Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1878 — A Hard Test. [ARTICLE]

A Hard Test.

Ten or a dozen men were enjoying the hotweather which baked the shingles on a ferry-dock saloon yesterday, when a stranger stalked in and inquired of the bartender: ‘ ‘ Have you any mint ?” “ Yes, sir,” was the reply. “And you have sugar, lemons, gin, brandy and so fort;* ?” “I have.”. The stranger turned around to the crowd, noted the sudden increase of interest in each face, and kindly said: “ Gentlemen, I’m going to treat every liar iu this room. Let the liars—the monstrous liars—come forward.” Not a foot moved. “Gentlemen,” continued the stranger in a plaintive tone, “don’t be backward. Juleps wait for all. Every one of you who is known as a liar will please stand up.” Not a man stood. The stranger’s face betrayed keen disappointment," as he ordered a rousing big “mint” for himself, and not a word was spoken in the place while he slowly sipped the cooling liquid through a straw. When he had finished he wiped his mouth and said: “ Well, every truth-teller in the crowd will now stand up. ” Each man rose up with the promptness of a soldier. “ And sit down again,” softly said the man as he made for the door. They would have sat down on him, but great truth-tellers are poor runners. —Detroit Free Press.