The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-21
FAME.s HIrpEN PERILs.

] lQlOr ne was famous. Having due re-
! gard for the cloth which he wore. and
an almost excessive appreciation of the
momentous significance Of his lie work.
Rev Mr. Delcree bore himself with a
stately dignity which some people mis-
tcck for hateur. He was accustomed 20
edulation. and knew that he was power
ful though humble factor IN the affairs CT
his fellow men. His picture was IN the
newspapers once a week on an average.
Whenever anything happened he was
Interviewed. The governor knew him
veil, and called him dear doctor" The
mayor made practice of consulting him
) upon many topics pertaining 10 public
morals. civic charities and the saloon
evil. When he walked through crowded
streets he often heard men whom he did
not know say: There he goes. That's
the famous reformer. DR. DECREE" He
was popular, too. Except in his hatred
( for alcohol and all pertaining to its bale
fEl traffic, he was recognized as most
wise and moderate man, a reasonable
man. an approachable man. even an ami
able man.
One morning as he was leaving his
house TO catch the train for Boston the
rcstman handed him a postal card ad-
dressed to II. A. Delcres, and bearing
notification that there was a certain ex-
press package. charges prepaid, at a
certain express office. He ahghted from
the street car near the express office and
presented his notification.
Are you NJ. a. Delcree7' asked the
busy clerk.
Yes. sir. I am Rev. ". A. Delcree."
sUaveiy said the DOCTOR
This card don't say anything about
reverend suggested the clerk, peering
cut.
An oversight, I dare say, a business
oversight, my dear sir, replied Mr.. Del
cree, smiling amiabiy.
Maybe il is and maybe it isR't. 1
don't know you. sir
But here's my card fumbling in his
pocket and producing the pasteboard;
I have no time for dily-dsllying. my
good>-sir. I must catch my train"
Cant help it, sir. Cards don't go.
You'll have 20 be identified"
The reverend gentleman was annoyed.
but he smothered his wrath and went
cut on the sidewalk murmuring: IN
see some one l know. / always do" And
he went out upon the sidewalk. scanning
the eager faces that hurried by. He
knew none of them. He walked half
block, slowly threading his way among
the eddying crowds. Nobody seemed 10
krow him. He began to lose his tenn
yer. The clerk, he thought. had been i'm
pertinent. He went back and protested
To the express manager.
DO you know what's in the package,
SIP" asked that official
Il do not. sir. 1 don't even know
whence Ii comes. I get a great many
parcels by mail and express, but they
always go to the rectory. 1 presume RS
sc me trine. some book. perhaps SOME
valueless present from some Of my ad-
mirers. But it's the principle OF the
thing. don't think you have the right
&c withhold my property. It's an impo-
sition. sir L won't stand It! Do you
hear? / won't stand it!'
The reverend gentleman was very angry
row and showed it. The express official
was very cool. and showed it.
Sorry you're annoyed" he said, but
we have 70 maintain our rules. You must
be identified. sir
Mr.. Delcree stamped out into the street
and. glancing at his watch saw that he
had missed his train. Then he resolved
70 stand right there on the sidewalk till
some friend came along He had stared
Into the faces Of the passers-by nearly
twenty minutes before he began to realize.
Y 18th chagrin that he, the Reverend Maui
rice Andrew Delcree. was not perhaps so
we'll known as. he felt his long career
as minister, lecturer, sociologist, philan-
thropist, reformer and teetotaler might
seem TO have merited. True. he might
have walked five blocks to the office of
the mayor himself. and he knew that ur-
bane official would gladly come 20 iden-
tify him. But an obstinate and self
Furnishing desire to know how few, how
very few. of his fellow citizens really
knew him had seized upon him. and he
resolved TO wait.
Then To- His pride. his self-respect, his
vanity. IL he had a quality so fraii, all
srrang again to life. for at that moment
he saw the mayor approaching. arm IN
arm with a stSte senator. They both
knew him. and as he hailed them and
told his predicament they laughed ard
agreed that they'd both Identify him.
THEN. as misfortune comes to some. his
friends came trooping. Three aldermen,
n judge OF the circuit court. the pTesi-
dent OF the board OF public improve
ments. and finally the chief Of police.
TIN be a good Joke. gentlemen" sug-
gested the mayor when they had all stop
ped 10 hear Of DR.. DelcreeNs queer pre-
dicament. Lets all so in and Identity
him"
Even the stately clergyman himself
laughed cayly as he led his distinguished
friends, eight in all. in triumph into that
express office. The manager hoped up
az sight OF so many eminent visitors
hustled about with eager desire TO serve
Il en-. bowed low when his honor ssluted
him, and blushed like a gobbler when
the chief OF police said;
Il come in to identify DR.. Delcree. III
stand for him"
And each in turn repeated che purpose
o. his visit.
I'VE all stand Cor him >" laughed the
mayor. as they went UP to the window
where Or. Delcree signed for the pack
age and was about TO thrust It in his
rocket
Just as a precaution. doctor" sug
gestod the oHiciouS clerk. you'd better
q ter all. Odd name. I know. but you
rever can tell. 1t mightnt be FIVE min
utes before another man would rush IN
here asking for that very parcel
Ny. my. my" laughed DIT Delcree. /
vko was in high good huror. what a (
cautious clerk you have hsre. ut. Man /
ger BY all means let's have the bun
die opened"
But v-hen he had silt open the PASTE (
lizard box and pulled out the contents. /
ey eIyone laughed except the doctor. Il /
was a pint bottle OF iurid colorsd liquid 4
wrapped in a letter.
Dear DEL" said the Scravl. here's a /
few nips Of real Tennessee Enoonshine. I
I know you like Il stree you vas here I
LAST fall. aad you won't squesi. Jabe.
The doctor thrust bottle. box and letter /
lack at The srinning clerk and said. (
Take Il. It's not Tor ne. I'd destroy
the vie stuff II I dared
And IL was uot his. bat sone of those 4
1.tcpxren went away snicksriu-. ard 1
wouldn't believe it.-Jshn Z Raftery.
Getting hcousintec.
Mamma sent me over - ask 4 vcu 4
a. uld let her have 2 cupful ~ coffee tlll 4
&c morrow morning" said the iit;le Eiri
Certainly. reFited THE mother - the 4
2 ui,y that had Just moved In ToE 4
- cur next nUiShbor O. tie north. are
you not