The Providence News

DR. CHAPIN'S RESIGNATION.

Editor Providence News:

It is rumored about (about a well-known city official) that Dr. Chapin may withdraw his resignation. May?

Of all the fakes in the political atmosphere recommend me to the well-known "may withdraw" fake. The usual modus operandi is to withdraw one's resignation if "the public" (or if the public appears to be doubtful) "the public good demands it."

But in this case, on the authority of a "well-known city official," Dr. Chapin will reconsider his resignation only on condition that the city council grants him a "leave of absence covering several months."

The name of the city official is not mentioned. He speaks as one who is thoroughly posted on the doctor's most inmost thoughts. It seems sad he did not commence his mind reading business before, and not after the superintendent resigned, and suggested to the council that it give him at least a year's vacation at full salary. I am certain that the public furore over the idea of losing the doctor would be so great that a large subscription (in addition to his salary) would be forthcoming from the taxpayers and a great mass meeting would be held in his honor. Bon fires would be lighted and the citizens of all classes and in vast numbers would turn out to do him honor and deplore the necessity of being without his noble, unselfish and wonderful services for even so short as a twelve month.

As far as I know no one (excepting this special and well-known city official) has asked the doctor to withdraw his resignation, and as far as I know nobody is at all anxious for him to withdraw it. The public is very ungrateful, you know, and sometimes fails to appreciate people as highly as they deserve, or as highly as some political friends would wish.

JOHN A. McLAUGHLIN.