The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05

OF tsiS Didn WHO
a, IS always late? Who never
says or does the right thing st
the right timer Who always thinks OF
what should be done after the time has
passed for doing II, I know him. Per-
haps you know him, too.
Some months ago 4 man IN New York
committed suicide for one OF the oldest OF
all reasons. He had never known the
want OF the necessaries and many OF the
iuxuries Of life: though not what the
world regards as rich. he had always been
In comfortable circumstances; anything
within the bounds Of reason he had ample
means to obtain. Yet he was not happy.
And why? Simply because. as stated in a
brief letter found upon his table. he had
always been too late" This had FREE
QueAtly subjected him 20 notification
sometimes 10 humiliation. Therefore no
had come to regard his life as q failure
He thought the world had no use for
man like him: hence his suicide.
The man who is always too late Is TO he
pitied. although his ludicrous mishaps
sometimes compel people to laugh at him.
His dilatoTy habit Is constantly getting
him into trouble. Many times IL has
brought him TO grief and led him TO mourn
that ever he was born. One who believes
In the popular maxim, "the early bird gets
the worm" says he never knew anything
lost by being too early. while no has seen
much lost by being too late. Then he gave
as follows the result Of his actual expert
ence and observations. using the pronoun
he" instead OF the names or persons in
his mind at the time
He invariably delays starting from home
In time 10 reach the steamer or train on
which he desires 10 make journey. One
day he stepped on one end Of a wharf just
as he steamer he wanted to catch was
leaving the other end. Bounding forward
a NhA sz,z 80 l.. r., Ia Tar
end Of the wharf when the steamer was
about twelve feet distant Making flying
leap, for which the impetus acquired in
running was somewhat to blame, he had
Just time and breath enough to shout TOO
latei" before he struck the water. When
they fshed him out. wetter but not
wiser, he consoled himself by saving Just
my luckr' as If luck had anything to do
with his immersion.
He was sheriff OF Pierce county many
years before Washington became state.
A new Judge came from the East with
commission TO preside over the United
States district court OF the Third judicial
district which then embraced Steilacoom,
Seattle and Port Townsend. The judge at
tached the highest Importance TO pune
tuality. and was withal rigid disciplin-
ar!an. On opening court he addressed the
sheriff In these words:
Mr.. Sheriff, It Is your duty to see that
the clock (pointing TO the timepiece on the
walD. lis properly regulated. and be sure
your watch agrees with it."
The sheriff srnilingly nodded TO signify
that he understood the order.
Five minutes before 9 o'clock the next
morning, the hour appointed for opening
court. the judge. accompanied by the clerk,
entered the court room and looked up at
the clock Seating himself and opening
law book. he betrayed no uneasiness until
o'clock came. Then, alternately looking
at the clock and his book. he was very
restless for ten minutes. when the door
opened and the sheriff entered. perspiring
and almost breathless from his effort to
reach the court room In time. Addressing
the dila tory official. the judge said:
Sheriff. you are ten minutes late and
have kept the court waiting"
Then, turning to the clerk, the Judge
added:
Clerk. enter a fine Of $50 agains, tn.
sheriff for being eate.''
Smil!ngly. he counted out the fine I'M
posed. placed Il in the hands of the clerk.
took his receipt and opened court. He ola
not ask for remittance OF the fine. nor
did he repeat the ofsense during the re-
mafndcr of his term OF Office.
He was genial. hospitab,e AMI COM
fortably situated clergyman Of Tacoma.
who never seemed so happy as when he
had one or more guests. There were often
visitors rom other cities. who could only
reach their homes by steamer or railroad
AS the hour approached fer their departure
ne perssstentiy detained them with the
assurance; You have plenty OF time:
dont 90 yet" Then hc would start some
topic OF mutual Interest and keep lis guest
unin the depot or landing could he reach
ed in time only by running a the top OF
their speed Che always accompanied his
90.
enabled them 70 get there just a. the train
or steamer was starring: sometimes they
were too late 10 witness the start. He
was terror 10 his wsrmest friends While
enjoying hts compan!oDxhip they drcadea
ais habit q procrasttnatlon.
lie was coming from Portland 20 Seattle
py ran AZ the I.akevisw sta ton. a. few
"l'es from Tacoma, he saw sn old ac-
quainIance standing on the Platform. He
left hts seat in the car ard ,otres hta
TREND, TO whom ne had so much to sav
max re Cid rot finish before the tain
started Few quick steps and n periious
jump landed him spraxling upon the ca-
s'ens' SHINING IFS knuckies ar! shiu4 ana
initiating his fingernafls. After brushiag
the dirt OF IFS clothes he enteres tn car
with r falpiiaiing heart. visihiv trernblins.
a. tse thought Of his narrow -, ape iron,
horrible death. which vas o;tly aYeYtef
. Ms selling with aTm grarc the iron
sfaEch1on supporting the rail-. i2lst for mis-
ne would have taieu OF ard becosua an
oiher victim 20 the msrci,ess = Ae.ix az a
TaIl-1aa train Then he rem eg13lysred that
every day somebody somewhere LOST ais
lite ~ being too lac FOR The cars and
TainIy trying 20 board them while In m
ton. EU, that was rot the end OF f.
lie retired that night thinking q. TN
p,F0 - had encountered and happily e.
cabeA His waking thoughts becasne the
saoiect Of a dream, IN Tie seq 81 Il " .lch
rs sas not 50 fortunate y nightmare
tnsued. ATTENDED with tie usual rsaiAfuuy
oppressive s"nsa SONS. He nNgke with
the terror strong upon dim that he gas
Icing crushed and manE,ea ~ tn. CRUZ!
%feelS - that train q cars i lcnx De.
I'D elapsed befgge he recovered firm "a
edt> - Of this incident, the ter Ola ton
q sasch caused hin 70 ''trerubse III xItn
fear he has vowed that ms would never
eEasn 10 dilatory' in re-entsslag hla car
@Der joGraey tSg b. rail
lie oscs engaged IN spe. a.a.iora and
Inet ide usual fate Il spectators who .cc,
l3fsE delay 70 realize on their rtYrebazss