Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1912 — Protest Reasonable. [ARTICLE]

Protest Reasonable.

Wash Johnson had just made a business visit to Fifth street, where he accumulated a very fine rubberized raincoat which, according to a lurid sign over the door, had. been miraculously rescued from the flames by the brave firemen fighting the fire that recently destroyed one of the best known raincoat factories in New York. It didn’t even look like rain, but Wash thought he might as well wear it to get acquainted with it. He grabbed a Tenth street car for home and took the narrow strip of seat by the bulky form of a brother who was as black as waterproof ink. Now the car stopped at a certain corner just as a negro church was letting out. A file of worshipers streamed into the car and each worshiper brushed against Wash’s raincoat as he obeyed the conductor’s strident request to “step up in the front of the car, please.’’ Wash stood their brushing in silence for awhile. Then his hot southern blood got the better of him. “Heah, heahP’ne called querously, “1 just paid a dollah and six bits fo’ dis coat, and you all is go’n’ a wear it out befo’ I can get it home!” —Kansas City Times.