Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-29
REMARKABLY GIFTED.
The Story of the Man Who Could
ArtisticaIIy Lie.
Also Another About LARA jewelers. Advice
About Clocks.

reputation of being a reliable speak
err" asked the congenial man as he sat
in the Journal office, the other even
ing.
No? Well, you ought to hear of it
and beware of ever falling as I did.
You see it was this way, l was MAX
ing my first summers outing in Booth
bay Harbor and had been all over the
course once in n steamer. so that the
captain had pointed out and told me
the name Of each island and landing.
/ thought I had them all down pat.
My friend Fogg from Maryland,
came along about this time and I I'M
dertook 10 explain to him all aboutsrnv
surroundings. l told him the name of
every place all along the coast as we
made the trip from Bath. ana thought
| was doing finely. but it seems l skip
ped one of the places and every one
after that was wrong
I'VE stopped at one Of the islands
~ N'iN - ~ anu Itit MN ItIi a time.
He did not See that | was gone ana
asked without turning his head. What
did you say was the name Of that is
land over there?' \ woman who was
standing near volunteered the answer
ana She went on ana undid all my
work by telling him the correct name
n all in sight. When ! returned ]
knew something had happened w the
odd smile that was On his face.
Il always did admire 4 man with
ready answer was his first observance.
1t does my soul good to NEE. man
who will answer a question at once
ard will not hesitate. That man is as
good as an encyclopedia any time. lie
viii tell you anything.
Il was marvelling at his words and
he soon explained them.
Now l asked You the name Of that
island over there and you told me.
OF course you didn't know yourself and
the answer you gave was not right. but
what difference did that make? You
were ready with an answer A little
thing like the name Of an island did
not stick you. l suppose If had asked
you the distance to the planet Mars
you would tell me as quick as YOU
would il | had asked you the number
Gf fish swimming in this bay. Oh. you
are a wonder and | admire you"
Thereafter on the trip whenever
anyone wanted to know anything Fogg
would refer them to me, saying: He
will tell you. He knows everything.
You can believe what he says or not
should advise you not to, yet the man
can give YOU an answer without hesita-
ton
That my lad is the story of my
downfall. Spread it abroad throughout
the nation SO that others will be warn
ed and will not fall as | did"
THAT reminds me of the old story
they tell at Bar Harbor," said a man
sitting on the stove. The drivers
there tell of the time a strange driver
arrived on the island and was sent out
the first day to drive man about and
show him the sights. This driver had
read somewhat and he knew the names
of the leading people of the country.
The passengers asked one or two ques
tons and finally asked the driver to
tell him all he knew of the route over
which they We're travelling and this
was all in through the streets and over
all the high places. You know all the
pretticst views and cottages are situa-
ted on the side Of the hills. During the
entire route the driver told the man
who lived in this cottage and that; the
cost Of one cottage ana another and oc-
casionally he would weave in q little
romance with one of them to make his
story take better.
At the end of the drive the passenger
gave the man a So note as a tip, as he
remarked: You are the best and big
gest liar Fever run across. ] happen to
be 4 resident of this town ana YOU have |
for two hours told me about all these
places and never one of them have |
you guessed right. Yet you never hest
tated Such gift deserves its re-
ward"