The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-02-09
Feels the Need of Prayer and
Reflection Before Liquidat-
ing.

ter bearing on the size of subscription
bill recently sent to one of its good
readers, and it is too good to keep.
Barring the address and the name of
the author we give the letter to our
readers with the only added remark
that the size of the bill referred to is
about forty good American gold dollars:
February z, 1900.
Mr.. L. P. Hunt,
Mankato, MINI.
My Dear Sir: Recently 1 received a
bill from the Free Press, in amount
of small fortune, in which it was
charged and alleged against me that for
10, these many years l had taken and
carried away from the Government
Post Office the Daily Free Press, a
paper printed and published at the
beautiful city of Mankato, in the County
of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota;
to which charge l plead guilty" but
also plead extenuating circumstances
in mitigation of the offense charged.
l began taking the paper when you
began sending it to me, and those CO.
incidents happened so long ago that
time has wiped from my memory the
date; but if my memory serves me
truthfully it was during the time that
Gen. Jim Baker was on earth the sec
ond time and was trying to buck from
the track our late departed Republican
friend John Lind. At that time was
unfortunately the official head and tail
of the Republican forces of this county
and bending my weak frame double to
%lo f,fa of MinnnCnfo frnr
Republican oblivion in congress l
held small tip end tail holt on the
situation and wrenched myself badly
in the pull 1t was during this strug-
gle that I was called to st. Paul by the
State Central Committee, and during a
conversation with the Apollo head OF
the state committee, asked him what
paper printed in the state would give
me the most pointers on the past
Kaleidoscope conduct of the Hon
Gen. Jim. and he informed me that
your paper was the one most to be de
sired. Since that time I have received
the paper, sometimes two at time.
sometimes three, all done up in wrap
pers with my name neatly printed on
the outside, and occasionally-not
oftener than once month"; would
break the wrapper and glance over the
printed sheet Now don't think me
finding fault with the paper, only ex
planning, for if I were resident of
your city would not try to keep house
without it; but being unacquainted
with the good folk of your city and
county I do not take the gnawing
interest in your paper that otherwise
would. At the present time l take
quite an interest in the bill you sent me
as it gave me stroke of paralysis, as
had no idea but what l was on the
free list" as no bill had ever been
presented to me to my knowledge. I
am aware that after due reflection
have no real cause Tor expecting you to
send me the paper without compensa.
| tion, but since it has been coming
without promised compensation you
must have had some motive for sending
me the paper, and when l visit your
city, which will be in short time,
will call and talk this matter over with
you and see if we cannot arrive at some
compromise in the matter. This is the
largest newspaper bill that was ever
presented to me, and coming unexpect
eddy feel the need of gathering my
wind, as it were Were an heir to 9
large fortune should not hesitate about
sending the amount right along, but as
1 am not, feel the need of prayer and
reflection.
Hoping to obtain your views on the
subject, and also of meeting you soon
1 subscribe myself,
Yours truly.