Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-16

"When Cesar was o young man OF
%, he hadn't dollar to his name."
continued Jonas, "and. though he Of
fered to dig out stumps fur 10 cents
day. he couldn't hit job. He had
made UP his mind to hang himself
when he found stray mewl In the
woods. He knew he ought to advertise
the mewl and restore him to his owner,
but dishonesty carried the Gay, He
sold the critter to the first mar who
would buy. and with the $12 he re-
ceived he went into politics and pushed
along until he finally became one of the
greatest men Of his time. He lived
fur 80 years after stealth that mewl,
and he was honored and respected
and had good time and died lanented
by all"
That's tally mark on the negative
side" said the deacon, land the p'ints
seem to be about even"
But whar did Jonas git his tacts?'
asks Ebenezer.
"whar did you git yours?" asked 10
mas in reply.
The deacon said the speakin bad best
Bradshaw, who was on the affirmative
side, fur his argument.
"Foller ne hack to the days of Julius
Caesar" began Aaron. with a wave of
his hand. but when he had got that fur
both Ebenezer and Jonas tried to yell
him down and appeal to the referee.
.T've got to give Aaron fair show"
repiied the deacon. "If he wants to be
follered back to the days of julius
Caesar. this society has got to tag along
behind him. It's rather a GURUS coin
cidence that the three of you want to
be follered back to the same man. but
that's none of my business. Go on,
Aaron"
Aaron went on. He had 1t that CR-
sar was poor and out Of job and dis
couraged when he happened to find
| diamond ring In mudhole. He could
have got an advance of $50 on it at
pawnbrokers, but he actually went
hungry fur three days while huntin up
the loser. Struck by such display of
unselfish honesty, the owner presented
him with $40, took him under. his wing
and In time made him king"
"That's another tally fur the affirma-
tive" said the deacon, "and / guess
| I'll give Aaron the same number of
p'ints as the rest, Alvin Bidwell. Of
| the negatives. Is hitchin around in an
anxious way, and we'll hear what he's
got to say in favor of dishonesty"
"Foller me back to the days of julius
| Caesar" began Alvin In his ramblin
voice, but thar was yells and whoops
and protests from Ehenezer Jonas and
| Aaron.
ITS a Gurus coincidence, I'll admit"
| said the deacon when he could he
heard but | don't see how we kin
help but foller Alvin back if he insists
upon it. Everybody must have fair
show. Alvin, hadn't you as lief be fol-
Tered back to the garden of Eden or
| Dan'l in the lions dep?"
| Alvin stuck fur Julius Cnsar and
went ahead. He found Julius poor and
discouraged and livin ON turnips, and
he related how the young man sat
down and thought 1t all over and then
decided to steal hog. He stole one,
sold him for So. doubled his money on
boss race and tinally made a place
and name for himself Had he con.
tlnued to be honest he would have
starved to death and been buried at the
expense Of the town. His dishonesty
enabled him to become king and to do
good to millions.
"The talles are even so fur" said the
deacon rs Alvin sat down. land we'll
now hear from Philetus Johnson On the
affirmative side"
"F'ol!er me back to the days Of Julius
Cesar" began Phiietus as he rose up,
and then thar was a row. 1t was a
full ten in!nts before order was re-
stored, and durin that time most ev-
erybody got his head punched at least
once and his coat torn up the back.
by and by Deacon Spooner said:
Its shame and disgrace to tho
town of Jericho TO carry on in this
way. notice that Lish Billings, who
don't belong on either side, has jest
come in. Lish. do you want to say
anythlngT
Not very much," replied Lish as he
looked around. ''I'd simply like to ask
If anybody here has lost this naif dol
lar"
He held up the coin In his fingers.
There was AZ men in the room. and
every single one of 'em. includin the
deacon and the squar. replied that 1t
was his.
"As to the Debatin society. It may
be a good thing" said Lish as grin
spread over his face; hut. as to the
subject OF discussion tonight, guess
you'd better drop 1t aud let It stay
dropped. This half dollar has bin in
my pocket fur two weeks. and every
one of you was willip TO lie to git hold
of it,"
Then Lish moved softly down stairs
and went home. and after the rest OF
the crowd had sat and looked at each
other fur two or thres minits In an
uncomfortable way the president put
on his hat and said:
"Instead of follerin anybody else
back to the days OF Julius Caesar,
guess we'd better folier Lish Billings
down stairs and call the thing bust
ed" M. QUAD.