Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
CITY DISCOVERER
MEETS A PEACH

This other afternoon the City Dlscoverer.
while stroiling through Rock Creek Park
| on of his long and favorite ram
bles. saw coming toward him elderly
| gentleman. simply and correctly clad. and
| of extremely benevolent appearance.
Goodness" thought tho Dlscoverer. Wis
| lbiy impressed by the strangers appear
ance. II wonder who that Is. He looks
like a kind-hear,ed phIlanthropist.
| thought 1 knew all the great men In the
| city. but was probably mistaken. l won
der IL he win return my bow"
But the Discoverer didn't have chance
| to and out for when the stranger ap
preached a little nearer he paused and
smiled encouragingiy. Can you tell me-
| he inquired In a pleasant voice. where
there Is nice, quiet spot around here?"
Certainly replied tho Discoverer. II
! often stroll out this way" And he led tho
| benevolent looking stranger to shaded
bench by the roadside.
| Thank you" said the stranger courte-
| ously. as he sat down and opened one OF a
NUMBER OF volumes that he had been carry
| Ing under his arm. But trust you VIII
remain. You will not disturb me IN the
| least. have to make one OF two extern
poraneous speeches in the course or n week
| or ten days and l am a little short OF ma
| terial.''
The City Discoverer. nothing ioath. sat
down beside the benevolent looking stran-
ger. who was soon deep In one OF his
| books.
Are you studying up on any particular
subject? inquired the D.scoverer after a
| time, his curiosity nightly aroused.
Not at ALL replied the bene yolent-look
| Ing stranger in surprised tone. THAT
| isn't in my line l am merely letting my
humor browse. as 1t were. among these
valued works"
| DO you mind telling me what they are?'
/ inquired the Discoverer. somewhat embar-
| raised at his own temerity.
Not at all, said the stranger gtaciously.
| This volume / have In my hand is one OF
NY treasures. l really don't know what
l should do without IL. Ii was written by
one Joseph Miller and contains some merry
! quips. One OF them has to do with the
| motives that actuate hen in crossing
| the hghway-but IN not go into details.
| This battered looking volume in blue Is the
work or one Diogeres. and records his
search for honest man. 1t il rather
| amusing. as you can imagine. This large
| book with the paper cover Is by one VIII
| liam Nye, since deceased. while this more
pretentious volume in half calf entitled
| The Autobiography Of a Chestnut is from
my own pen"
| Il should like ever SO much to read It,"
| suggested the City Discoverer, gazing at
| the seif-proclaimed author with wide open
| eyes.
| Il will send you copy" said the benev-
| will also find railroad pass at the end
| of chapter fourteen.
| But" began the Discoverer. Il SO sell
! dom travel that
Tut tut interrupted the benevolent
| looking stranger; what difference does
that make? 1t doesn't cost me anything"
| Are you a professional humor.st?" in
Quired the Discoverer. after a pause
Not at an.' replied the stranger with
| benevolent smile. although | have the
| happy faculty of treating most things light
! Iy. 1 remember quite a number OF years
! ago a prominent financer. at the head of
| one Of the biggest companies In New York.
| offered me fine position. The company
| OF which 1 am the head will pay you
| you must earn it My. but how / did
| laugh-after l had accepted and he had
gone!"
II am afraid" said the City Discoverer.
! with a puzzled frown. that l don't see
al ything very funny in that"
"Why.it was this way" replied the be-
ntvolent- looking, stranger: Laughing heart cart.
$1,000 ever since and I've never done any
thing to earn it
oh" murmured the Discoverer. he
gazed at the MISUNDERSTANDING stranger In
an aZement.
And some years after that" continued
| the stranger with a chuckle, some small
fry capitalists came to me and asked if
| they might name a land-improvement com
pany after me-for consideration. / told
| them they might-and goodness. how L did
Let gh."
Il regret" said the City Discoverer. that
I don't quite the point to that. either
Why" replied the MISUNDERSTANDING
stranger. Il told them they might use my
rame if they desired, but of course knew
all the time that the company wasn't
sound. My gracious but that was joke
81 see" said the City Discoverer gravely.
Later" continued the stranger. with an
other series of chuckles. 1.-THE promoters
CO me to me and suggested a way of raising
a quarter of a million dollars. Didn't that
! amuse me"'
why YVES that so funny?" inquired the
Just because knew" replied the benev-
oier t-looking stranger. that II they ever
borrowed any money they would never pay
IL back"
II understand" said the Discoverer edg-
ing away to one corner of the bench.
ITO he brief" continued the stranger
after pause to recover his breath, Il
promised TO raise the money for them. so
I went to the comnany which employed me
at salary of $4,000 year. 10 protect its
interests. and asked for a loan Of quarter
of a million. Offering the property of my
nanesake company as security. Pom my
sc ul. I could hardly keep straight face
why was that?" inquired the Discoverer
patiently.
Individual as he nearly choked with mirth
because the securities l pledged weren't
woi tn a contir entail.
II see," said the DiScoverer In a dazed
sort of way.
Later" cont.r ued the stranger. hopping
his face between chuckles, some of the
officials of the company must have sus-
pected something. for they came to me and
asked about the loan. And what do you
81 Dpose | told them"
"I can't imagine" replied the Discoverer
YEARLY
'Why" said the benevolent-lookng
stranger hilariously, II told them that TX
my namesake company didn't settle ! would
paw tn. quarter of n million myself. BY
the shade of Joe Miller. but that was the
best Joke of all"
''Why" inquired the Dscoverer as he
chung to one corner of the bench and
stared at the stranger through his gold
rim med glasses.
because the promise wasn't legally bind
ing and 7 had no intention OF keeping It"
rerlied the henovelent-looking stranger, as
he laughed long and loud.
Sir said the City Discoverer, as he rose
hurriedly from the bench and prepared TO
depart 81 have been edited to a remark
able degree by my conversation with YOU.
,,a,, lripdi-. fell ne who Won -