The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-22
Introducing the uncoInViIIe
Philosopher and
His Two Friends.

Copyright, 1903, by Frederick Upham
Adams.
This is old-fashioned winter wealth
err" said Col. Monroe, as he entered
the coy back room of the Lincolnville
! Postoffice. The swirl of snowf1akes
which flurried through the door melt
ed in the heat from a glowing stove.
The colonel stamped his feet, shook
the snow from his broad-brimmed hat
and fur-lined overcoat, and greeted
Judge Sawyer and Postmaster Jen-
kins.
How are you. Judge?" he exclaimed,
shaking hands with Lincolnville's ban
ker and most substantial citizen.
Keep your seat, judge; glad to see
you. Hello. Jenkins; how's the post
master? Your customers will get scant
mail tonight. The station agent says
the road is blocked both directions.
Number 81 is stalled in Redacre's Cut,
the other side of Ridgeway, and the
Eastern Limited is fast in a snowdrift
somewhere between Wayne and Kirk
wood. So you may as we'll take it
/ easy. What's the news, Jenkins?"
Postmaster jenkins thought a mo-
ment and frown lowered the edges
of his thin eyebrows.
Il hear they're going to fire Russell,
the new Methodist preacher" he said,
| shaking down the Goals and raking
back the embers. Did you hear about
| the sermon he preached last Sunday?
| He attacked corporations, trusts and
rich people in general and said this
country was getting in shape for
| Ill to 10 tf1I IN
| France. That's fine talk for a, preach
err; stirring up the masses against
| property rights! Deacon Snow told me
they thought they'd let him go. The
| deacon says he's an anarchist or some
| thing
II heard the Sermon said Col. Mon
roe, lighting a long, black cigar and
| leaning back in his favorite chair.
| You were there too, Judge Sawyer.
| l don't see why Deacon Snow should
! get excited. All he has is a hundred
| and sixty acres of land, $4,000 IN your
! bank and rheumatism in his right leg.
| Parson Russelrs revolutionists will
| never burn his chateau. l didn't think
| much of the sermon myself, but it will
not stir our LincolnVille people to
| bloody revolt. This is not Paris; were
not French, and we have none of the
| conditions which brought about the
| Revolution of 1889. But why muzzle
preacher Russell? He's honest in his
| opinions. He will arouse interest and
stimulate study and discussion of our
new problems. It's never safe to gag
a parson.'
There's too much talk now" de-
clared Postmaster Jenkins. wed bet
ter let well enough alone. If it wasn't
! for the trusts and corporations what
would this country amount to? 1t
wouldn't amount to nothing. Preacher
Russell had better stick to his Bible"
| Il wonder what would happen to our
new minister if he took your advice"
unused Col. Monroe, with a side glance
| at Judge Sawyer. Suppose the rev.
erend Russell preached his sermons
| from such texts as Sell all that thou
hast and distribute to the poor and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven
! There are a thousand texts like that
in the Bible"
But the Bible doesn't really mean
that" interrupted the postmaster Gag
erly. "Mr. Rockefeller has changed the
verse so that it reads: Sell all that
| thou hast that stands between thee
| and Christ, and distribute to the poor
! That's what it really means"
Il hesitate to abandon the good old
| st. James version and take up the
| Standard Oil edition of the good Book"
remarked Col. Monroes "A stock ex-
| change revision would carry more
weight with me. No, Jenkins, the BIZ
| bic means just what it says or it
! means nothing. I've as much right to
| insert my personal creed between the
holy lines as has Mr.. Rockefeller
or any capitalist or preacher.
! But We'll not discuss the Bible. Do
you know why Deason Snow is so VIC
lent in this matter? Well, I'll tell you
l kept my eye on the deacon and 9TH
ers while the preacher was expounding
his views on wealth. And they kept
| their eyes on our banker friend here
! Judge Sawyer. That's a fact, Judge
And l know just what they were think
! ing. You're the richest member of the
church, and they thought the preach
er was hitting at you. And if you say
| the word out goes Preacher Russell