A Case Where Honesty Was Not the Best Policy

1920—

Wanted To Buy Some Poison

A Case Where Honesty Was Not the Best Policy

A Blade reader in Ruatan, Honduras, Central America, sends in this good one:

Recently a small farmer in Honduras called at a city drug store and asked for some poison with which to kill wild animals that were destroying his poultry. On being informed that no poison could be sold without a personal recommendation from the mayor of the town, he went in search of that functionary and soon returned with the following note:

"Please give Mr. W---- a little poison, as he is an honest man."

The note was signed by the mayor.


Gets a Lesson in "Honesty"

At Same Time Learns a Trick in Apple Packing

Two piles of apples lay on the ground. One contained a large-size and rosy selection; the fruit of the other was green and small.

"Large on the top and small at the bottom," inquired the new assistant of his master, as he prepared to fill a barrel.

"Certainly not!" replied the farmer, virtuously. "Honesty is the best policy, my boy. Put the little apples at the top and the large ones at the bottom."

The assistant complied. His master was evidently as green as his greenest fruit.

"Is the barrel full, my lad?" asked the farmer.

"Yes," answered the assistant.

"Good!" said the farmer. "Now turn it upside down and label it."

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 9.