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Show WHY ILLINOIS IS "SUCKER." Preacher at Banquet Says That Natives Na-tives Believe Big Stories. In modern Egypt, which Is In tho southern part of Illinois, somo of the native mon gavo a banquet In honor of an eminent politician of tho Ilk. Thero wero many speeches In pralso and panegyric of tho chief guest, Thoy wero suporlatlvo to that degreo which is the full tether of grammar. A young preacher present was moved thereby to get so far hack as tho comparative com-parative in a story. Ho said: "A short time ago I attended a banquet ban-quet in Indiana at which wero present pres-ent many men from other states, and in turn Uio Speakers of tho occasion soared to tho empyrean many times, nnd swept tho skies and gathered stars In their glowing nnd extravagant eulogies upon tho merits nnd virtues of their respectivo commonwealths. Tho Texan was eloquent about tho 'Lono Star,' tho Kontucklan became lurid concerning 'tho dark and bloody ground,' tho Ohioan went wild on 'buckeyes,' nnd ono was moved to say something for Illinois. " 'Wo of Illinois,' ho said, 'frequently hear theso beautiful boosts of other states, and wo not only listen with hated breath nnd profound Interest, but bellovo It nil Implicitly. .Tho rcai son for this Is that wo arc, Individually Individu-ally nnd collectively, from Galena to Goshen nnd from Chicago to Cairo, as Is well known throughout tho civilized civiliz-ed world, nnd In somp parts of Now Jcrsoy, simply suckers.' "Wo at this tablo to-night." the young preacher concluded, "bellovo nil that has been said of our distinguished distinguish-ed guest, ns Is becoming to truo 'Suckers.' " |