The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-16

same advantage, | felt certain that the
hotel employees would respect my re-
quest. l stood back n watched the
others struggle and scheme. \ Tar
Heel judge, n elevated 10 a judgeShip
during the days Of the fusionistS,
touched the clerk on the shoulder and
informed him in a whisper as follows:
Il am Judge SO and So. In assigning
rooms 10 not lose sight of the fact that
l do not belong 70 the common herd"
at the same time giving a sweep Of
the hand, indicating hat he mcant
me and all the rest. I could not re-
frain from laughing 10 myself, fo~ I
had just made my speech, which went
something like this: Now, young fell
low, you look out for me. I am a
pen pusher for The Charlotte Observer,
am president of the Red Haired Club Of
Mecklenburg. am the eX-captain of the
Providence Busters. a Providence town
ship base ball team, Il the one-time
champion lightweight wrestler OF my
baIiwick.'
l liked my e%loquence till the judge
came along. He put me out. It was
then and there that l realized for the
first time in my life that 1 belonged TO
the common herd. I had always lived
as II l were one of the being as it is
you class. Such IS our mortal exist
ence. Taken collectively. we make up
the common herd, but at times The in
diVldual considers him or herself n
of the elect. The WrightSville hotel
clerk was a careful student of human
nature. He agreed to anything and
did just as he pleased. That night the
learned law giVer rested in a two by
o sWelter-bOX of a room, all by him
self, while myself and four others filled
five beds in one big room and enjoyed
the gentle sea breezes. We We're crowd
ed, but comfortable.
"Bein as it's you, Ill do this or that,
declared the kind man. He was pre-
pairing then to soak his innocent Mr..
You between the eyes. But that is the
salt for the birds tail. It Will work
every time. A fellow likes to be sin
gled out and will submit to being skim
ned alive if the skinner will only say:
My dear good fellow. I would not
think of doing this for any living man
but YOU
Why are the Jews such successful
traders? They either soft soap or frigh-
ten you into a deal. They can rub their
hands and say: You vas de only
pebble. Take dat suit home mid you"
The conceit in man is great. We all
have it. Arouse a mans vanity and
o can handle him. Why is it that
politicians tickle the babies under the
chins n pronounce them beautiful if
they are as ugly as mud pies?
How many of US aver regard mo ad-
a., -
ahead and say to ourselves: That
was intended for the common herd: not
for us" We ignore such things and
feel sorry for the fellow who cannot
do likewise.
In other words, we see notes in our
~neighbor's eye, but cannot see the beam
in u own. One morning, not long
ago, as I sat in a west bound train and
travelled through the country in Round
Knob county, l heard two men behind
me discuss the North Carolina noun
taineer. They We're rather severe on
him, asserting, among other things, that
he was ignorant and vicious. At first
l thought of denying the allegation but
finally decided TO listen further and de-
termine whether the maligners were
| worth the trouble. | kept my ears open
till I heard one of them sey: 4 bet
there are people here who V seen a
book"
That was enough. AS soon as he
| said seen for saw I dismissed him
from my mind and dreame Of better
days. for l knew tina he could do no
harm.
Many years ago a North Carolinian
who had. at one time, been a judge,
went to Washington for a short visit.
He put up at the National Hotel. After
he had registered he begun TO lay
claims to special attention. Among
other things he said: L was some years
| ago a judge in my state. Give me the
best you have" That is the same argu-
ment: 4 do not belong to the COMMON
| herd"
Preachers, as a rule, are too indiffer-
| ent TO customs, rules and regulations.
| Many Of them act as though they had
| special rights and privileges. Within
| less han a week l have seer a gentle
man arrayed in long coat and white
tie, step ahead Of a line of callers at
the gentleral delivery window Of a post
office n ask for his mail. He turned
away without apOlogizing. He did not
belong to the common herd. Recently
a parson took my seat on the train.
My luggage was in there and other
seats equally as good and comfortable
We're to be had. When l appeared and
looked l~ongingly at my seat the elected
intruder showed but slight inclination
TO move. ! got another seat. Il was
my place to do it, for l belonged TO tbs
common herd.
We go through the world looking FOL
special faVors, we know lot why. but i
is true. We get up in the morning
fresh from a nights sleep and rest ant
switch by people Of the common herd
We say: Il am Jones, the best shoe
salesman in the land" Il. Joe Smith
can play the fiddle at a country froli,
= Lat..r -h.n- --.Lalr- L.. :, . N ID rs0r