Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-04-14

was ut Mukden. But l think am
Justified in calling your attention to
ours, Mr.. Peters, the hermit Of Bald
pate mountain. Cooking is merely his
avocation. He is writing a book"
"That guy?" remarked Cargan, In
sredulous.
what do you know about that"'
lsked Mr.. Bland. 1T certainly will
get lot of hot advertising II it ever
appears. It's meant to prove that ali
,he trouble in the world has been caus-
ID by woman"
The mayor considered.
"He's Off-he's nutty, that fellow"
he announced. 1T amt women that
rause all of the trouble"
"Ahem-Mr. Cargan," put in Profess
,or Bolton, you give it as your opin-
lon that woman is no trouble maker,
and l must admit that l agree with
your premise in general, although oc-
rasionally she may cause IA slight
annoyance. gndeniably, there is a lot
Of trouble in the world. To whose ef.
tOrts do you ascribe it?"
The mayor ran his thick fingers
through his hair.
II got you." he said, "and l got your
answer too. Who makes the trouble?
Who's made it from the beginning OF
time? The reformers, Doc. Yes, sir.
Who was the first reformer? The
snake in the garden Of Eden. This
hermit guy probably has that affair
laid down at woman's door. Not much.
Everything was running all right
around the garden, and then the snake
came along. It's twenty to one shot
he'd just finished series Of articles
on The Shame Of Eden for a maga-
zine. What dye mean? he says to
the woman. by letting well enough
alone? Things are all wrong here.
The present administration is running
everything into the ground. l can tell
you few things that will open your
eyes. What's that? What you don't.
know won't hurt you? The old cry
he says, the old cry against which pro-
Iressives got to fight he says. Wake
up. You need change here. Try this
nice red apple, and you'll see things
the way do And the woman fell for
1t. You know what happened
"An original point of view," said the
daZed professor.
"Yes. Doc" went on Mr.. Cargan.
evidently on favorite topic; Its
the reformers that have caused all the
trouble, from that snake down. Things
are running smooth. folks all prosper
GUS and satisfied. then they come along
in their gum shoes and white neckties.
And they knock away at the existing
order until the public begins to be-
lieve 'em and gives 'em chance to
run things. What's the result? The
worlds In a worse tangle than ever
before"
"You feel deeply on the subject, Mr..
Cargan," remarked Magee.
II ought to-" the mayor replied. 81
amt no writer, but II | was Id turn
out book that would drive this whis-
kered hermit's argument to the wall.
Woman-bah The only way women
make trouble is by falling for the re-
form gag
Mr.. Peters here interrupted with the
dessert, and through that course Mr.
Cargan elaborated on his theory. He
pointed out how, in many states, re-
form had interrupted the smooth flow
of life, set everything awhirl and cru
ely sent 1.-THE boys" who had always
been faithful out into the cold world
seeking the stranger, work. While he
talked the eyes Of Lou Max looked
out at him from behind the incongru-
GUS gold rimmed glasses, with the de-
votion Of the dog to its master clearly
written in them. Watching him now,
Mr.. Magee marveled ut this cheap crea-
lures evident capacity for loyalty.
ut was the reformers that got Ma
poleon," the mayor finished. "Yes;
they sent Napoleon to an island at the
end. And him without an equal since
the world began!'
"Is your-begging your pardon-is
your history just straight" demurred
Professor Bolton timidly.
"Is it?" frowned Cargan. "iou can
bet it is! l know Napoleon from the
cradle to the grave. amt an educat-
ed man, Doc. l can hire all the edu-
Gated men want for SIS week, but
I'm up on Bonaparte.'
1T seems to me-" Miss Norton put
in. II have heard-did read 1t In
paper?-that a picture Of Napoleon
hangs above your desk. They say
that you see in your own career
similarity to his. May I asks 1t
true?"
"No, MISS" replied Cargan. That's
a joking story some newspaper guy
wrote up. No, I amt no Napoleon.
There's lots Of differences between us
-one in particular" He raised his
voice and glared at the company
around the table. "One In particular
The reformers got Napoleon at the
end"
"But the end is not yet" suggested
Mr.. Magee. smiling.
Mr.. Cargan gave him a sudden and
interested look.
81 amt worrying" he replied. "And
don't you, young fellow