The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1837-1849, 1842-07-09

FLOGGING AN EDITOR.

FLOGGING AN EDITOR. al
About twenty five years ego, when a
certain Western State (Which we shall
not name) was a territory ,and with few
inhabitants, ayouns lawyer from one OF
the old Stsles emigrated thiher, and set
tied in the town Of X. Ho succeeded
admirably in his profession, and rose
rapidly in public favor. He had been
there neafly two years, when he induce d
printer 10 come on and print for him O
weekly paper,of which he was editor and
proprietor. Squire S., was much
pleased, for while with editing paper.
lie was a man of very low statue, but
he used the editorial 'wE' an frequently
as il there were dozen Of him, and each
as big as Daniel Lambert,or the Kentucky
giant.
Strange to say, there were al that. time
men in whooffice were not a particle more
honest then they should be; u thing which
probably never happened before ,and ne, :
er will again. Squire s., felt all the
PATRIOTISM Of a son Of 10, and poured out
grape shot and canister against public
abuses. This soon stirred hornets nest
about his ears; but as there was no other
paper in the territory, there was no reply,
and he enjoyed his warlke pro pensl.,es in
security. 7a.,
Al length he published an article more
serious and cutting against malieasance
in office, than any that had preceded it.
In fact, though il pointed at no one lndi-
vidual IN particular /; 1t was q scoTch-
er. nv. II itnf.fai. t.i it'rea.oa
Some three or tour days afterwards he
was sitting alone in his editorial Office,
which was about a quarter Of mile from
fhs pnisttog establishment his pen was
busy with paragraph, when his door was
opened without much ceremony, and IN
stalked q nan full six feet in his stock
lngs. He asked, Are you s. the
editor OF this paper p Thinking he had
found new patron, he replied, with one
Of his blandes smiles,t in the affirmative.
The stranger deliberately drew the las!
paper from MS pocket ,and poILting to the
ar ticle against iogues IN office, told the
afrightec editor that it was intended for
him. 1t was IN vain that S-,protest-
ed he had never heard Of him before The
wrath Of the visitor rose to fever heat and
from being SO long restrained boiled over
with double fury. He gave the editor
his choice either 10 publish a hu mbIe,a
VERY humble recantation or TAKE A
FLoGGING ON THE SPOT. Either alt erna-
tive was wormwood, but what could he
do The enraged Office holder was twice
his SIZE and with one blow could qualify
him for an obituary notice. lie agreed
10 retract, aud as his visitor insisted up
on writing it himself, he sat down to the
task. Squire s., made an excuse to
line printing Office with promise that he
would bs back in season TO sign it, as
soon as it was finished.
S-,had hardly gone fifty rods when
he encountered man who inquired where
squire SIS Office was, and If he was
al home - --Suspectlng, that he too, o,was
on the same errand as the other visiter,
he pointed TO the Office, and told him he
could find the editor within, writing a
most abusive article against Office hold,
ers:. This wasenough. The eyes OF the
new conner flashed fire. He rushed IN
to the office, and assailed the stranger with
the ephi,hsts, 'liat,' 'scoundrel, ,cowatd;'
aid told him he would teach him wha, to
write. The gentleman supposIng it was
some bully sent there by the editor;
sprang to his icet, and o fight ensued
that beat the Kilkenny cats all hollow
The table was upset and smashed into
kidding wood-the contents Of a large
Jug of INK stood in puddles on the hoor !
the chars had their legs and backs
broken 5eyond the skill OF surgery to cure
them This seemed only TO inspire the
comba,au,s with still greater fury. Blow
followed blow with the rapidlly OF light
ming, and the force Of sledee hammer. (
First one was kicking on the floor s. then
the other---eacb taking il in turns pretty
equally The ink on the floor found its
way to their faces till both Of them cut
the most ludicrous figure imaginable -
the noise aud uproar was tremendous.
The neishbors ran 10 the door aud ex-
claimed with aslonishment, tba, two me-
groes were 6ehupe in squire S"'s Of
ice. None dared TO seperaie them, At
length completely exhausted, aud pound
ed 10 ajelly they ceased fshlips. The
N..s OlIf u .....H ........ d. 49,