Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1905 — AN INSIDE VIEW OP SOME PRE. TENTIOUS MEN. [ARTICLE]

AN INSIDE VIEW OP SOME PRE. TENTIOUS MEN.

When but a very little boy I bad a little drum, And oft I wondered to myself from whence sneb music come, “Metbinks," says I, “there surley is some wondrous works Inside." And so I got my hammer out and in that drum I pried. Alas! I only ruined the drum and won a load of woe— New, honestly, my friends, have you not often found it so? You see a man who poses great and struts the streets around. But when you get a closer view you find him empty sound. I had a little dolly once—’twas early childhood's day— And with that little dolly I loved oft to sit and play. “Methinks,” said I, “this doll’s Insides some wondrous things contain.”— I opened it—Alas! I found sawdust for heart and brain. A hollow mockery it was—my heart was grieved and sore, But since that time the sawdust side has shown up more and more. I’ve seen some men the world called great until aud inside view Showed only sawdust. Hasn't it, good friends, occurred to you? I think'twas eighteen ninety-six some captains of finance Stood up before the public gaze aDd never lost a chance * To talk about the honor of our nation strong and great ADd say upon their shoulders broad they bore the country's fate. They posed as saviours of the state and with glib pen and toDgue On “honesiy” and such like words a thousand changes rung. But since that time we've looked iDside and found nought else but craft— They were not (Hied with honesty, but with sawdust of graft. My drum gave forth a noisy sound—but it was empty quite. My doll was plump, and pretty, too—'twas sawdust met my sight. I heard the Chauncey M. Depews, McCurdys and McCalls. Stand forth to shout their honesty upod the outer walls. And for a time 1 really thought they were the nation’s pride— Alas! I found but empty sound and raw sawdust inside. And human drums of hollow sound, and sawdust dollies, too. Are being opened .day bvday—and we don’t like the view. —The Commoner.