Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1931-05-14
BEN'S PLACE
(By C. B. Ray)

All men are human-some more
so. This is neither a novel nor
story, simply a statement of some of
the facts connected with the pill
grimage of some of our friends.
Some old dried up specimens will
likely stand on their hind feet and
declare that only the long faced
shall enter in We neglected to tell
you in the beginning that We were
not entering into a religious con-
troversy. The only good that We
have ever known to come of such a
controversy was that it let air out OF
the system of some folks who had
become over inflated.
The Man They Did Not Know
He started at the bottom in the
business house, which at that time
was not only menial, but the pay
was small Yet an honest business
which led our friend to the owner
ship of the business.
Our friend met with all manner Of
folks from the high officials of both
church and state. He always met
them with their worst faces. While
he was not mind reader he often
had folks guessing how he knew
some things. While he met them,
as we have said, with their worst
face forward, we did not mean i'll
dispOsitioned. In fact, folks who
/ i,,tn III n
at themselves, went out smiling.
Some folks who tried to think they
wanted to get mad, had to get over
it before they were allowed to leave.
We are not sure but what this mans
business would be called a clearing
house. At any rate many a clouded
brow was cleared in this house.
The proprietor of the aforesaid
establishment was original. At any
rate a lot Of original tales started
with our friend, While many tales
were traced back to his establish
ment, he never acknowledged that
he was the author of the informa-
ton. In fact, they often left Won
dering who told the tale.
Our friend Ben (excuse us, we
didn't mean to name him) but now
that you know his name, it will be
easier for US and you won't have to
wonder who we are talking about.
Oh yes, we started to tell you that
Ben was not only original, but was
unique. No one ever left his place
MI Eo1I
7 always made it point to hurry TO
, his place as soon as they had made
/ their reservation at the hotel.
On the occasion which now comes
on our minds screen, a lawyer, a
/ preacher and many laymen and per
e haps some who would not fit in any
+ Of these classes, were present. The
: argument was on. Ben had got the
: ball rolling, and then adroitly stood
E back and let it roll. The preacher
: as adroitly staid on both sides of the
\ argument. The argument Waged
t getting mad. A stranger often was
: led to think the thing was true tC
: life affair. While the business was
y not listed in blue books, the place
|, was known from coast to coast. In
t this case the argument savored ot
t politics and religion. One of the
J. participants knew as much about
d Einstein as he knew about the Klu
: kluX, but knew enough about each
/, to be interesting. The other had
j. been trained in the church, but al
:, the work Of relatives and church
q folks had only made him good
> citizen. The lawyer wanted to cross
J. examine and plead the case but nc
one had time for that, so the case
! was settled and no one shook
q hands, as there was nothing tc
e shake about
Our main character who was
y busily engaged with customer
learned that a member of the church
who gathered at his place, was sick
? lie at once gave the word to the
folks assembled, and a committee al
- once volunteered to visit the sicl
y man. No flowers were taken. This
{ committee had way of making the
Z world look brighter than any bou
: quet from greenhouse could. The
: sight of the committee always made
4 the sick put on new life. The tales
told by the committee always help
Il ed the patient
Ben was often imposed on. Gus
toners in whom he had confidence
would often tell things in his place
Il Of business, in hope to die tone OF
II voice, and then after Ben had relat.
II ed it to some of the ministers and at
H torneys and they in turn had told il
Y few times-word would come that
II our friend Ben had been imposed OF
II to the extent that the whole thing
II had been made of whole cloth, per
II haps we should say hole cloth
h cheese cloth, and then the old towr
II would move on to another incident
II Sometimes it was not long, in fact il
H seemed the incident met the town
Il half way. Our friend had made his
4 morning trip up town to see that all
H the folks were ready to play their
II parts, and had returned to his own
4 place. The preacher who had fu-
| neral at p. m. was there to hear
/ the news and SO on. When Ben
came in of course everyone present
II wanted to know the news. When
H Ben informed them that Dan Scrubs