The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-07-25
INDIANA POSTMASTER FINAL
LY QUITS.
Fox Tried Numerous ExpedIents During
Twenty Years to get his Resignation
Accepted But Could Not Even Get a
Discharge.

Fox, for many years postmaster
at Mier, fifteen miles southwest
of Wabash, has at last succeeded
In breaking away from that post
of trust and profit after a strug-
gle that has covered a decade
Mr.. Fox never sought the office
it was an honor thrust upon
him-and the reason he has not
relinquished it long before is
that no one else would assume
the burden. The position pays
16 cents day.
Mr.. Fox is so years old, and
says he began resigning twenty
years ago and began to grow
demonstrative in his designations
last winter.
Life in Mier was too high for
me-" said Fox. '.There was too
much dash and roar and all
around hurly -burly for man of
weak nerves and a high gated
heart. Just to give an instance
of my trials: was sitting in my
Office a few days ago brooding
over my hard lot and the tyran-
ny of an ungrateful republic
when | heard the step of a ma
tive who consulted his comfort
and saved his shekels by going
barefooted. He asked the stereo-
typed question: Any mail for
me?' | was confident there was
no mail for anybody, and hadn's
been for some weeks. He was
not discouraged. but inquired:
ANY postal keards?' and l an
sw cred in the negative. He was
not to be quashed and pumped
another at me: know anybody
that wants ter buy a tortle?'
''A few weeks ago the inspect
or came. He found the office
there, but the postmaster absent.
He began to circle about for the
trail, and at last found me in a
wet goods place across the way,
telling my sorrows to the booze
clerk. He assumed an air of au
thority and suggested l was out
of my sphere, and that the con-
tents of the Office might be stolen.
| informed him there was moth
ing to steal He grew indignant
at once at my flippancy, and in
cold. hard tone demanded to
know whether / appreciated the
Importance and dignity of my
position. He became violent and
said he would suspend me, but
when | begged him to recon-
mend my removal and stated I
had been trying for years to quit
he changed his manner, and beg
ged me to forget his rash words
and continue. He begged so
hard [ relented.
L once got one of my bonds
men into the Office. with the de-
sign of skipping out and leaving
him in charge, but when 1
thought of my martydom the
best in my nature rebelled. and
allowed him to go in peace.
Lately my son was deputized
and tried to run the Office while
| went back to the farm to sup
port my family. On Tuesday he
sent for me to come up and show
him how to cash a 81 money Or
der / lost a dollar making the
trip, and arrived in time to see a
neighbor's perspiring baby
wrapping a sheet of stamps
worth S. around his person.
II have begged and threaten
ed all my neighbors in ineffect-
ual attempts to get them to take
the Office, but they are satisfied
with the service and refuse. The
government has finally taken
the step urged years ago, to
close the Office. and am at last
a free man.
Fox has been a comedian,
lecturer, musician fth circus
band, farmer, and postmaster,
and is popular in his neighbor'
hood, where he has reputation
as a humorist.
| BLOW AVENGED BY MURDER