The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-15
ONE WAY TO EAT MELON.
Former Governor Stone of Missouri In

| Former Governor Stone of Missouri Ini-
tiates Two Friends.
Ex-Governor William Joel Stone put
aside his cares and burdens as ma
tional democratic committeeman one
day last week and became for few
minutes plain Bill Stone and ate wa
termelons as he used to do on the farm
The governor had met two friends on
the street One of them suggested
something refreshing in the way of
summer drinks. The governor declined.
He did not at that moment fancy lem
onade, soda water or any of the ordina
ry summer mixtures.
II am thirsty, though, boys" he add
ed. I'm. thirsty for watermelon.
There's nothing SO good on hot Au
gust afternoon as a rich, red, juicy wa
termelon"
well, by all means let's have some
Watermelon" said the man who had
first brought up the proposition. Come
on, Governor"
The three gentlemen walked slowly
over to Pine street, the governor sharp
ening his appetite for WaterHaelon. on
the way by calling up recolections of
the time when as a barefooted boy he
was the champion melon consumer of
two states. They entered one of those
small coffee-and-s restaurants
where signs on the wall announce that
the coffee is like that mother used to
make, and where the pies are sold per
cut" Seating themselves on stools at
an uncovered counter the party or
dered watermelon for three. The fruit,
ice cold and as red as blood, was pro-
duced, symmetrically cut into wedges,
each section placed on a plate and ac-
companied by knife and fork.
Governor Stone gave the layout one
lingering look of scorn. Take it away,
sir" he ordered. Don't you know how
to serve watermelon? The idea-brng-
ing little slices in here that | wouldn't
offer to an infant. Take it all back and
bring me melon, whole one, the
roundest, greenest one in your ice box
The restaurant man was clustered.
but he obeyed orders. He brought
back a melon which even the fastidious
ex-governor could not find fault with.
Boys" said the governor, this is
the only way to eat melon. First, you
see, / thump it so, to see If It's ripe.
This one gives back a deep. melodious
p-l-u-n-k as / thump it, and know
it's ripe Then you take i'll do wish
! had a stump here to smash it on in
stead of this counter-and you bust 'er
like this"
The governor lifted the melon up and
brought it down with a crash 1t was
a masterful bust" The melon fell
apart in irregular pieces slender spars
Of the red pulp jutting out from the
rind like stalactites from the roof of a
cavern.
Now, boys, pitch in" said the gov
arnor, picking up piece of the heart
which had no rind at all to bother him.
mo knives and forks are needed here.
Don't swallow the pulp, though, fell
ows. That stuffs wood. ! used to eat
It and think it the best part of the mel
IN. but | have found 1t to be most indi-
gestible."
The melon was paid for by the man
who had offered to buy the drinks |
Then the second one in the party or
Tered IA fresh melon, which the COVER
Tor artstically busted" When it |
vas eaten, a suggestion was made that, |
sveryone having had enough the party |
should break up. The governor object |
ed.
IF we had taken juleps,' he said |
the pernicious custom of treating |
would have demanded that every man
ouy round Of drinks. Each of you
lave bought, and as the melon is only |
, substitute for the drinks ! think it
c NV turn gentlemen to set 'em m
landlord, bring us another round Of
melon"
The third melon was busted and
aten like the other two. As the COVER
Tor and his friends walked out on the
treet the restaurant man called all
he help from his kitchen and was
verheard to say: Bring out your
nops and clean up this mess. An old
port they called Governor has been
roppin' melons all over the place, I
Wonder who the -, he is. st. Louis
Republic.