The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-26

time telling them stories, reading
and repeating TO them poems and
sometimes prose. Their favorite. or
perhaps mine was Paul Revere's Ride.
About every time we went over II
should renew the promise that some
day we would visit the Old North
Church and climb
"By the wooden stairs, with steal
thy tread.
To the Belfry chamber overhead.
At last the day came in the month
OF May was in Boston with my
two younger children and had time
time to visit the church we had so
often read about and talked about. A
sexton is maintained there by n his
, torical society TO show visitors around
He is doubtless expected TO extend
courtesies In the way OF answering
questions, etc. He was none too
good about these things. but We bad
little TO complain of until we asked
to be allowed to go up in the belfry.
This he fatty refused. saying that
visitors were not allowed mp there
until the first of June. | told him
how long we had been looking for
ward to it. making my best appeal.
No results. tried another form OF
argument, offering fees which seemed
to me to be sufficiently liberal. These
also were scorned. | do not know
when | had felt more disappointed.
We had been years anticipating this
Measure and knew 1t would be many
years before the opportunity came
again. If ever. After due considera-
ton | thought | would try a show OF
anger. Guess l was little clumsy
about it. At any rate 1t had no ef-
feet on the janitor. but IL was genuine
enough to completely deceive my two
young companions. They had never
heard their father use language OF
that kind before and were dismayed
and horor-struck. They stood by
trembling while stormed about
threatening to report the obdurate OF
fetal to all sorts OF bureaus and com
missions, real and imaginery. | was
no more angry than | am while dictat-
ing these lines but | did my best TO
create the appearance OF being in
terrible rage. When my complete
defeat was apparent and we had got
ten outside. after a little pause the
older of the two girls said. why.
pap. you talked real cross to that
man" believe | have not. either
in semblance or earnest, talked
cross" to anybody since. 1t certainly
does not pay as genuine article.
and | have concluded that | shall
not likely be successful with 1t as
subterfuge.
|, recently had occasion to remon-
strate with a friend of mine whom
had heard using language which
characterized as beneath his dignity.
He retorted by charging me with
quality of dignity somewhat like that
to be found in doormat. Said
he, II am not going to allow people
to wipe their feet on me-" There Is
interest, of course. but not much logic
in that line of reasoning. My reply TO
it would DE that even the rough and
uncultured, intuitively respect good
manners in others. Good breeding
fair speech. and courteous manner
Is ordinarily a mans best defence
Those who have attained to positions
OF prominence and responsibility are
usually known to posses these qua
lities. Those who hope to rise to
anything more than the commonplace
must include them among their yir-
tues. My own motto. for, years has
been: 81 must get along amicably with
the other fellow no matter how un-
reasonable he may be-" For the
most part | have been reasonably sue
cessful Where | have failed the eff
fort, at least, has been worth while