EXAMPLE AND PRECEPT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 25, 24 October 1921, Page 6

EXAMPLE AND PRECEPT

A PHILANTHROPIST AND HIS CAR FARE. (By F.E.8.) The stout man with the check suit, and the gardenia in his buttonhole with the grey spats, and the bowler hat, sat back farther in his corner seat in the tram, crowding a small girl sitting next to him. He put his hand in his trousers pocket, thus showing a broad expanse of waistcoat land displaying the tins of three cigars which nestled in ths. top pocket—right-hand, so as not to interfere with the fountain-pen. e spoke in a loud voice to the man sitting opposite him, whom he knew The man sitting opposite did not appear happy at being thus deprived of the right of reading his evening paper. "Great weather, eh?” said the stout “Uh-huh.” answered the other, and went on with his paper. But Mammon was not to be worried by snubs. “I’m feeling happy to-day. he sairt"Just sent a pound to ihe Home for Strayed Dogs. Philanthropy. 1 call it But when there's any good olveet I never like refusing.” . • He stopped a minute, and thought. “Yo«.” he went on, glancing round at the other passengers. “Yes; if one does n-ood. it is always -ewarded, Invariably. Charity is a noble thing. It s one of the first things I ever learnt. The man with the paper grunted, and shifted uneasily in his seat Ho tried to read, but the voiee of the philanthrope. unetuoil®. fat ns was the owner, jarred him. with its platitudinous nonsense and oleaginous -elf-praise. “Last year.” cVmtinued the philanthropic. '"I gave close‘on ,8169 to the I.o't Cats’ Fund. And the conimitU was so.nloa*?d! It came to mo in a Imdv and thanked mo. And tb.w year the’ City Council say they re hard UPWhy can’t vou and I help them to got, going? T can afford it. anyway. Now,, if wo on eh gave L5O . ■ • At this moment, the conductor appeared at ihe opposite door. The fa gentleman stopped talking and. looze-i out of the window. "Why." h.o said, "there’s Binks. T must get off and have a chat to him." His friend with the paper heaved a sigh of relief. _ , The fat philanthropist .get off too car. Ho was very pleased with himself. For the fourth time that week ho had avoided paying Ips fare.