The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1901-11-09
THE MAN FROM MISSOURI.
Met Several Wise Persons Who Want
ed to BE shown and He
..S,,oyyed" Them

A typical farmer from "Up-on-the-
Elkhorn" reached Omaha on IA recent
Saturday and registered at the Mer-
chants hotel. Sunday morning, after
breakfast, he inquired concerning the
location of "a certain church. SAYING
he wanted to attend the service and
listen to some good music. After
dinner he asked the clerk for sheet
OF writing paper, volunteering the in
formation that he wanted to write
his wife and tell her about the fine
singing and the splendid music.
After getting the paper he took q
seat at one of the desks and COM
menced his letter. After he had writ
ten eight or ten lines he walked up
to the clerks desk and asked ques-
ton, relates John Dicks Howe, in
Judge.
Beg pardon; I didn't catch that"
remarked the polite clerk.
How do you spell 'choir'-ckurch
choir. you know?"
"C-h-o-i-r,' responded travelling
man. who was waiting for his mail.
We'll, now, maybe you're right"
said the man from Up-on-the-Ell>-
horn, somewhat puzzled; but it
seems to me that q-u-i-r-e is about
the proper thing"
Three or four bystanders COM
menced laughing, which caused the
man with the pen to become indig-
nant.
perhaps you city people think be-
cause I'm a plain farmer | don't know
how to SPELL" he said. his face as red
as a ripe tomato.
well. I should say not! Q-u-i-r-e
spell choir? Not where l came FROM"
remarked a St. Louis travelling man.
They may spell it that way out in
Nebras l>a. but it wouldn't pass in Bos-
ton" remarked another pilgrim from
way down east.
Il wasn't talkin' about st. Louis,
Boston, or any other place; / was
goin' 'cordin' to old Dan Webster,
that's all. Now. when 1 was teachin'
school up near Long Pine
How would you like to make a lit
tie bet that you're right remarked
man who had remained silent up to
that time.
We'll. l amt got no money to
throw to the birds. but l wouldn't
mind bettin' a tive-do1lar bill that
I'm"
Put up another with me, won't
you?" interrupted the drummer from
st. Louis. anxious to be showed"
I'D like to chip in on that,
too" remarked the man from Bos-
| ton.
The clerk wanted a slice of the pie,
and so did eight or ten others, who
had been attracted by the discussion.
The farmer was about to declare the
betting closed when the office
stenogra pher looked up from her
typewriting and asked to be admitted
SAYING that, while it was against her
principles to bet on a Sunday, she
couldn't think of letting a snap like
that pass.
After the bets had been recorded
the man from Missouri called for a
dictionary. The ancient tome which
the hotel proprietor had inherited
| from his father, was handed him
After turning the leaves rapidly he
ran his finger down one of the pages
Finally he paused. and look of con-
sternation spread over his counte.
nance.
Read it, read it, was the cry.
And so he read: "Quire-A body
of singers: a chorus. The part of a
church allotted to the choristers; the
choir"
For a minute there was silence
| so intense that one could have heard
clap of thunder in far-away Boston;
then the clerk broke the silence by
| handing the "quire pot" to the farm
er. saying, as he did so: Lets step
into Wonder room-I'm getting dizzy
They filed into the room, the man
with the hoe and the pen bringing UP
the rear. When he came out, half an
hour later, he finished his letter, to
which he added a postscript, which
read:
Think I'll stay in Omaha day or
two longer than l expected. just
found $40 under the door-mat.