Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1883 — His Reason. [ARTICLE]

His Reason.

Mr- Lindley Murray, whose English Grammar used to trythe temperof our. grandfathers when they were boys, was a Tesideiit of New - York city. g an amiable gentleman, - and -- of old-school politeness, he had a speaking acquaintance with many persons who were his ihferiors in social position. Once, during a'city election, the old gfanynarian’s courtesy was used by an ignorant fellow as an argument why he should be elected to office. His name was Burke. He was a volunteer aid to a fire company, and had lost an arm while serving as a privateer in the War of 1815. Being somewhat of a rough, he was frequently engaged in fights, and would place a stone in the end of his armless sleeve and use it wi'tli prodigious effect on the head of his antagonist. ' Some of the wags about town nominatod “Bill” for Alderman, thinking it would be a good joke. To their surprise, his “war record” and popularity with the baser sort gained him so many votes thatdt required great exertion on the part of respectable citizens to defeat him. “Bill,” said one of his comrades, who didn’t fear him, “you haven’t education enough for an Aiderman.” “Why not ?”! replied Bill, swelling with offended dignity. “Why not, I’d like to know? I’ve got plenty of eddication. I can speak the English language like a bopk. Why!” he continued, referring to a speaking acquaintance -with ‘Mr. Murray-, “I know the ma.h who mtt'J.e the English language. What more do you want?”