The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-19
What May Not
Ye Editor Expect?

AO A$AASOA AAIOCS
Every time a paper goes out il
has a lot of things written in it that
will affect readers variously. Ye
editor never knows what will come
back in the way Of results. 1t might
be brickbat thru the window, q
lead-pipe over the head, a legal suit
or boquet of roses. The, following
letter is an example in point 1t is
one of those things that come in and
make themselves a welcome. (Mr
Murphey is friend of ours, y
Editors note. "NN
Dubois, Idaho, Dec. II, 1919
Byrd Trego, Esq,
Editor, Idaho Republican,
Blackfoot, Idaho.
My. Dear Trego:
A recent issue of The Republican
has disclosed to me your keen pre-
ception and marvellous literary
genius in publishing a quaint bit of
my original and unadulterated
humor in connection with Mr.,
Blanchard's sparkling story at the
Idaho Falls Reclamation convention.
My remittance for a years sub
scription to your imm ortal paper is
enclosed, herewith in the form of a
check.
Our banker is cold and austere;
to me he has not displayed his genal
side these many days and lately, at
the sight of one of these checks
drawn as they are with an opulent
disregard for the mathametics of
finance-he gives himself over to
violent paroxysms of rage, hautedr
and aloofness; these, in turn, are
followed by fits of depression and
morbid broodings. If, however, the
check is presented at that psycholog-
ical moment when one of his cross
eyed, gunn-toting customers, to
whom he has just refused a vital
loan, is regaling. him with heavy
fusilade of base flattery and OBJ
sequious adulation, my banker may
momentarily consider the check, not
as a financial transaction precisely,
but as fair legal chince upon me
for $500 and costs. Those accursed
lawmakers, ugh!
Our bankers have lost the fine
sentimental color values they pos
sessed in the days when men were
free to indulge in wines, beers and
other spirituous liquors.
l am delighted that you have
taken notice of my literary gifts.
The only difference l can now dis
Germ between the great masters of
wit and humor, and myself is that
they paid their notes, a rugged and
almost obsolete form of simple hon
esty, which in your day and mine or
in your business or my business
would be considered spectacular, er-
ratio and unwarranted.
am also much interested in your
articles for higher esics in and bet
ter methods of highway construc-
tion. | have had some little expert
ence, as highway engineer and
while the articles are a trifie too
technical and abstruse for me, can
nevertheless, discern how they
would be even more interesting and
certainly better harmonized, if they
were completely, instead of mostly,
deleted of the truth. Permit me to
compliment you on your piquant and
whole-soufed method of relegating
actual facts to the background and
then abolishing the background.
Apropos the Idaho Falls conven-
ton; Major Fred r. Reed there dis
played to me a little prayer which
he had written with the idea of ask
ing such honorable and efficient
gentlemen as Secretary Lane, Direc-
tor Davis and Mr.. Blanchard, to say
each night for funds with which to
start the Dubois project on the fol-
lowing morning. The remarkable
thing about the work coming, as it
does from a gentleman of Major
Reeds great harmonizing powers,
wondrous rectitude and we'll known
spirituality, is that the whole prayer
is entirely devoid of picturesque pro-
,nity. This think, is serious
mistake in any form of prayer or
supplication; IN one of Major Reeds
it is inexcusable.
With kind regards and lofty ex-
pressions of deep personal admira-
tion, l beg to remain,
Yours very respectfully,
DANIEL THIMOTHY MURPHY.