Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
CITY DISCOVERER
FINDS HONESTY

One pleasant afternoon last week the City
Discoverer was journeying homeward after
one of his long and favorite rambles when
| he came upon young. dark-mustached
stranger standing on little knoll by the
roadside. gesticulating and declaiming at a
| great rate. The Discoverer stopped to wit
ness the strangers Evolutionary efforts.
| when the young man climbed the fence and
advanced toward him.
Good afternoon" said the City Discov-
erer pleasantly. beaming on the stranger
through his gold-rlmmed glasses.
1T Is not a good afternoon" replied the
young man. vehemently, rolling cigarette
with great skill and rapidity. THE world
is full of crime and trouble. OF blackmaii
and graft. OF dishonesty and double deal
ing
The City Discoverer stared. II have
been told he suggested timidiy that the
world Is slowly growing better. I am sure
that there are at least a few honest men
on earth today"
The young stranger lighted his cigarette
| and smiled gratefully on the Discoverer.
Thank you ever so much.'' he said. And
you hadn't known me long. either. Yes.
| there are; l should say there are. honest
men in the world. The other one was-but
does you credit"
The Discoverer gazed at the young man
In some amazement. I'm afraid he said,
that / don't Quite
III you insist" said the youthful strang-
er. rolling a fresh cigarette with inconcev-
able rapidity. we'll admit that there is no
other one-at least in the city where live"
Then yours Is a wicked city" suggested
the Discoverer after a pause.
Il should say So said the young man.
lighting his cigarette and putting at it with
great apparent enjoyment. Il should say
so. / tell the people so every time ! get a
chance L am always telling them so. [
never miss an opportunity OF warning them
that everybody is dishonest everybody is "A
CRATER. everybody is a.
why. said the City Discoverer anxious
ly, there must be exception there must
The stranger bowed. Again I must
thank you, he said gratefully. as he rolled
another cigarette with extraordinary clev-
erness. You are gentleman of keen per
ceptions, considering that you have known
me for such short time"
The City Discoverer stared again and
scratched his head.
Yes" continued the stranger, as he
hghted his cigarette. the residents OF NV
city are apathetic: They are accustomed to
scandalous conditions in their civic life and
1t is hard to awaken them. They will not
act. 1t is lamentable."
Surely. suggested the City Discoverer
earnestly. there must be an exception TO
that statement as we'll There must he
some one among the
Sir. said the stranger with a gratihed
smile. you do me great honor I must
again congratulate you on your keen per-
ceptions. Yes. there Is one among MS in
that city who has done all In his power,
who has strained every nerve who has
worn himself out in the good work. Mod
esty forbids my indicating who he Is but
OF course to gentleman Of your keen per
ceptlonS that Is unnecessary
And what" inquired the City Discoverer.
mir has. f1,ie. .,f,,
Great work" responded the stranger
enthusiastically, as he assumed an attitude
favorable for defamation. He has talked
ana talked and talked. i doubt II any man
mas ever talked so much before He has
talked until there is hardly a person i'm
the city who Is not familiar with his views
He talked until he was worn out and as n
result the people of the city elected him to
position of great responsibility, a position
from which he could work to make the city
better. a position that gave him the power
TO punish those guilty of offenses against
the laws
And then what did he do?'' inquired the
Dlscoverer in an interested tone
ihen, said the stranger as he deftly
rolled cigarette, he talked some more
mere was never man who talked SO
much. He told how the laws should be,
obeyed. he named the men who were guilty
of offenses against the laws. and he talked
of how the men should be punished
What did you say he had accomplish d?'.
the DlscoVerer Inquired after a pause
peg your pardon, said the stranger
in a louder tone as he lighted his cigar
cite with wonderful speed and accuracy
i didn't know you were hard of hearing /
mentioned that he talked some more There
was never a man who could talk so much
He told how the laws should be obeyed he
named the men who were guilty of oifenses
against the laws and he talked of now Tho
men should be punished"
on, said the City Dscoverer as he look
ed at the stranger out of the corner of his
Yes" continued the stranger as he struck
an attitude And as a result of All that
he has accomplished and is accomplishing
l am sure that the people of his city know
by this time that there is at least one hon
est man in their midst"
And what will they do when they realize
that?' the Discoverer inquired
Why" replied the stranger 'they will
make him candidate for position of even
greater responsibility-in fact, the highest
position In the gift of the city,"
And what will the one honest man do
them? inquired the Discoverer
why" replied the stranger In a SURPRISED
way "he will talk some more"
And who" inquired the Discoverer tim
Idly. lis that one honest mann"
Really" said the stranger, as he rolled
cigarette, you are a man of most re-
marKabie penetration. 1 most heartily
The City Discoverer wiped his gold
trimmed glasses and sighed.
May ask, he inquired, ''the name of
the one honest man in the city you have re-
ferred to-"
why, Of course, you know already" re-
piled the stranger with smile as he light
ed cigarette with nonchalant ease will
lam Travers Jerome Of New York"
And, began the Discoverer your
name is"
william Travers Jerome" replied the
stranger with q smile and bow
Gracious. said the City Discoverer, as
he trudged homeward, shaking his head
han sauyhn
thought it?'