Show OYIY AFTER A CHEW I Every one will remember the story of the early California mining town when I a man who was somewhat new to live western ways came near losing his life I through an Inadvertence It was in the leading saloon of the town where all the leading citizens were assembled I There was no personal objection to the stranger he neither put on airs nor sought to lead his fellow men into better bet-ter ways He was a chewer of tobacco which he always carried in his hip pocket Forgetlng for the moment the social customs of the town he reached round towards his hip pocket for his tobacco In an instant a score of guns were drawn and leveled upon him He was more than taken by surprise but he I I did not lose his head Gentlemen he said in a respectful but firm tone of voice I beg your pardon for forgetting the social usages of your city I desire de-sire a chew of tobacco which I always carry in my hip pocket Henceforth I shall carry my tobacco in the same pocket you do that no misunderstanding misunderstand-ing may arise The apology and explanation ex-planation were satisfactory We are reminded of this story by a dispatch from Watertown Mass which says that orders have been received at the arsenal there to hurry up the work on the gun carriages in course of construction con-struction during the past few months The dispatch goes on and gravely and allwisely states that all this rush at the arsenal has been the cause of much speculation among the employees as I well as among the people of Watertown who have been interested spectators of the activity They see in it indications of fear that the government may yet have trouble with Spain and the governments gov-ernments intention is to be prepared for it if it comes Seeing indications of fear of war with Spain in all this shows wonderful foresight in these people peo-ple The fact is that Uncle Sam cant even reach for his tobacco pouch but that a whole lot of silly jingoes imagine he is going to pull his gun and begin be-gin shooting promiscuously It is an excellent thing for the country ihat Uncle Sam has more good hard sense than some of his hairbrained children |