The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-02-05
CAKES AND ALE.
The Topeka Barrel That Wan
Marked Crest Cider VincEar."

The Topeka Barrel That Was
Marked "Best Cider Vinegar"
That was pathetic story which came las,
week from Portland, Ore, about dispLti
which had been decided by the United Stat"
district court involving fifty cases of WHISKY
seized by the customs officers and held for
forfeiture It appears that the cases contain
ing the whisky were marked "Cumberland
Homemade Tomato Catsup.'
The rewards of virtue are not always what
they ought to be-. 1t is plain that the motive
in seeking thus to disguise the liquid which
was intended for shipment to the Klondlke
was purely philanthropic one. The persons
concerned in the shipment felt the temptation
that would be put in the path Of Innocence
resorted to pious expedient. figure OF
speech, SO to say. But their good intentions
did not secure them from trouble at the
hands of unsympathetic minions of the law
Once upon time, a great many years
ago, long before w. J. Bryan was known to
fame, ere as yet that astonishing right CT
for its possessor when PETERS, whiskers
were young and tender; when Mary Ellen
Lease still possessed voice soft and low.
cient days before the silver flood, it came to-
PAS that it was thought desirable to ship
hogshead of the very best Medford ru.-l
from th to to the c
Exactly why it was thought desirable to do
SO is q matter involved in some obscurity.
were babblers. demagogues, persons belong,
uncharitableness have been heard to say
that the season was that United States sem
and one of the leading candidates conceived
the idea Of tapping BARREL with view to
shielding the honor of his beloved state from
the shame of sending the wrong man to
Washington.
Be that las it may the hogshead of Med.
ford rum was duly shipped. But for sons.
purpose, presumably out OF regard to thu
feelings of temperance fanatics-the leading
candidate aforesaid was very powerful pill
lar Of the church-the barrel was marked
Best CIDER Vinegar" and thus it was en-
tered the shippers books.
In due course it arrived at its destination.
That same afternoon unwonted excitement OF
q suppressed and mysterious nature was OBJ
servable in both branches of the Kansas leg
islature. Those who were known to be ar
dent supporters of the statesman to whom
| reference has already been made could be
bers who were supposed to be Of that calm
and judicious temperament which prompts
its possessors to study every question care
fully before making up their minds.
In short. no sooner had the two houses
adjourned than more than half the members
repaired instantly, though trying hard to look
to a certain hotel Where e the state statesman Who
| is believed to have desired to shield his state
from shame had engaged a suit Of rooms
sne 70 tes d Sse Tns ea5 psd
4 in some unknown manner found its way
thither. On long extension table were
glasses and pitchers and sandwiches and
crackers and cheese and other. things. A
SHnerous portion of liquid was drawn from
the hogshead, every glass was filled, and as
each legislator lifted the foaming goblet 70
his lips glad shout arose in res-aEse to q
toast expressive Of good wishes for the sue
cess Of the candidate for the United State q
senate who had given the touching evidence
of statesmanlike qualifications.
| For though every glass was lifted to a. pair
| Of lips, 1T was lowered almost as quickly as
| 1t was lifted. For every glass was filed in
deed and truth with BEST Cider Vinegar
] Boston Advertiser.