The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-03-25
49, IT PAYS TO BE MEAN.
That II What Ole Man Thinks He Has
Discovered.

Discovered.
He is man with a perpetual scowl.
He looks cross, and when he opens his
mouth it is usually merely to growl.
yet was not always thus" he ex-
planned one day. when moved into
this neighborhood was inclined to he
'good-natured. wanted to be on good
terms with everyone and for quite
awhile think. I was"
''Then why didn't you keep it up?''
ut didn't pay. People liked me be-
cause they could walk all over me. They
imposed on me because was good-na-
tured, and while they were imposing on
Me they were quite ready to say nice
things about me. I acquired an en-
viable reputation, but had to work
overtime to do it. IF there was any
thing to be done that no one wanted to
do, it was customary for some one to
suggest: oh, let Mr.. Brown attend to
that. He'd just as soon. He's always
so obliging.' But if there was anything
that wanted done it was very differ
emit matter. My wishes didn't count
any more than the wishes of the yell
low dog in the alley. They would over
run my house without even waiting for
ar invitation. If some neighborhood
meeting was to be held that no one else
wanted around on account of the an
uoyance and the trouble they merely
notified me that they had called it for
such and such an evening in my parior.
If the neighborhood children started a
game on any of the other lawns for two
blocks in either direction they would be
promptly driven away and told to go
over on Mr.. Browns lawn. He's so
good-natured that he doesn't care. ,
Why, even the conductors on the SUBJ
urban trains that patronized began to
impose on me. It's only Brown
they'd say; he never kicks And then
I'd get the worst of it."
'Um, ye-es, I don't know but it does
work that way sometimes
"Don'tknow! Well, know all about
It. got tired of it finally and landed
good strong kick. began with the
railroad people, and inside of week
there wasn't an employe on the trains
patronized who wouldn't run from the
engine to the last car to see if he could
be of service to me, and two weeks later,
If they saw me coming down the street,
they'd hold the train for me, something
that they wouldn't do for more than
four people on the whole line. Then I
began to work on my neighbours. The
next time they called meeting for my
house I notified the chairman that I
wasn't keeping public hall, and he had
| to get out and chase round the neigh
borhood to notify the others that the
worm had turned. The next day drove
| all the children off the lawn in front of
my house, put up No Trespassing'
sign and bought dog. Thereafter I
proceeded to kick Systematically and
vigorously at everything that did not
please me. I Informed everybody that
came in contact with that I was
meaner'n balky horse, and endeavored
| to live up to that idea. It has been a
! great success. They don't talk so much
about what nice fellow I am. but am
treated with the most distinguished
consideration. If they want me to dc
anything now they say: Please Mis-.
ter and they consult me in regard to
everything pertaining to the neighbor.
hood and give close attention to all my
suggestions. I am actually beginning
to have very pleasant and comfortable
time OF it, and ! don't much care what
kind of a reputation am acquiring."'-
Chicago Post.