Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06

Once there was a man named Jerry
jenkins who was very bitter against the
world. His full name was jeremiah
Jenkins. according to the preface to the
family bible. but as he never had seen
1t spelled that way he was none the
wiser. Jerry was one of those self-ap-
pointed individuals who converted himself
to the creed that there was nothing good
in the world. He was the king-Dee OF
pessimism. The one particular star that
always was worthy Of posing for the be-
fore-taking picture. He was always up
against the real thing. he thought. and
he did a rag-tirne cakewalk to the bad.
One dav he went to church just to please
his wife He fumed and fretted six hours
beforehand to prepare especially for the
occasion. He tried to be as unpleasant as
possible. He got up at six o'clock and
imagined all kinds cf hard things to him
self. When he got to church ne nau
his kick thoroughly rehearsed. he
wouldn't carry any money so ne Woulo
have an opportunity to say how emoar-
raising IL was to be dunned in public
when he was broke But they didn't take
nm anv collection that day. Everything
nieasant possible seemed to happen Inc
sermon was so short Jerry lodged when
tho minister said finally and shut the
bible. In the meantime Jerry was busy
irving to find something to kick ABOUT
He got very busy, but things were '0o
pleasant. l.. .t,otr
carriage and he didn't have to ride back
wards. either. When he got nome ne
was very mad because nothing had nap
nened to make him mad. He hurr1ed
to the mirror, and tried 10 loon
unpleasant. He was so AFRAID ne
might smile that he smelt the emil
bottle NIT
had taste in his mouth. But try as hard
as he could he found everything pleas
ant and agreeable Some fiendish servant
had nut cologne in an empty cough Dot
tie. ,,z ,,o-5
and Uristfully into the growing t"lhshI
for something TO happen, but there was
nothing doing. The nurse broke her RUE
tbaT dsv and decided to keep the children.
Srhts MT Terry out of business. He had
intended 10 make a ten-strike when ms
wife should tell him it was their DAY 10
nurse. Nursing to Jerry was ike IL is 10
all other men. He frequently mnlcteu
most terrible cruelties upon himseI Dy
working over time to escape the ordeal OF
kindergartening. Whenever ne IeIt hihnset
Getting cheerful or looking on the bright
side of life he Just reminded himself that
another Sunday was coming. Thus II
was that he found an ever-abiding inspi-
ration to cudgel his faith in his creed Of
pessinisal. -.
Almost despairing in the hope that
something unpleasant would happen, Jer-
nv betook himself to his wife's room and
offered to discuss his finances or any
thing else unpleasant she might suggest.
She proposed that they visit some OF
their friends who considered Jerry neg
lectful of his social duties. Jerry almost
smiled at the very unpleasantness OF the
task. Go? Yes. Why hadn't he thought
of it sooner! How delightfully."- dingy 1t
would be to sit like statue for the
hours and hear women tell OF automobiles
and Tam O'Shanter caps and the latest
curve in French cOrsets and the proper
style of fondling dog Glorious idea
thought Jerry. and he frowned his hard
est. looked his sourest and inwardiy
prayed that he could be quieter. cooler
and more Indifferent to things and people
than he had ever been in his life before.
But it was an. evil hour for him. At the
last moment his wife backed out. She
said she would telephone. Then Jerry