Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-22
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
A GENEROUS RESPONSE
A Telephone Invitation Brings Multi
tude to This Mans House.
Was a Hot Day and That Thirsty Feeling Was
General.

August can boast of one philanthro-
pist if no more. enc of those whole
hearted fellows who if he had but one
shilt and his friend is needy, will give
him the bosom and use the back him
self one who believes there is room
enough in this world for all without
crowding. and who. when good luck
knocks at his door. lays awake half
the night to hear it knock at his neigh
boris door also: one of those good.
honest, smooth-face boys that the Ell
DERBY lady is dependent upon at picnics
to lug the wraps and the water and to
keep the lemon pie from being set on
and pick the ants out of the sugar ana
to make himself generally useful.
IT'S true. the world is not full of this
class OF people, and the modern phi
lanthropist is few chips shy, so when
we run up against one we remember
il and make Il few side notes in our
memorandum book for future refer
ence. Last week. when the heated term
struck Augusta and 4 mans clothes
stuck To him like poor relation and
he had to chase his breath around the
block to catch it, our friend with the
philanthropic proclivitieS had the eX-
press company dump on his premises
n fiye-gallon keg of beer Uhey do that
occasionally for a considerations
After packing the key in ice he con-
Guided to invite a friend or two in To
help him tap ii and stand IN the
draught and get cooled off. so he rung
up the telephone and without waiting
for any response. said: Hello come
over and take a drink with me-" The
response that came from that invita-
ton was spontaneous. All sorts of
voices mixed in the hubbub from the
high tenor to the baSSo profundo.
Voices with Celtic accent and voices
without: a perfect babel Of voices came
tiying over the wire. They We're unani-
NOUS on one thing. however. they
would all come. oh. yes. they'd be
right over.
such a generous response from the
multitude when the invitation had only
been extended to a few staggered the
owner OF the keg. Pretty soon the rush
started his way. Talk about Mrs. Park
ington trying to sweep back the At
lantic ocean with a broom. it was moth
ing to this rush. Even the famous
charge of the Light Brigade. when they
came to collect the gas bill. was a tame
affair side of ii.
At first they came in dozens, then in
squads. then in platoons. and the
paighbOrs want to know if he was run
ming a free dispensary. The key stood
the onslaught for some little time
when it gradually gave forth a WheeZy
asthmatic sound. reminding the by
stGrderS that the spirit was about tC
depart. Those who had come early ant
avoided the rush. We're too full for ut
terance while the late corners who
were obliged to stand hardly got {
sight of the key.
Had there been an election in Au
eusta that day. the young man with
the miniature barrel would have beer
elected without a dissenting vote. FOL
he was the most popular man in tn.
county. He says the telephone is
great invention. but he had no idea i
was so far reaching. He thought it wa!
more local.
He was not surprised to get respOns,
from the outskirts of Augusta or ever
from the classic city of Hallowell. bu
when it came sto recognizing a frien,
of his over the wire from Camden
whose voice never had been manicured
he was surprised. He thinks abou
nine tenths of all the law abiding cit
liens and their families We're waitin:
around with their tongues hanging on
for that telephone call.
He says he is awful sorry the drough
struck his keg. and when he feels hi
heart expanding again he proposes L
get an option on a brewery before call
ing the people from labor to refresh
ments and he will then see that non
go away dissatisfied.