Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-30
qhe Strange Experience Of an
Obituary editor

CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER iii,
AT six the next morning Van was
aroused by the mot alone" feeling, and
there, at his bed side was Harmonious
the Shade, usher to the past.
Arise, put on thy raiment, for we
must go. Whittier now, Friend?n
Where am [ at? 1 have that next
morning feeling minus the dark brown
taste. | must take up collection of my
thoughts.n
New York City; year 1860; Greeley;
interview; 61S liars. Come; arouse;
times up; decidev'
In seeking wisdom, one must go to
the wisdom factories-the press" quoth
Van. "Put me in connection with
Benjamin Franklin"
One pass of the wand and the scene
changes.
Van Zant was indeed strange object
to look at. On his head was three
cornered or cooked hat; long, swal-
low tailed coat, pair of knee breeches
and coarse shoes with huge silver buck
les concluded his wearing apparel. He
was walking up Chestnut street in the
city of Philadelphia November q, 1873.
Stopping a small boy he inquired the
way to the Gazette office:
1t was small building of single
room, entering which Van observed a
man on his knees trying to patch up a
broken beam of a wooden press that to
VANS eyes looked like an old fashioned
bedstead. The man was easily recog-
nized by his likeness as seen on the old
postage stamps.
Franklin commenced to apologize for
his appearance by saying he was editor,
proprietor, pressman and devil, having
recently purchased the Gazette, and it
was not in good running order yet.
Offering Van the only stool in the
office he got tab of paper and COM
menced to pump him for items for the
Gazette.
Van started in to tell of the head-on
collision at Casey and about our fellow
l townsman's new auto car; then remem-
bering where he was, wound up by OBJ
serving that Farmer Jones' COW had a
I fine Durham calf, and that it was rum
ored that one of the Gluckson girls was
about to be married.
After thanking Van for this import
1 ant rural news, he looked at the sun
dial and said it was about time to
b come off to chew and invited Van to
lunch.
They started down Chestnut street
and Ben reached into his voluminous
coat-tail pockets, fished up a loaf OF
black bread, handing Van the generous
zhalf, they proceeded to dine en- route
After walking few blocks they ar
rived at the common where curious
scene presented itself to Van. There
s seated on bench with his feet securely
I fastened through two holes in a board,
1 his hands through two more, and his
i head through fifth hole was a man in
stocks. Above his head was placard
: that informed the public of the offense
committed. 1t read as follows:
ITO Whome lit may Concerne: V
Rculprit is condemned to We stocks fol
4three hours & then hee is to be whipt
@for flching We ancient literary gemn
and claiming vt as his owne as follows
Little Asahel he has left us; he has
clumb We golden stairs, &c. 1e culprit1
has been repeatedlie warnd, but It'll
Il availd not
Vans query was answered before ht
chad asked question. He must go back
into the more distant past.
After gazing on the poor wretch for {
4 few minutes, and refusing an invitation
h Sfrom the town crier to witness thu
whipping, Van and Ben returned to thu
Gazette office, Ben to complete his worl
on the bedstead press, and Van to writ,
few editorials on electricity in Which
he described the dynamo, trolly cars
electric lighting and wireless teleg
raphy, after which he babe Franklin
good bye and departed.
To say that b. Franklin was surpris
ed when he opened VANS budget ant
read his editorials was shown by hi
actions. He simply wrote with piec'
of charcoal across the page "Bug-house'
and consigned the Culture of Electric
ity' to the waste basket.
1t was in reflective mood in which
Van started to take in the sights of TIN
old Quaker town. There Were no stree
cars, no paved streets, and everythin,
was so quiet that it seemed like tn
Sabbath Day in Zira.
Observing a sign "Ye Star & Carte
Inn Van went in and was ordering
substantial meal from the host, when
voice at his elbow observed: make i
two, for / also would replenish the de
partment of the INTERIOR And Their
seated by his sidewas Harmonious.
Mine Host was surprised that din
ner for two should be placed before
select party of one, but the sight of
golden crown made him stit1e the wit
ticism about to be uttered, and he eve
smiled when Van ordered two beds.
In the morning, after much delibera
ton, Van decided to try the press one
more and asked to be escorted to tn
presence of the father of printers-Jo oh
Gutenberg.
CHAPTER Nv.
In a garnet in the old town of Mentz
Germany, behind door doubly bolte
and barred, was man of middle age
his beard was white and hung to hi
girdle, giving him the appearance of
patriarch. He was in towering pa!