The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-11
A MODERN 'DIOGENES.
Nc WAS LOOKING FOR MEN WHO
|. ~ HAD LOST PockETBooKs.

h ouS tho htgnt Ono ne 10 Bull beekings
n Rough on New York.
3 A mild hammered man with thin fea-
lures watery blue eyes, lemon beard,
shuffiing gait and q general air Of guile
lessness stepped into a clothing store on
Sixth avenue, not far from Twenty fifth
street, the other day, and aocosted Hashily
dressed young man who was buying some
neckwear.
81 think you will agree with me- sir,
that honesty Is the best policy"
Yep" answered the young man, con-
tinuing his inspection Of the neckwear.
Nov, I'm an honest man" continued
the thin featured gentleman, land when
ever find an article Of value would con-
slider myself no better than thief II / did
not make every effort to restore IL to the
owner. I'll guarantee there are not many
S,en In New York who would travel two
miles to give up we'll filed pocketbook,
or to But, say. have you lost pook-
IL mean, did you drop anything this
morning?" And the honest man shuffied
around uneasily, as If he realized that he
would not amount to much as n conductor
of a cross examination.
The young man grew excited at once
and, making a hasty inventory of his
pockets, exclaimed:
"Great Gawd I've lost mo pocketbook!
Let me sec IL the one you found Is mine.
If 1t is, PIP
"were you up In the vicinity of Fifty
ninth street this morning. asked the
honest man, interrupting.
"Yes came across from the park and
I''-
Il thought So Now, If all men realized
the genuine pleasure of being honest-the
soothing effect upon the mind and heart
I'm sure there would be less thievery and
| skullduggery than there Is. Now, let me
SEQ. You came across from the park,
passed by the Columbus monument,
stepped into saloon on the circle and got
drink, came out again and walked up
Fifty-ninth street toward Ninth avenueY"
| "Yes, sir. Now give me-
| wait moment, please. As you were
walking along you pulled some papers out
of your pocket, but you didn't see your
pocketbook drop to the ground?"
| THAT'S just the way 1 must have
dropped it. remember pulling out the
| papers"
"what sort Of n pocketbook was it-was
| it long, seal leather-that is, l mean,
was it "a billbook, with red morocco lin
with sterling silver clasps? You will par
don me, but want to DO sure you're the
man." And "A spasm passed over tho hon
est mans face, as if the necessity for being
so particular was extremely painful to
him
Eyes," replied the young man, much
excited, "my pocketbook was long, seal
leather billbook, with red morocco lining,
and tho rocket corners wero staid with
| sterling silver clasps. You will note that
have given minute description of my
property Now please hand it over and I'll
reward
"I'm not looking for any reward, " said
the honest man stiflly. II just simply
want to do what's right. My conscience is
my reward.
II beg your pardon" apologized the
young man. Il perceive that you are a
gentleman Now, if YOU
"Ono moment, please. How much
money was there In your pocketbookf
We're there two twenties, six tens, five,
three twos and a one, n communication meal
ticket, a corn cure recipe and a printed
leaflet How to Behave at the Tablet
Eyes, sir; that describes the pocketbook
lost most accurately. This gentleman
here''-indicating the proprietor of the
store-"will note that l have identified
my property. have given you an accurate
description of the book and its contents.
would like to pay you for the time and
trouble you have expended in tracing me.
l am glad to know that there Is one honest
man in New York. Now, If you will hand
over my pocketbook"-
Hand over your pocketbook repeated
the mild hammered man. what do you
meanY"
meant exclaimed the young fellow.
"Why, / mean give me that long, seal
leather pocketbook that you found on
Fifty-ninth street. It's mine, and l can
prove It,.
But my dear SIR" said the mild man
nered man i'm an offended way, Il found
no such pocketbook. I'm an honest man,
however, and if you will give mo your ad-
dress and / should happen to find your
property you can be assured of getting 1t. y
"But you told me that you found it, and
II you don't give it up I'll have you ar
rested"
II told you no such thing" blandly re-
turned tho honest man. 81 asked you II
you had lost o pocketbook and IL it had
red morocco Innings and If there were sc
many tens, twenties, fives, twos and ones
You are the tenth man / have met today
who claims 10 have lost such pocketbooki
containing just the same amount of money,
the Communication ticket and the recipe fol-
curing corns. / am sorry for you, my
friend"-and hero tho honest mans voice
took on n sad n1ection-"but there arc Sc
few honest men i'm New York city that I'm
afraid you'll never recover your property
Let mo SEQ nova seal leather pocket
book
But here tho young man gathered up his
purchases and bolted out of the store.
81 had no idea there were SO many peck
etbooks lost in this city every day." saio
the honest man to the store proprietor
buttonng up his coat and shuflling toward
the door Il believe In being honest-no'
from policy alone, but because 1t Is the
only way to keep your conscience from
raveling at the edges. l really hope thai
poor fellow will find his pocketbook."
And tho honest man stalked out sol
EMMY and became absorbed in the human
stream that surged up and down the ave
nue.. New York Press.