The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-10

was tbe patriarch OF them all II cant
find no cloyen hoof prints In the
snow"
"All over II, sirr' cried the cynic.
"All over Il, Old Satan loves tricks
like this. Here's town that's jest one
squlrmln' mass Of lies and envy and
vice and wickcdness and corruption.
"iiold ong' exclaimed Colonel Fit
croft. That's slander upon our
heartbs and our government Why.
when | was In the councIl'
"ft wasn't biz worse them" Mr..
Arp returned unreasonabiy. "Iest You
look how the devil fools III. lie drops
down this here virgin mantle on ca
naan and makes II look M good an yo'i
pretend you think II is--as good AZ
the Sunday school room Of u country
church, though that'--hc went OF on a
tangent venomonsly - ZIG generally
only another whi,ed sepulcher, and the
superintendent mighty upt TO have n
bottle OF whisky hid behind the organ
and
look here. Eskew." said Jonas Ia.
bor. "thats got nothIn' 10 do with
"Why Amt IN Answer met cried
Mr.. Arp. continuing without pause:
"why amt ~ Can't you wait Ill !
git throughf You listen 10 me and
when I'm ready Ill listen to-
"Sce here" teRan the colonel. max
Ing himself heard over three others. u
want TO ask YOU.
"So, SIR" Mr.. Arp pounded the
iioor irascibly with his hickory stick
"Don't you ask me anything. How can
you tell that I'm not going 10 answer
your question without your asking II
I'LL I've got through You listen first.
I say, here's a town Of nearly 10000
Inhabitants. every Last one OF EN-
men, women and children selfish and
cowardiy and sinful IL you could see
their inncrmost natures; town OF the
ugiiest and worst built houses In the
world aud governed by lot OF saloon
keepers, though | hope it'il never git
| down 20 where the ministers can run
II. Aud the dcvIl comes along aud In
one night--wby, all you got to do Is
look at II! You'd think we needn't
ever trouble TO make II better, That's
what the devil wants us TO do wants
US 10 rest easy about II and paints II
up 10 look like heaven Of peace and
purity and sanctlticd spirits. Snowfall
angel out of doors and say that the old
home was good enough for him. Go
morrah would OF looked like n Puritan
village. though I'll bet my last dollar
that there was lot, and whole lot,
that's never been told about Puritan
villages. A lot that
what never wasT interrupted sir,
| Peter Bradbury, whose granddaughter
had lately announced her discovery
that the Bradburys were descended
from Miles Stnndish. What WASH I
told about Puritan villagesf"
Cant You waltz" Mr.. Arp's ac'
cents were those OF pain. Haven't |
got any right 10 present my side OF the
case? Amt we restrained enough TO
allow OF free speech here? How can
we ever Git anywhere in an argument
| like this unless we let one man talk at
a time? How
go on with your statement said
Uncle Joe Davey impatiently.
Mr.. Arp's grievance was increased.
"Now, listen to you! How many more
Interruptions are comm? I'll listen to
the other side. but I've got to state
mine first, haven't /? II don't make
my point clear, what's the use OF the
argument? Augmentation Is only the
comparison of two sides OF ii question
and you have to see what the first side
Is before you can compare 1t with the
other one, don't you? Are you all
agreed to that"
"Yes, yes" said the colonel. "Go
ahead. We won't interrupt until you're
through"
The argument grew heated Halt
dozen tidy quarrels arose. All the
sages went at II fiercely except Roger
Tabor, who stole quietly away. The
aged men were enjoying themselves
thoroughly, especially those who quar-
relied. Naturally the frail bark OF the
topic which had been launched was
whlrled about by too many side cur
rents to remain long in sight and soor
became derelict, while the intellectual
dolphins dove and tumbled In the
depths. At the end Of twenty minutes
Mr.. Arp emerged upon the surface, anC
In his mouth was this;
"Tell me, why amt the church-why
amt the church and the rest of th'
believers In a future life lookin fol
Immortality at the other end OF LIE
too? If we're immortal we Away:
have been, Then why don't they evel
speculate on what we were before WI
were born? It's because they're to'
blame selfish; don't care tlapdoodl'
about what was. All they want Is to 81
on llvin' forever"
Mr.. Arp's voice had risen to an acri'
triumphancy, when 1t suddenly falter
ed relapsed to murmur and then to
stricken silence as tall, fat man b
overpowering aspect threw open tn
outer door near by and crossed tn
I AuN