The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-09-23
The Left-Handed Fiddler.
BY JERRY NoBs.

The Left-Handed Fiddler sa'
eH-- BY JERRY NoBs. n
Everybody in the west has either
seen OF heard OF Gov. L---; "Black
Bob," as he is familiarity called by his
constituents. His popularity is un-
bounded, and believe he has never
sustained defeat before the people,
He is anoble, generous fellow, possess
i ing fine talents and an inexhaustible
fund of humor. 1t would "do you
good" 10 hear one of his popular har-'
angues. The blues fly before the light
of his wit, as the mist before the rays
of the SUN. v His career has not, how.
ever, been always without difficulty,
and at times he has been so pushed as
to save himself only BY the "skin Of his
teeth"
well remember the celebrated Con-
gressional canvass between Gov. l.. and
Mr.. G. In this instance, the Governor
had a competitor "worthy Of his steel"
Mr.. G. was a man Of talent and tact,
and j. required all the ingenuity of Gov.
l.. to manage him. 1t was evident
from the commencement ofthe contest,
that the race would be an unusually
close one. All depended upon the vote
of one of the mountain counties Of the
districtwhi,her both candidatesdirec
their steps a few days before the cleo
ton. They met at a great barbecue,
where nearly every citizen Of the coun-
ty had congregated, | suppose, Mr..
Blade, you have never been present at
a western barbecue. We'll, shall not
now attempt to describe one. Suffice
it to say, that is unlike any gathering
you ever witnessed in Yankee land
Eating, drinking, "speechiying," and
dancing are the order of the day. The
dance is always carried on out Of doors,
under the shade of the thick.growing
iorest-not in heated close rooms. but
where the delightful 'breezes Of Heaven
Ian the brow, and give elasticity and
vigorto the limbs of the young end gay,
as they "tripit on the light fantastic
toe." .GA't." ptp.ta 80 s'N}% 81
( Well, as before stated, il was at one
of those "free and easy" gatherings that
the two rivals met. On the stump Mr..
G. couldn't "hoId candle" to Black
Bob. He was literally inundated by
the ready wit and brilliant repartee OIL
his "sooty" competitor. But he pos
sessed an accomplishment to which
Gov. .E.Gwas almost a stranger. He
was a fine musician; and after the
speaking was concluded, NJ. G. took a
violin in bis hand, and gently and sweet
ly drawing the bow across the strings,
in a moment the woods were vocal with
the merry laugh, and the ground trem-
bled beneath the dancing feet Of the gay
and happy throng. It was plainly to
be seen, before the first dance was over,
that cat.gut was in the ascendency, and
that the friends Of Gov. l.. were rapid.
ly deserving him. Scarcely half an hour
had elapsed, ere the hitherto unconquer-
able Black Bob stood alone, gazing in |
melancholy mood upon the triumph OIL
his antagonist The ladies', eyes spark.
led brightly as Mr.. 6. busily piled the
bow, while the men expressed their ad-
miration in loud and repeated hurrahs.
This was a trying mo ment for old Bob;
but his fruitful genius was not long in |
inyenling a plan BY. which TO extricate
himself from an unpleasant dilemma
Calling Tom Buster-Tom was a lead
er in that region, and decidedly some
was Tom Buster--be told him he had
q. confidential communication to make,
which he did not wish to be mentioned
to any one. Of course Tom. promised
10 keep dark, and the Governor began:
"Do you observe," said he, t"that G.
plays the fiddle with his left handr'T
s"Yes ! do, but then he is left-handed."
aNot bit ofit,," replied the willy pol
l,icion---"not a Bit Of it, ! know him
well, have heard him play a. thousand
limes-rand down in,the valleys, and a.
nong the rich aristosrats Of the towns