The Republican journal., 1908-05-14
RENEWED HIS SUBSCRIPTION.

III lie came INTO Lne OlllCe W sup Hlo
paper. The editor could read his pur-
pose at a glance-shuff1ing gait, shlfty
look, hesitating, apologize, yet lll-con-
cealed disfavor. He was tall, lank, lean,
slouchy, ill-kempt, and his whole
appearance suggested forced sale OF
house lacking modern convenlences.
H. had that logged, sulen look OF non
intelligent persons who dare not think
for themselves and whose mental ca
pacities are limited to the assimilation
sip.
'I'll pay for the time I've had the
paper, and | guess you may as we'll
stop it. We take more papers now
than I've got time to read, and"
every WE'LL" said the editor pleasant
". cutting short the usual explanation.
'sOf course you don't want to take any
paper that ever expresses views con-
tTary to your own"
81 en- git along without it.
"Do you regulate your subscription
to other periodicals on the same prln-
ciple?" inquired the editor.
"Other papers don't have nothing to
say on how things are run i'll this
town" was the reply.
$50 you think a local newspaper
should never discuss public interests
They shouldn't if they can't discuss
'em right"
''That means according to the varied
notions of each lnhabltant OF the
town." suggested the editor.
"Right's right and wrongs wrong,
snapped the long. lank individual.
'And anybody who holds views differ
eut from your own must necessarily be
wrong. Is that lt?'
Things amt right-the town amt
run right. You know it as well as do.
Nothing is run right. The whole lot of
'em is a set of rascals," was the sullen
response of the man who stopped his
paper. There amt man in town
who knows anything There amt one
of 'em I'd trust, and ! amt afraid to
tell 'em so neither" he added, showing
his change viciously into his pocket
and starting for the door. Still he lin
gered with his hand on the knob hurl-
ing invectives upon the heads OF mis-
fellow toWnsmen.
"If you intend to serve notice upon
people in town that you can have no
| business dealings with them because
they hold opinions of their own, you had
| better be moving" finally suggested
the exasperated editor glancing at the
! clock.
Just the same, / amt got no use for
your paper nor you neither" he NUT
tered sIannming the door after him as
| he went out.
Three months later the editor glanced
up from his desk and saw before him
the man who stopped his paper. He
appeared thinner and leaner than ever,
but there was hungry, sad, subdued
look in his eyes, telling a story OF suf-
fering and sorrow that invited instant
compassion.
81 want to thank you for putting in
your paper what you did about my
my wife" and the poor man choked
backed sob as he accepted the editors
sympathetic clasp of hand. Folks has
ben mighty good to US while she was
sick and-afterwards. And I'd like to
have you put in little card of thanks
you know how to write it-and-and
l guess you'd better send along the
paper again. She missed it after | had
it stopped miss it too" and after a
few more broken words the bereaved
husband took his sorrowful way out
of the office, quietly closing the door
after him.
For many minutes afterwards the
editor leaned back in his chair softly
Illuminating upon the peculiar phases OF
human existence upon this mundane
sphere and the many strange ways his
tory has of repeating itself. But ne
heaved tremendous sigh as he again
took his pen in hand to write card OF
thanks for the man who renewed his
subscription.