The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-01-23
THAT vExED QUESTION.
How the UnsoIved Twentieth Century
Problem Got n Man Into
Trouble.

CATION point bit on huge piece o
mince pie (cold), washed 1t down witt
gulp Of cold milk. and turned 70 tn
man standing alongside OF him In tn
lunch room.
Say, my friend" he inquired. I'd,
you know when the twent--"
"No. you don't stranger" said tn,
man addressed. mot this time. In
in here 70 partake of a modest lunch
con consisting Of buttermilk and choc
olate eclairs, and no mans going tC
get me on that subject while I'm eat
ing downtown. I've got to stand Il
at my boarding house table; there's
nothing else at that table. But cant
be drawn into the argument down.
town. What's more. don't carr q
darn when 1t begins"
The man with the face like ques-
ton mark looked puzzled, but he
wasn't easily Equelched.
81 don't think you understand what
I was going to ask rou," he said. II
wanted to know If the twent--"
But the man With the buttermilk
and the chocolate eclair moved Off.
The man with the question pulled
down a large piece of gingerbread
from the counter, grabbed cup Of
coffee, and tackled another man along
side of him.
Excuse me-" he began, "but I want
to inquire when you think the
twent-'
The man addressed smilingly inter
rupted:
mix, old man; not to-day" he said,
amiably. 'sToo much brain fag about
it. I'd be glad to accommodate you by
going out and fighting dog for you,
or saving couple of cords Of wood
for you, or any little chore like that
but nay, nay, when it comes to that
question. I've passed that problem
along to my two boys In school, any
how. They've got lots of time end en-
thusiasm, and it'll expand their minds
that is, if it doesn't land them in
the lunatic asylum. The question
doesn't make much difference to me
anyhow. I'll live just as long, any
how, won't II"
"But," eNpostulated the man with
the questioning eye, what I was go
ing"
The man he was addressing looked
at his watch hurriedly and ran to pay
his check, however, and the man with |
the interrogatory physiognomy had
no recourse but to turn to another
man near by.
Look here, my dear sir" he started,
II want to ask you when the twent-'
Il don't know, and what's more, I
don't care" was the testy reply. "T've
got something else to do with my
time than to fritter it Rway on such
idiotir calculations as that"
''You are ia error" was the interro-
gatory mans hasty interruption, "as
to what / was"
Again he found that he was ad-
dressing no one Ia particular, for the
testy man had moved away.
II wonder what ails all these peo-
PIE around here?" unused the man
With the inqIisitive countenance.
When I try to ask them simple
question they either get"
Just then he caught sight of
friend coming away from the counter
With big slab of pie and cupful of
,offee. BE elbowed through the
;rowd and corralled his friend.
"Ha, old mau, you're just the one
m looking Jor," he said, joyfully. 81
vanteo to ask you when the twent-"
His friends face frightened imme-
lately.
look here, JorlIins," he said, ex-
that's a great fault
: yours-picking up these copfouDd-
d fads and asking questions about
hem. How the dickens, row, should
, a man who sells hardware for live
hood, know when the twentieth CEN
ury begins? And what the deuce is
he difference to me-. so long as l get
hree square meals"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
he man with the inquiring mug. 81
-asn't attempting to ask you anything
bout the beginning of the twentieth
entury. I don't care a hurTah about I
hat question, one way or the other. {
Vhat wanted to ask you IS, when
as the 2Otcent piece Withdrawn from
regulation? I've got bet on the date s
18th a friend. ."-Washingt Star.
Fiction About Panthera.
One Of the time-honored attributes