The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1896-03-19
R@!a!:!ll. g. Rs%aS&F ksMH&
ABSOLUTELY PURE
w. c. r. u.
Six Cents Worth of Character.
BY J. F. cow AN.

Six Cents Worth of Character.
BY j. F. COwAN.
"Well, it's done, now, and there's no un-
doing it for year, at least. We must
grin and bear it, suppose"
''Let those who feel like it do the grin
ming" responded the serious-faced man,
who was leaning over his gate listening to
report of his neighbOr concerning the
result of the days election on the license
question, He was very much disappointed
at the result. The "wets' had carried,
and two gin mills were sure to be set up
in operation in the community. Mr..
HigginbOttom was pastor ofthe church in
great deal of solicitude the fight against
the saloon. He had hoped and prayed
that the temperance element might win
the day, and the boys Of the community
be saved from the debauching influence of
open legalized liquor selling.
"As to bearing it," he continued, 'there
are different WAYS of doing that. A thing
may be borne as stupid pack mule carries
the burden placed upon him, or it may he
borne as the unconquered and untamed
lion bears his captivity in a circus cage.
For my part, propose to play the lion
and not the donkey"
But the next morning when Mr.. Brown
passed ParsOn Higginbottom's fence and
saw displayed upon itin bold lettering the
following advertisement or notice, he was
almost inclined to believe that there was
more of the donkey than the lion in the
method of his pastor. The notice read {:
! ITO THE PUBLIC We, the undersigned
i hereby notify the fathers and mothers of
Greenville that in a few days our establish
ment will be open and we'll under way for
manufacturing drunkards, paupers, beg
gars, libertines and criminals, out of the
sober, industrious and respectable young
I men and boys of the community. Since
we have been invited to- undertake this
business by the franchises of the citizens
of this community, we ask and expect the
support Of all: ,,....
Neighbor Brown stopped at the parson-
age on his way home and warned the
parson that he was in danger of legal
action for SANDER, in case he persisted in
that method of resisting the saloon.
LET them blaze away" answered the
undaunted man. II guess | am able to
pay for all the character they have to
%hc1V -, s,,,l,S
of the town talk, some approving others
severely denouncing the course Of ParsOn
Higginbottom. Whenever demonstrated
with by his friends he persisted in declar-
ing I've only told the truth, and I've
just as good right to paint that on my
fence as l have to paint verse of Script
jure or a rule from the arithmetic. Its as
true as that two times two make four"
1t was not long until the notice was
torn down. And one day the parson
came home from the post-office with an
envelope in his hand, bearing the card OF
a firm of attorney, while a queer smile
played over his lips. ''Just read that" "
he said, handing the missive to his wife,
1t was summons to appear before the
court to answer to the accusation of defam-
ing the characters of Messrs. Schmidt an d
Bibbler
His wife's face turned shade paler,
but he looked calm and unruff1ed, and said:
Its merely question of what twelve
men. of ordinary judgment and sense will
think such fellows characters are worth.
I have to much confidence in the men OF
this community to believe that they will
assess very high value upon them"
So when the day came for the trial, he
took his place in the courtroom with an
unmoved cOuntenance His friends gath
cred around him and promised to stand by
him, although many did not approve OF
what they considered animprudent course.
On the other side of the court-roomwere
arrayed groups Of sorowling faces, express.
ing as plainly as words could the hope
whiskey business would be given a severe
lesson by the court for rttering sentiments
so virulent and damaging.
Parson Higginbottom' friends had over
come his scruples against having the de.
fense conducted by a lawyer, and he was
ably represented by counsel. Upon the
other hand the whiskey men had retained
through the assistance Of their country
liquor Dealers association, one of the
most notorious and successful criminal
lawyers in the country.
The scene soon became animated anc
exciting. Jurors were challenged and sci
aside upon the admission of anything SC
favorable to the defense as an occasiona
}, attendance upon church services, or. thC
confession of the least prejudice agains
, the liquor business. For a time1t seemed
I as though it would be impossible to secure
jury, hut at last. il was accomplished