Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25
~
from the
Democrats Pen

people recall that a very prominent
physician of Baltimore once said that
after a man reached a certain age, he
should be mercifully eased from the
confines of this earthly sphere by the
quiet and painless method of taking a
few deep whiffs of chloroform. I for
get just when the medico said that
this operation should be performed,
but it was before the subject reached
q condition which so disabled him that
he couldn't keep out of his own way.
Well, some of US had our opinion
Of that doctor, and those opinions ex-
pressed in words wouldn't look very
well in print. We, who had already
reached the milestone where, accord
ing to him, we should be bumped off,
felt very much convinced that if we
had to go, there would be no one
we'd like better to take a long than
that same pill singer. And, further
some-more, we also felt that, as we
took the airline to the regions of bliss,
we'd like to toss him overheard when
we scared by the neither country, and
it wouldn't matter whether he had
a parachute or not. He'd deserve
what was coming to him.
But, I don't know. I've been think
ing here of late that maybe the M. D.
knew what he was talking about, and
I almost came to the conclusion one
day this week that he was a wise
old bird, brought to that same con-
clusion by what occurred in my own
experience. I could almost smell the
chloroform after it happened.
A gentleman came into the "Demo-
crat" office last Monday and said: II
see sou have a stove advertised for
sale in the columns of what you are
pleased to call a newspaper.
"Yes", I replied, are you in the
market for one?"
/" am, if the price is right. Who
owns the stove in question:" i.
"IIl. Look. Then I got down q copy
of last weeks issue and read him the
name Of the person who had signed
the advertisement.
"I don't mean that one, guess
can read" he rather testify shot forth,
81 refer to the one with no name at
tached, and which advised those who
wanted to make preparation for the
coming cold spells, to inquire at this
office. Who was that?"
ooh! that one," I hesitated. swell,
now, let me see! who was that. real
" just can't recall who that was.
Wait, let me look on hook that my
secretary keeps on which to file re-
cords of unsigned ads" I immedia-
tely searched but I couldn't find the
record.
IT seem unable to locate who that
was. My clerk is out just at present,
Tut when she comes in I'll ask her a
bout it, and I'll call you up and give
you the particulars. I'm sure she won't
be gone long, and if you prefer to
wait, we'll be glad if you would take
a seat and make yourself comfort
able"
"No!" he said, give got something
else to do except loaf around here;
maybe I'll call around later. And
out he went.
Well, Sir, he hadn't gotten further
than the corner when something pop
ped into my head which suggested
the chloroform idea, and really felt
that a good liberal dose wouldn't be
misapplied in my case. I went to the
front door of my office and called
the would-be customer back. He, ap-
parently, came back very reluctantly
wondering, reckon, just what else
I had in view of an uncertain nature
He came in, however, and said:
"Sit down, please" He complied and
I continued:
"You-er-ah; that is you were; you
er came in here minute ago and
asked me about stove. I-ah-don't
know exactly what caused my mental
alteration, except that maybe have
reached the chloroform stage. But,
hate to confess it, but-ah-er, that is
that advertisement you were asking
about was written by myself and il
was my own stove I was trying tc
esll. Blest if I amt almost ready to
give it to you, if you'll take it and
say nothing about my little 'slipsus
mentis'."
"Well", he replied, can I see the
stove?
"Oh! yes" And when he had look
ed at it, he said:
"I'll go home and tolk with my wife
about it,"
ooh! Lawdy," I said to myself
"Whatll do now. He'll tell her a.
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