The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-15

NTATIvE. WEDNESDAY
desk when a visitor was ushered in by
the city editor.
Here is man. said he, who has
unique story for you"
took in my caller at glance. He
was old and little shabby, but as re-
spectacle as lamb. His linen gave
demeanor evidenced that circumstances
in endless rotation had sat upon him
until he was attenuated in spirit like
book mark.
my name is So-and-so," said he, land
/ have a grievance that demands justice.
live out at West Pullman and am en-
ployed as a carpenter. My wife has
kept boarders, and we have managed
with close calculation to get along. My
wife is a very frugal and systematic
woman, and seldom runs into debt
never, ii she can possibly avoid it. But
last summer she got into arrears little
with the butcher, it seems, although she
is willing to go on the stand and swear
never to the extent claimed. A bill was
presented her for payment, which she
repudiated. At last, however, she de-
cided to try and compromise the matter,
and paid SO, with the understanding
that the butcher should give her a re-
ceipt in full. He waited a week and
then served a summons on her by means
of a collector by the name of Perrine,
who had haunted my wife, OF and on,
for weeks, until she was near nervous
prostration. The summons was served
fNw how 70
out at River Forest, ten miles from our
home. l came down to appear in her
place, as she is sick, intending to fight
the case. 1 dropped into the Bureau of
Justice and was told to 60 around and
see Perrine and ask him for a continu-
ance, as he had served his summons ille-
gally.
SUMMONS WAS CLEARLY ILLEGAL.
Il went around to his office and he
denied the petition.
Illegally said t.
How so?' said he, pretending not
to know.
"'You did not give. me three days
notice. said I, the summons was served
Wednesday night and today is Friday"
is that So? said he, and called for
the constable, as though he didn't know
all about It. So when he found out that
| was right, he had the case called of,
and will serve new warrant tomorrow
1t is crooked business from the Begin
ming, and there is malignity about it
that ought to be exposed. This calling
a poor man from one end of the town
to another, putting him to the necessity
of leaving his work for an entire day,
and to pay out a lot of car fare for moth
ing, is matter that ought to claim re-
dress. In the first place, my wife, who
Is a good woman, says she doesn't owe
the bill. She has been annoyed and
narrowed out of reason. She had the
butchers word that he would compro-
mise the matter, and here I am today
losing a days wages on a tomfool err
rand"
That is the second story, and now 1
have time and space for just one more.
A woman friend who maintains a
large family by her unaided exertion,
called my attention the other morning
to a half-grown man on the train He
was OF the species called stsmug:" an
outcome of the latter-day regard for the
almighty dollar, which is like a tiger
chasing prey, in the mad race for
wealth.
ALL SHE OWED WAS 81 CENTS.
II owe that lad 67 cents" said she,
latter paying a coal bill of nearly $3.50
| to his employer. He has called at my
Office of business for the money so many
times that there is beaten path from
| the elevator to my door. He comes to
the house Regularly, in rain, blow or
shine. He insults me, or tries to, openly
on the train by requesting me to settle
my account in a tone of voice that would
| raise the dead. The other day talked
to him. I recalled to his mind how l
had befriended his family when they
were poor, how l had never yet failed
to meet an obligation, although circum-
stances might force me to be slow. and
| then I added, Now, my boy, l shall
never hand you that 81 cents SO long
as you act as you do. If I hear that
your firm is in need, or on the brink of
an assignment, shall call up a mes
| senger, at so cents, and send the balance
| OF what owe around. But just so long
| as you make the spectacle of yourself
that you do the money stays where it
| is, so far as you are concerned
He has let me alone for a week. and
| I think l shall send the money around
! tonight
BRUTAL COLLECTORS ARE PLEN-
TIFUL.
Instances might be Indefinitely cited
! to show the collector in his true light,
| but space forbids. There is nothing
! meaner than man who can pay his
| debts and will not. I have little pity
for him, although I never would make
martyr of him by subjecting him to
| the persecution of the regulation col
| lector. One would grow sorry after a
time for even rat, if pursued by a
weasel Let there be a change in the
| choice of these men who are sent out
| to collect dues and there will be greater
efforts made By honest creditors to
settle; but think the man who refuses
to deal with the bully who applies the
same methods to the righteous as to
| the unrighteous is justified in such re-
| fusal. I, for one, spring from a stock
that does not scare readily, and would
walk out of my position and starve in
Bohemia before I would be bulldozed
into paying even an honest debt.
| AMBER.