Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1899 — MR. LEASE AS A SCRAPPER. [ARTICLE]

MR. LEASE AS A SCRAPPER.

The Hnsband of the Famous Kansas Reformer Can Fight If He Wants To. Anent the slurs recently cut at Mrs. Lease, It Is not generally known that her husband is a man who has not only the willingness to fight when occasion requires it, but who has the requisite brawn to do battle to a successful conclusion, Bays a Topeka (Kan.) paper. Charles Lease was a mighty good man In his day, and his day has not ended yet. He has had only two fights In the last ten years, and unless somebody who doesn’t know him runs up against him he won’t have a fight in the next ten years. One of his fights is thus described and Illustrates Mr. Lease’s make-up to a dot: He was a salesman in the wholesale drug store of Ben Aldrich. One day a bully who wanted to start a joint In a neighboring town came in to buy some drugs to put In front. He was a mean chap and swore at Mr. Lease frequently and applied disgraceful epithets to him repeatedly. Mr. Lease smiled and treated his customer with the utmost affability all the time. In due time the sale was made, the goods loaded on a dray and carried away. Mr. Lease took the money from his customer, gave him the change and thanked him most kindly for his patronage. As the fellow went out on the sidewalk Mr. Lease followed and hailed him. “What's the matter?” said the bully, roughly. “Isn't everything settled?” “Not quite all,” said Charlie; “we haven’t yet settled for those names you called me.” And so saying he mopped up the sidewalk and half a block of the gutter with his customer. Saturday night, when the store was about to be closed, a store boy told Mr. Lease he was wanted at the desk of Mr. Aldrich. He thought sure that his cake was dough, but when Ben Aldrich said, “Charlie, your wages are Increased $3 a week,” he felt better toward himself and the world and even the man he licked.