk upon the subject of
heredity. Some pretty good stories had been
told first and last and everybody had taken
part in the discussion except tall old man
who sat over in one corner with his hands
in his trousers pocket and his legs stretched
out about five feet beyond his chair. He
was a mild-eyed old fellow and wore a
white felt hat There was fringe OF
sandy beard under his chin and there were
hayseeds in his hair.
Talking of heredity,' he said. after the
others had spoken, as he meditatively rolled
took deliberate aim at the cuspidor which
sat across the hall, "talkin' of heredity re-
minis me of the quarest case of it / ever
The group of listeners prlcked up their
ears, for they thought they had scented
Twas FIVE or mebbe six years ago. the
old man went on, that l come acrost this
here victim of heredity kinder accidentally
into hospital to have short rib OF mine
sot; which | had broke Il a-tumbin' ofrn
saw. onto the cobblestones in the street.
Well, the doctors patched me up pretty
prompt, an 1 lay in the hospital pret' nigh
a month, more or less, a-havin' a soft
snap of it with all the waitin on q fellow'd
want, want to las, a good long lifetime. But
man in the cot mex to me that was the
victim above mentioned herein.
Il see the doctors visitin' him in squads
mighty regular an sorter talkin' big an
noddin their heads powerful wise like, so
] put IL up that nair of 'em knowetl
any more about the case than / did which
never had 10 say sot eyes ON it, bein' as
the hereiity had took effect in the fellows
Off leg, an | had never got a chance to see
ii fun under the cover. the doctors was al
ways SO thick aroun him.
well. in the course of time as luck
would have 1t. got able so as to be up an
about, an by special request / was permit
ted to view the victim. Now, gentlemen,
here the old fellow changed the quid again
and took fresh aim at the spittoon, NOW
YOU all can b'lieve or not jest you see fit
That rests betwixt You an your conscience
Ties II between you. but tha; thar victim
was wood rum his right hip down.
Sho don't keer whether you b'lieve IL
or not. Toll you so, didn't L? Fix 1t up
but that thar victims right leg was pre-
cisely like a good-sized twenty-year-od
hickory saplin'. an that with the bark on
An not to stop at the bark thar was
enough to cover the leg pretty well whenst
you smoothed EN- out fiat. Yes, sir. that
was the fix that thar victim was In, an
asst. Victim. ! said, not to be any ways
personal but jest as matter Of curiosity.
did. Leaves have their time TO fal.' he
aptly remarked AN flowers do wither at
the north winds breath, an do L. Yes,
sir. them was his own words, - somehow
they kinder drew me toward a as Ii
were. an when / was able 1 We the
hospital asst him TO give me ! pluck
leaf or two to remember him Which
he did, and / have 'em Wit at hon. on the
top shelf. pressed In the family Bible
in OF heredity reminds me of Victim. that's
ALL
..But where does heredity come in, old
friendg asked the smooth-faced drummer.