The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-09-19

across it in print. Many anecdotes of his
are told Of Gov L., which
would look as we'll in print as the one W hic
has found its way into the "Blade;" espe-
cially when he end Stree Tom were com
pelilors. "Free Tom" by the wayne sus
pect, was the hardest horse s' Black BIb,"
was "forenens,:" -and he, finding that Gov
l.. was not TO be beaten before the people.
hired one of the Sheriffs to run off with lh,
poll book of county, which gave Gov. l.. !;
majority sufficient 10 elect him! But, here
is the anecdole:
From the Yankee Blade.
THE LEFT HANDED FIDDLER.
Every body out here in the West has Ell
Their seen or heard OF Gov. l.. BLACK
Bob as lie is fame liarly called by his con
sliiuen's. He is the mos famous election
eerer' in all Kentucky. His popularity Is
unbounded, aud believe he has never sus
tanned defeat before the people. He is "a
noble, generous fellow, possessing fine tai
enis and an inexhaustabie fund of humor.--
1t would do you good TO hear one oil his pop
ular harrangeus. The blues fly before The
light of his wit, as The mist before the rays
of the sun. His career has not, however.
been always without difficulty, and at times
he has been so pushed as TO save himself on
iy by the skin of his teeth
well remember The celebrated Congress
sional canvass between Gov. L. and MIR
G.. In this instance the Governor had a
competition worthy of his steal
MIR. g. was Il maj Of talent and fact, and
il required all the ingenuity of Gov. l.. to
manage him. II was evident from the com
mencemenl OF The contest, that the race
would be an unusually close one. All de-
pended upon the vote of one of the noun
tain counties of The district, whittier boIh
canddat es directed their Steps few days
before the election. They met at great
barbecue, where nearly every citizen OF The
county had congregaled suppose, Mr.
Blade, you have never been present at d
Western barbecue. Well, shall not now
attempt TO describe one. Suffice il to say
that il is unlike any gathering you ever VIII
messed in Yankee land. Eating, drinking,
speechifyng,' and dancing are The order OF
of the day. The dance is carried on out Of
doors, under the shade oil The thick growing
'orest-not in heated close rooms, but where
The delightful breezes OF Heaven fan the
brow, and give elasticity and vigor TO the
limbs Of the young and gay, as they strip it
on The light fantastic toe.'
Well, as before stated, il was at one Of
these Tree and easy gatherings that the
TWO rivals met On the stump Mr.. G.
C, uldn't hold candle to Black Bob. He Was
A., Ixyx MI
brilliant repariee of bis 'sooty' competitor.
But he possessed an accomplishment To
which Gov. l.. was almost stranger. He
was fine musician; and after the speaking
was concluded, Mr.. G. took a violin in his
hand, and gently and sweelly drawing the
bow across The strings, in moment the
woods was vocal with the merry laugh, and
the ground trembling beneath The dancing
feet of The gay and happy throng. II was
plainly to be seen, before the first dance
W over that ci,-gut was in the ascenden.
cy, and that the friends Of Gov. l.. were rap
idly deserving him. Scarcely half an hour
had elapsed, ere the hitherto unconquerable
Black Bob stood alone, gazing in melancho-
ry mood upon The triumph OF his antagonist.
The ladies' eyes sparkled brightly as Mr..
j. busily piled The bow, while the men ex-
PRESSED their admiration in loud and repeat
I'd hurras. This was trying moment foi
old Bob; but his fruitful genius was not long
n inventing plan by which to extricae
himself from an unpleasant dilemma. Cal
ling Tom Bus,er-Tom was leader in tina
legion, and decidedly some was Tom Busle
he told him that he had a confidential
communication to make, hut which he did
not wish to be mentioned TO any one. o
course Tom promised 10 keep dark, and III.
Governor began:
Do you obserye.' said he, shat G. plays
the fiddle with his lett hand?''
yes do, but he is Ief-hsnded." -G4
'Not biz of it, replied the willy politician
mot bit Off. know him we'll, have
heard him play thousand times-and down
in the valleys, aud among the itch aris,ocrais
ofihe towns, he always plays with his rghi
hand and most splendid music he makes
too: but he thinks left handed music good
enough for your mountain boys. Ii you
speak to him ab ul it he deny il, but Iiell
' OF lis tue
We'll, cuss him, we'll have no more OF
"ts teJt-hdHueu ulusic-He Shall give US Sollle
of bis best ticks. or Ill be-if he shall stay
IN tn Sc diggings;' ioared The iniuriaied
Tom.
Walking directly in front of Mr.. g., he |
seized him by The arm, told him in loud and
commanding tones, To stop his left handed
work, and give them a touch ofthe right sort.
In vain MIR. G. declared that he could moi
play with his right hand in vain he proles-
ed and implored. The indignant crowd, |
Symn1thisiuU with Tn, anil ty,n,dod a., /