Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 245, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1916 — The Penalty. [ARTICLE]

The Penalty.

Senator Fall was talking in New York about the Mexican situation. “The imbroglio,” he said, disgustedly, _ alluding_to an earlier phase, “was due to absentmindedness. Well, absentmindedness in affairs of state gets punished as sharply as in affairs of love. “I once knew an absent-minded dry goods clerk who was In love with a spirited girl. He took her hand one night and droned: “‘Dear, dear little hand! I wonder • I wonder’ —and then his absontmlndedness got its work in, nnd he said: “I wonder if It will wash?’ “The girl gave a sudden start. “ ‘No, George,’ she hissed, ‘it won’t wash, and I may as well tell you, too, that it won’t cook, or sweep, or darn socks, either. Good evening 1’ ”