The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-02
VERA NEANEST MAN.
ConSres>men illustrate Their Ideas
of This Sort of Character With
Two StOriey.c

In the cloakrqGp1 of the house the other
day, relates ,rtbe1 New York Tribune a
warm 'discussiorfa was in progress.
/. Il bet yousea that said a member from
the South. that the meanest man in the
world lives in my district"
Taken" said d venerable politician from
the West; go on with your story.
Well began NJ. C. from the South,
zone of my constituents. who is a grocer
is so mean that if you picked up a cracker
in his store he expects YOU to lay down a
copper for it. At one time ne was anxious
to obtain the contract to supply our city
amshouse with groceries. / was one Of
the aldermen and he needed my vote. He
dropped in one evening to see me con-
corning H. and when he left my son. Dan,
and college chum of his fell to Joking
about rs stinginess.
" But, said the chum, he can't afford
to be mean with you, now he wants your
fathers influence He can't answered
Dan. III J.. lay you a pretty
wager that if l should take
old an order from my mother
amounting to 500 and should help myself
to a pickle the way out, ne would
charge for the pickle on the monthly &C
count.
Done, said the chum, and together
they Went to he shop, my son Dan car
rying with him large order for groceries,
which he read off to Z.
" Nice pickles, these. said Dan as he
passed out of the door, think I'll take
one helping himself out of the barrel as
he spoke.
Help yourself, called out the grocer,
cordially, but on the next bill rendered,
at the foot of the order for $50 worth of
groceries, was the item: One pickle to
Dan. one cent
Did you vote for him contractors
all the members assembled asked in
chorus, but their brother from below
Mason and DiXon's line refused to answer
this personal question.
'You've lost said the politician from
beyond the Mississippi my man is me
meanest. I'll tell you the story There is
an old brewer in my district who is noted
from end Of the state to the other
for his stnginess and while he has made
6 large fortune by brewing, he has never
been known to give a glass of beer away.
1 am rather proud of my persuasive pow
ers and, feeling sure that l could wheedle
a drink out of the old man, l made a
wager 10 that effect with one of my politi-
cal leutenants.
I'VE drove together, for 1 was anxious
to have witness to my triumph, to the
old mans place. He was a gardener and
florist in a small way and for amuse-'
ment, and to get him in good humor
walked with him over his demensne prais-
ing his vegetables his flowers his stock,
mis- poultry, his children, and his wife.
an effort, l said:
And, 1 understand, Jacob, that you
make very fine beer, the finest that is
made in the} state.
dot is so, dot is So acknowledged ia
cob.
They tell Sme continued l. that
the Hofbrau in Munich would be glad to
exchange it's receipt for yours, and has Of
fered a prize to anyone who will procure
it, - "
is dot so 2, Is dot so?' asked the brew.
err excitedly. Then to his wife, Rosa,
bring me Won glass of beer
The beer was brought, foaming over
the sides in an old fashioned stem. l
turned to my companion in triumph, and
he showed evidence of great detection. ia
cob looked proudly at the mug, then at
me- and back at the mug again. Finally
he put it to his lips and drained it to the
bottom, at onesdra uEht. When he had fin
ished he handed the mug to me.
Say he said, EFF you don't pellet
max gut beer just smell dot mug