Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-02-20
AN OLD
TREE
VIII Not Bear Trans.
planting
By MARTIN GoLDTHwAITE

I9 By MARTIN GoLDTHWAITE 3
| l9~o~o~o~o@o~o oo@o~o~o@o~o%o
The nineteenth century made some
wonderful changes IN personal respon
sibllity. During the early part OF 1t,
whether or not there was more inner
ent honor among men, 1t was necessary
to leave great deal to the honor Of in
dividuals. An exercise Of anything
keeps 1t alive. When 1t Is dormant II
Is liable to retrograde. 1t was not till
1860 or thereabouts that the punch
system for fare collectors on railroads
and street cur lines was introduced
and the companies made the public
their agents, informing them OF the
conductors duties. 1t was one OF these
notices posted in a street car that
gave rise to Mark Twain's celebrated
doggerel:
A pink trip slip for an eight cent fare.
A blue trip slip for six cent fare,
A bun trip slip for five cent fare.
Punched In the presence Of the passengere
Punch, brothers, punch; punch with care.
Punch in the presence Of the passengere'
Then. too. the merchant Of the earl.
part Of the nineteenth century consid
cred 1t a disgrace to fail in business
He had inherited from his ancestors
the tradition that in monetary trans
actions he could only maintain q re,
spected position among his fellow me-
by paying dollar for dollar. Many a
man of that time died Of broken
heart not entirely because Of the loss
| of his wealth, but the loss Of his honor
These illustrations could be added ad
libitum, but the two mentioned will
suffice to give the younger members OF
the community today an idea Of those
times when there were no patent de-
vices for insuring honesty.
When the war between the states
broke out Ned Carleton, boy OF hf'
teen, enlisted. though he was three
years under the required age, and
marched south with his regiment. Aft
er the battle of Shiloh he was reported
missing and was dropped from the reg.
mental roster. His family mourned
him as dead.
In the year 1900 man giving bis
| name as Judson MacIntyre called
upon an oculist to save the sight Of one
| of his eyes. The oculist after a mum
ber of visits on the part Of the patient
| discovered that he was suffering from
q depression at a certain point In bis
skull. causing a pressure on the optic
nerve, and recommended trepanning
the part. MacIntyre was operated
on by a surgeon and the moment he
became conscious after the passing OF
the effect of the anaesthetic cried out,
rising to n sitting posture:
"Stand fast, boys! We're drivin' 'em."
Don't excite yourself" said the sur.
geon gently forcing the patient down
on his back.
"Oh, see," said MacIntyre, look
Ing about him, i've been hit. I'm In
hospital, suppose"
"The operation has been successful.
You'll be all right very soon."
"Did We lick 'em?"
click whom?"
"The Confederates."
Those about the patient looked at
one another as much as to say. Hes
out of his head"
"You must keep quiet, Mr.. Mac1n-
tyre" said the surgeon.
"MacIntyre! who are you talking
to? My names not MacIntyre; I'm
Ned Carleton Of the Indiana volun-
teers."
And 80 he was. For forty years a
pressure OH his brain, occasioned by
wound In the head, had made him OBJ
livious to his existence for the first
fifteen. years of his life. How he had
come to assume another name he
didn't quite remember, but during four
deca des he had lived under that name.
But he had not lived in America. BIS
earliest remembrance was Of Australia.
though how he got there he didn't
know. He had been sailor part OF
the time since he began his second
eas ;enre. while the rest had been spent
as sheep herder.
And now Carleton, fifty-fve years Old
having recovered from the operation.
was obliged to 90 out into the world
and earn a living. He had been well
educated for boy Of fifteen and wrote
an excellent hand. He went about ap-
plying for a clerkship. Everywhere
he applied he was received with sur
prise.
1--WE don't hire any one Of your age
for a clerk" he was told. I'VE pre-
fer very young men,"
I'm a good penman. Can't you give
me some copying to do?"
"TypewritingT
"Typewriting! What's that?"
THAT young lady will explain Ii to
you." pointing to girl clicking ma
thine.
The poor fellow, taking up as he did
The thread Of life from the age Of six
teen. did not apply for mans work.
One day Carleton. being kindly re
ceived by a benevolent looking gentle
man. told the man his story. eliciting
a great deal of interest
~ will do what can for you." said
the gentleman. I'VE need collector.
How would you like that positionT
"Glad to get anything" said Carle.
ton. "and I'm sure you will find me
honest. I'll not pocket my collections"
The gentleman did not seem impress
ed with that phase Of the case. but he
gave Carleton the position. naming
his salary at SO a week. Carleton
was surprised.
"Do you mean. Mr.. Gregory" he
asked. "that | am to be trusted to
collect funds for you and be paid only
$40 q week? II seems to me that you
need trustworthy person for that
service. and q trustworthy person
should command more money"
'Oh, We don't take any account Of
honesty. There are insurance CON-
panies who attend to that"
"And II appropriate the funds col
iect"'
'.They will secure your arrest and
put you In jail."
Carleton looked ut the man In an
constituent
do you think, Mr.. Gregory, that to
deny a man your confidence Is con.
ducive TO honestly"