204 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW ; 



do not remember even that his august presence inspired me 

 with the slightest terror. 



And once more I beg pardon if I handed him and the gen- 

 tleman from Texas, the schedule blanks to fill, for in every 

 other instance, I have asked the questions, and filled out the 

 blanks with my own hand. 



If the conversation occurred as related, I do not remember 

 it, and if true, it was in pleasantry. I like a little fun, but I 

 do assure the distinguished gentleman from Rome, that I did 

 not seriously entertain the thought for a moment to commit a 

 rape upon his great name, for the emolument of Atlanta. The 

 conquest of a more insignificant name would have been 

 attended with less hazard, and would have answered the same 

 purpose. 



Now as to the last statement, the grand climax and finale. 



"When the census taker was just about to capture and 

 appropriate one of the best names of the mountain metropolis, 

 then the proprietor of that great name, rose up and invited the 

 obdurate census man to go out and get a breath of fresh air." 



Now that part of the story is too thin, for I reckon there 

 are a hundred good citizens in Atlanta who know the census 

 man referred to, and it would be hard to make them believe 

 this census man was so forgetful of his principles, and his her- 

 editary courtesy as to fail to return the compliment by asking 

 the distinguished gentleman from Rome to come out, too, and 

 breath the fresh air with him. 



When he speaks of the stirring official with the noble spirit 



of Atlanta pulsing in his wrist, if he will allow the substitution 



of the word heart for wrist, the phrase will be accepted ; for 



the census taker loves Atlanta, for forty years his heart has 



been with her. He knew her when she was weak, and shal^y, 



