Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1885 — The Reporter Could Stand It. [ARTICLE]

The Reporter Could Stand It.

He sauntered into a first-class confectionery store, pays the Portland Argils, and casually took an innocentlooking gumdrop from a tray and proceeded tocrunch it. The e fleet was _ sudden and startling. It seemed as if his mouth was filled with molten lead, and the fumes of a powerful acid were pouring up the nostrills. It started the tears in the man’s eyes, and created a deep longing for a cooling drink. He said not a word, but his appealing look touched the heart of the proprietor, who remarked: “They are tilled with bell- . peppers and are manufactured in Boston for the sole purpose -of helping along the efforts of practical jokers.” The •victim said he was no practical joker, and didn’t think it right to joke a man so. Just then he espied a merchant ‘friend coming in, and, he was at once very anxious for the confectioner to play a trick on him, forgetting how mean he thought it was a moment before. The merchant accepted the proffered confection without hesitation. In an instant he gasped two or three, times, hurriedly removed his glasses and wiped the tears from his trembling eyes, and rushed toward the door to get the air. When he cape back he said he had never suffered so in so short a time, during his whole -life. He thought his tongue was burning off at the roots. The hard-hearted wretch who had been the first victim, stood there and floated over half a dozen friends wbo came in and were treated. Some of them swore roundly, ?but the majority took it as a huge joke, and begged a few of the candied bellpeppers to feed their friends, At length a nwspaper man entered, and the experiment was tried on him. He never flinched a particle, did not remove his glasses, didn't even wink, but devoured the confections as fast as they were given him. He said they were pretty warm, but he liked them because they Were sweet. He Would have kept on eating until the confectioner’s stock was exhausted if he had been permitted. : - The first printing press in the United States was introduced in 1729.,