Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1891 — Strange if True. [ARTICLE]

Strange if True.

Chicago Mall. A woman at Wilmington, Mass., recently bequeathed SIO,OOO a year to that town to be expended in painting houses that may need it from year to year, “provided the applicant does not own a dog and is a member of some temperance organization.” This woman has been set down by the press with great unanimity as the champion harmless crank of the country. I met one in Chicago a few days ago that may well contest the claim to such distinction, however. He was a well-dressed, middle-agec man, with a ministerial air about him as he entered the room and remarked solemnly: "My friend, lam managing the weather temporarily, and I would like to talk with you about it.” It was raining hard at the time, and I replied: “Well, you don’t seem •to be doing a very satisfactory job just now.” "No,” he exclaimed with an expression of surprise. “Why, 1 thought we needed rain. But, of course, 1 will gladly change it if it doesn’t suit you. ’ Seeing that the fellow evidently was a harmless lunatic, I said to him confidentially: “Well, now, if you will go home and look after that matter for me you will greatly oblige me. We want clear, fair weather now. We have had enough rain. Go home and give us a few fair days of sun shine." , “I’ll be very glad to accommodate vou,” he remarked politely tewing himself out. , The next day was one of the very few clear, bright days that Chicago has seen this spring. Late in the afternoon tjie “weather maker” agaiu made his appearance. He very gravely laid On the desk before me a bill "for professional services, 50c." I. paid it without a word and he immc-' diately left. I have not seen him since."