The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-03-29
THAT vExED QUESTION.
Problem, Get MAJ late
TPoUblo,

Trosbls.
The man With q face like an interfo-
cation point Bit on huge piece Of
nince pie (cold), washed 1t down vita
q gulp Of cold milk, and turned to the
man standing alongside Of him in the
lunch room.
Say, my friend" he inquired, do
you know when the twent-"
mo. you don't, stranger" said the
man addressed. Not this time. I'm
in here to partake Of . modest lunch
con consisting Of buttermilk and choc-
olate eclairs, and no mans going to
get me on that subject while I'm eat
Ing downtown. I've got to stand 1t
At my boarding house table; there's
nothing else at that table. But can't
bc drawn into the argument down
town. What's more, don't care a
darn when 1t begins"
The man with the face like a ques-
ton mark looked puzzled, but he
wasn't easily squelched.
81 don't think you understand what
I wac going to ask you," he said. ~
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 n large piece of gingerbread
from the counter, grabbed cup Of
coffee, and tackled another man along.
side of him.
Excuse me-" he began, "but l want
20 inquire when you think the
twent-"
The man addressed smilingly inter
rupted'
nix, old man; not to-day" he said,
amiably. TOO 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
hut, 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 and 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" expostulated the man with
the questioning eye, what l 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,
~ want to ask you when the twent--"
81 don't know, and what's more, /
don't care" was the testy reply. 'I've
got something else to DO with my
time than to fritter It away on such
idiotic calculations as that"
you are in error" was the interro-
gatory man. hasty interruption, "as
to what / was"
Again he found that he was ad-
dressing no one in particular, for the
testy man had moved away.
81 wonder what ails all these peo-
PIE around here?" unused the man
with the inquisitive countenance.
when l 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
coffee. He elbowed through the
crowd and corralled his friend.
'Ha, old man, you're just the one
I'm looking for" he said, joyfully. 81
wanted to ask you when the twent--"
His friends face heightened imme-
diately.
Look here, Jorkins," he said, ex
postulatingly, that's great fault
o: yours-picking up these confound
ed fads and asking questions about
them. How the dickens, now, should
|, a man who sells hardware for live
Bhood. know when the twentieth CEN
tury begins? And what the deuce Is
the difference to me, so long as ] get
three square meals"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
the man with the inquiring mug. 81
wasn't attempting to ask you anything
about the beginning of the twentieth
century. don't care hurrah about
that question, one way or the other.
What / wanted to ask you is, when
was the 2o-cent piece withdrawn from
circulation? I've got bet on the date
with friend" ."-Washington Star.