Judge — January 4, 1913 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1, Before election Smith, the farm- er, reads a campaign poster and de~ termines to vote for Wilson “and lower prices.” 2. Going to the polls, he is satisfied that his big ballot for Wilson will change things for the better. 3. Returning home, he tells his wife what he has done, and argues to justify his’ ballot. ou foolish man," says Mrs. h, “who will pay your bills if your produce brings less? Who will Support Jim in college, and pay for Mary's music lessons ?"" HE GENIAL Stranger entered the hotel dining-room, and, his face beaming with cordial good-will for everybody, sat down at a table near the door. “Well, Henri,”’ he said pleasantly to the waiter, ‘‘how’s business? Booming, I hope!"* “Pretty good, sare, pretty good,’” said Henri, whose name happened to be Pierre; but that did not matter. “Tips good and fat, I hope?”’ the Stranger continued amiably. “Only so-so, sare,’’ said Henri, with a deep-drawn sigh. ‘‘Zare is so much talk against ze tipping sys- tem’’—— “Rotten talk, say I!” said the Stranger. ‘‘Now, I believe the la- borer is worthy of his hire, and when I say hire I mean h-i-g-h-e-r, and not h-i-r-e—a little higher than his hire, eh? See?’’ he added, with a chuckle, in which Henri, being a diplomat as all good waiters must be, joined. ‘*When a man’s had a good dinner, 5. This argument comes back to Smith as he goes to roarket with his produce and finds difficulty in selling at any reasonable price. Liberal well served, he isn’t human if he grudges a dollar to the man that serves it. There ought to be a law to make him shell out, if he’s the kind that plays too close to his pocket.’” “‘Zat is very liberal!’ said Henri, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. And then the two together ordered a fine dinner. There was Russian caviare to begin with, and adozen lus- cious oysters, followed by a chicken gumbo that would have brought tears of joy to the eyes of Lucullus him- self. Then a dash of terrapin a la Maryland, and a fat-breasted ruddy duck, with currant jelly, and souffle potatoes done toacrisp. After this the Stranger encircled an alligator- pear salade, a camembert cheese, with a juicy taste of bar-le-duc on the side to sweeten things up. A demi-tasse, liqueur and cigar fol- lowed, and then the check—$9.85. “Fine!’’ said the genial Stranger, taking out his lead pencil and sign- 6 Finally he is forced to pat a “For Sale"’ on the old place, and ruefully studying it be doesn’t know what is going to happen next. Smith wakes up! Tip. ing the voucher on the back, ‘‘James Vanderberg Watkins, Room 1018.’" Then, slipping a good, round coin into the waiter’s hand, he rose up. “I hope I shall have ze plaisir of waiting on you again, Mistaire Vat- keens,’’ said Henri. “Sure thing, Henri!’ said the genial Stranger, making a graceful exit through the door. ‘‘I'll ask for you next time I come in. By-by!"’ And he was off. “‘What’s this?’’ demanded the cashier, as Henri laid the voucher on his desk. ‘‘Room 1018? Why, there’s only 975 rooms in this house !’” “Mon Dieu!’ cried Henri, and then he glanced at the coin in his palm. It was a brass hat check from the hotel cloak-room. Like a flash the astounded waiter sped to the cloak-room, “Gimme zat!"’ he cried nervously. And the cloak-room boy handed him out a straw hat of the vintage of 1911! —Herece Dad Gastit. comicbooks.com