Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-06-04

| VI " 81 tIltl Won
matter"
"Oh, indeed and what next ?"
" shall then sell so worth of old
clothes to the ragman for 81 so and
subscribe for the Perennial Ency-
clopedia, to be delivered in install
ments, at one dollar a volume, for
forty years."
" am not going away a STEP"
said Mrs. Bancks, resOlutely. "Any
man that's as mean as you needs
watching" And she gave up her
visit.
ANOTHER STORY OF FIELD.-Dur-
ing his last visit to his birthplace, ST.
Louis, Eugene Field renewed an old
acquaintance with Mr.. James Nj +.
Hart, the halter, which recalls an
other story of the poet which is too
good to remain unpublished. Twenty
yeas ago Mr.. Hart was member of
the Hart-LeOnard Hat Company,
located at Sixth and Chestnuts
streets. Mr.. Field was a warm per-
sonal friend of Mr.. Hart, but his lack
of financial instinct had even then
become known, and his trade was
not extensively sought after.
1t so happened that Gene needed
new hat, and needed it badly, al
most as badly, in fact, as he needed
money. His only salvation was his
friend Hart. When he entered the
store Mr.. Leonard saw him from afar
and advised Mr.. Hart to get a good
story out of him if possible, but by
tn coll hin, hnf
other than a cash basis. Mr.. Hart
took the risk, however, and Gene
walked out ten minutes later with
first-class hat on his head.
In due time Mr.. Hart sent around
bill, without any tangible result
A second and third bill were sent,
without avail. Then Mr.. Leonard
wrote a polite note to Mr.. Field.
When no reply came back, Mr.. Hart
became indignant, and wrote red
hot letter to Field, saying that he
had trusted him; telling why he had
trusted him and deploring the fact
that his trust had been betrayed. In
due time the letter came back to him
with this endorsement
"Trust on loving Hart, trust on.
LeOnorl, fare thee WELL"
Whether this bill was ever paid,
Mr.. Hart does not remember.
Two or three lawyers were dis
cussing the tricks of their trade,
when heard most unprofessional
tale:
"a big, burly fellow from the
Michigan pine forests came into my
Office" said one of them, land told
a very mean story about rich man
here in town, who was trying to
cheat him out of two or three thou
sand dollars. and who had managed
to get pretty tight clutch on the
money. The backwOodsman looked
and talked like an honest man, and
the old miser's reputation was mean
enough to match the story, so 1 felt
inclined to believe it. When he had
finished looked him up and down,
and from head to foot. He asked
me what i was looking him over for.
WE'LL" said l, Il was thinking
that If i were over six feet tall, and
as powerful a man as you, wouldn't
hire lawyer to help me get that
money The mans excited face
smoOthed out into blank astOnish-
ment. What do you mean?' he
said. answered deliberately, Il
mean just what say. You are sure,
are you, that he has that money in
his office?' He had it there last
night Well, you don't need a
lawyer
The man turned on his heel and
left without another word. In a day
or two he sent me check for $50
and thanks for my advice"
Which goes to show that it does
not need the re- establishment of the
Olympic games to prove superiority
of muscle over brains.