Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1874 — Judging By Appearances. [ARTICLE]

Judging By Appearances.

In the other years, when Maine was a district of Massachusetts, Ezekiel Whitman was among the chosen to represent the district in the Massachusetts Legislature. He was an eccentric man, and one ol'tne best lawyers of his time, in those days Whitman owned a farm, and did much work upon his land; and it so happened that when the time came for him to set out for Boston his best clothes were a suit of home-spun. His wife objected to his going in that garb, but he did not care. “ I will get a nice, fashionable suit made as spoil as I reach Boston,” he said. Reaching his destination, Whitman found rest at Doolittle’s City Tavern. Let it be understood that he was a graduate of Harvard, and that at this tavern he was at home. As he entered the parlor of the house he found th'at several ladies and two or three gentlemen were there assembled, and he heard a remark from one of them, “ Ah, here comes a countryman of the real home-spun genus. Here’s fun.” Whitman stared at. the company, and then sat down. “Say, my friend, you are from the country,” remarked one of the gentlemen. “Ya-as,” answered Ezekiel, with a ludicrous twist of the face. The ladies tittered. “And what do ypu think of our city?” “It’s a pooty thick-settled place, anyhow. It’s got a swampin’ sight o’ housen in it.” “ And a good many people, too.” “Ya-as, I should reckon so.” Many people where you come from?” ' “ Wal, some.” “Plenty of ladies, I suppose?” “ Ya-as, a fair sprinklin’:” “ And I don’t doubt that you are quite a beau among them.” “Ya-as, I beaus ’em home—tew meetin’ an’ singing-schewl.” “Perhaps the gentleman from the country will take a glass of wine?" “ Thank-ee. Don’t keer if I do.” ~~ ’ The wine was brought. “ You must drink a toast.” “Oh, git eout! X eats toast—never heerd o’ sich a thing as drinkin’ it. But I kin give ye a sentiment.” The ladies clapped their hands; but what was their surprise when the stranger, rising, spoke calmly and clearly, in tones ornate and dignified, as follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to wiSM you health and happiness, with every o-fier blessing earth can afford; and may y<» u grow better and wiser with advancing yt-«.rs, bearing ever in mind that outward appearances ° r * x en deceitful. You misto-* me > from m y dress, for a country booby, while I, from the same superficial cause, thought you w ere ladies and. gentlemen. The misGtke been mutual.” He bad just spoken when Caleb Strong, the Governor of the State, entered and inquired for Mr. Whitman. “Ah here I ai». Governor. Glad to see you.” Then, tuning to the dumbfounded company—- “ I wish you a very evening.” And he left them feeing about as small and cheap as it is possnJe for fullgrown people to teei.—Christiafhzra. . » » A Mr. Wake man, in, Vermont, started out to borrow a hoe. That implement' must be scarce in Vermont, for Mr. Wakeman has now been gone sixteen years, and his wife is growing anxious about him.