Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — SAVED HIS REPUTATION. [ARTICLE]

SAVED HIS REPUTATION.

He to Study the Dictionary at Once, However. A man with stooped shoulders and a general air of lassitude strolled into the editorial rooms the other afternoon. He found a pale-faced young man busily engaged in cleaning a briar pipe. “Good-day,” said the stoop-shoul-dered man. “Howdy,* said the other. The stoop-shouldered man coughed a couple of times and then said, nervously: “I just came in to say that I’ve been a subscriber to tips paper for a good many years and this morning I noticed that you used the word ‘apotheosis. ’" “Well,” said the pale-faced young man, “what of it? That’s a good word, isn’t it?’ “Oh, certainly, certainly," replied the visitor. “It’s a good word, a very good word. But, you see, I was brought up in poverty, and I didn’t have a chance to get an education. There are a lot of things I don’t know. I just happened to be going by and I thought I would drop in and ask you what that word meant?” The pale-faced young man ceased operations on his pipe and looked at the visitor in undisguised amazement. “Is it possible,” he finally said, “that there is a man or woman or child in this fair city who does not know what that word means? I cannot believe, sir, that you are speaking earnestly to me. You must be joking.’ The stoop-shouldered man blushed painfully. “Of course,” he stammered, “I think I know what it means, but, you know, I didn’t have much of a chance to go to school. Come to think of it, though, I am perfectly sure I know what it means. ” “Well," and the pale-faced young man’s air was very patronizing, “I thought you knew better than to ask such a question. Good day, sir.” The stoop-shouldered man turned and went out into the hall. As the door closed the pale-faced young man dropped his pipe and shouted: ’Jimmy! Ob, Jimmy!” A small boy put in his appearance. “Jimmy,” said the pale-faced young man, “get me the dictionary and get it blamed quick. Some other chap may be up here in a minute.”— Buffalo Express.