Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1917 — SAYS RULER IS TRICKSTER [ARTICLE]

SAYS RULER IS TRICKSTER

Speaker Telia Story of Ingenious Hog Raffle to Express His Opinion of King of Greece. “King Constantine is a trickster, and the allies will accomplish nothing in Greece till they kick him off the throne.” The speaker was Cosmos Morcavorato, the archeologist. He continued : “King Constantine is a trickster and he always gets away with It. He’s as bad as the two sharpers. "Two sharpers, getting stranded in a country town, decided to gouge the populace by means of a hog raffle. They got up a poster that said: “ To be raffled, a fine Berkshire hog. Tickets, 25 cents.’ “The raffle went well. The two sharpers made a lot of money—slso, in fact. Then came the day when the result was to be announced. “The sharpers read over their list of victims and selected the man they thought most gullable and meek. To him they wrote: “‘Dear Sir: We are happy to inform you that the raffle of the magnificent hog was held last evening, and you were the fortunate winner. We hold the animal at your disposal, and shall be pleased to forward same on receipt of your authorization to do so. We beg to congratulate you on the acquisition of this truly magnificent pedigreed hog.’ “But the winner had hardly received this letter, the first thrill of delight had hardly warmed his breast, before he got another missive: “ ‘Sir: We regret to inform you that your magnificent hog died very suddenly last night at 9:30 o’clock. We do not know the exact cause of death, but would impute same to the hog cholera now epidemic in this district. Owing to the existing sanitary regulatoins, the animal had to be buried without delay. We shall be glad to receive your check for sl2 by return, being the amount of veterinary and Interment expenses incurred.' “The trickery was as transparent as Constantine’s, but, like the allies, the duped man was afraid to investigate, lest worse befall.”