West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-06-27
DOES HONESTY PAY
SUBJECT DISCUSSED BY THE
JERICHO DEBATING SOCIETY.
Pap Perkins, the Postmaster, Tells How
the Organization was Started and
How II Came 10 an Untimely and
Inglorious End.

that evenin he come over to the postof6ce
and made speech and started the bali
roilin. week later the society had its
first meetin. There was a hot time fur
about an hour. OF the 30 men present &c
wanted to be president. but after awhile.
and by putin in two votes In fur himself.
the squar was duly elected Deacon
| Spooner was made referee, and the other
Offices wasn't struggled after to any ex.
tent. There wasn't any debatin at the
hrst meeiiu. but Squar Joslyn made a
| speech OF acceptance which raised the
price OF butter in Jericho 10 cents a pound.
After sayin that he wouldn't exchange
places with the president of the United
States he began with the year $50 B. C.,
and the way he come whirlin along down
10 the year 1900 made the glass In the
windows rattle He excited the crowd as
he hit Nero brought applause as he touch.
ed on Columbus, and when he got through
with Washington there wasn't no holdin
Enos Williams, and Jonas Bebee and
Aaron Bradshaw was in tears. After the
speech was over Elder Spooncr 6ggered IL
up and declared that the squar had made
~ different pints in his grafton. which was
four p'ints more than Demosthenes or
| Cicero had ever made.
The subject fur de bate at the next meet
in was Does Honesty Pay3" The number
on the affirmative and negative side was
about even. and Ebenezer White was ap.
pointed to lead off and tell how honesty
paid him. Each speaker was to be limited
to ten minits. Ebenezer had been thinkin
it over fur three OF four days. and when he
got up he began with:
"FoleT me back to the DAYS of Iulius
! Cesar When Caesar was young man of
"a, he hadn't dollar to his name and no
show to strike job. He had about made
up his mind to commit suicide when he
foun6a five dollar goldpiece in the road
His FIRST thought was to use the money to
start in business, but IL was only tempta.
tion. His honest wouldn't permit such a
thing. He went around inquirin who had
lost Ss and at length found the owner. and
the owner took a likin to him and pushed
him along until he was finally made
king"
That's one tally mark fur the affirmative
side, said the deacon as the speaker sat
down, "and decide that Ebenezer -has
made five p'ints. We will now hear from
Jonas Bebee on the negative side"
"Foller me back to the days OF Julius
Cesar" began Jonas as he rose up.
Il object! protested EbenezeI. Hav-
in follered me back, the meetin can't foller
| Jonas. appeal to the referee"
| Il shall have to overrule the objection. q"
said the deacon. I'VE follered Ebenezer
back. and we must give Jonas jest as good
a show. IL he's got ANYTHING new about
| Julius Caesar, we'd like TO hear IT,"
| when Caesar was young man OF a.
he hadn't dollar to his name" continued
| Jonas "and, though he offered to dig out
stumps fur IS cents day, lie couldn't hit
! job. He had made up his mind TO hang
himself when he found a stray mewl in the
woods. lie knew he ought to advertise the
mewl and restore him to his owner but
dishonesty carried the day. He sold the
critter to the FIRST man who would buy. and
with the ga he received he went into pol.
itics and pushed along until he finally be.
came 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 a good time and died Iamcnted by
all"
That's a tally mark on the negative
side" said the deacon. and the p'ints
\ seem to be about even"
But whar did Jonas git his facts2' asks
Ebenezer.
"Whar did you cit yours2" asked Jonas
in reply.
The deacon said tho speakin had best
continue, and he called upon Aaron Brad
shaw. who was on the affirmative side, fur
| his argument.
"Foller me back to the days Of Julius
Cesar" 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.
I've got to give Aaron affair show" re.
piled the deacon. III he wants to be foller.
ed back to the days Of Julius Caesar. this
society has got to tag along behind him
It's rather Gurus coincidence that the
three OF you want to be follered back TO
the same man. but that's none Of my busi.
ness. Go on. Aaron
Aaron went on. He had IL that Cesar
was poor and out Of a job and discouraged
when he happened TO find diamond ring
in a mudhole. lie could have got an ad.
vance Of $50 on IL alta pawnbrokers. but
he actually went hungry fur three days
while huntn up the loser. Struck by such
display Of unsel6sh honesty. the owner
presented him with szs, took him under his
wing and in time made him king
That's another tally fur the affirmative
said the deacon, and guess ~ give
Aaron the same number Of p1nts as the
rest Alvin Bidweli. OF the negatives. is
hitchin around in an anxious way. and
weli hear what he's got to say In favor Of
dishonesty"
"Foller me back to the days Of Julius
Cgsar.' began Alvin in his ramblin voice
but thar was yells and whoops and pro-
tests from Ebenezer Jonas and Aaron
ITS a Gurus coincidence. G'H admit.
said the deacon when he could be heard
but don't see how we kin help but foller
Alvin back II he insists upon it. Every.
body must have a fair show Alvin. hadn't
you as lief be follcred back TO the garden
Of Eden or Dan'l in the lions DEM"
Alvin stuck fur julius Caesar and went
ahead. lie found Julius poor and dis
| couraged and livin on turnips and he re-
lated how the young man sat down and
thought it al over and then decided 10
steal hog lie stole one. sold him for e.
doubled his money on boss race and
hnaily made a name and place for himself
Had he continued TO be honest he would
have starved to death and been buried az
the expense Of The town. His dishonesty
enabled him to become king and to do good
60 millions
The tallies are even 80 fur" said the
deacon as Alvin sat down. and wen now