The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-14
From the Yankee Blade.
The Left-Handed Fiddler.


Every body out here in the west has either
seen or heard Of Gov. L.-"Black Bob" ms
he is familiarly called by his constituents. He
is the most mous"electioneerer" in all Ken
lucky. His popularity is unbounded, and
believe he never sustained n defeat before the
people. lie is n noble, generous fellow, pos
sessing fine talents and an incXhnusliblc fund
of humor. 1t would "do you good" to hear
one of his popular hRrangues. The blues
fly before the light of his wit, as the mist be-
fore the rays Of The sun.--ils career hns not,
however, been always without difficulty, and
ut times he has been so pushed as to save
himself only by the "skin of his teeth"
we'll remember the celebrated Congress
siounl canvass between Gov. land Mr.
C. In this instance the Governor had
n competitor ''worthy of his sIcel' Mr. G.
was u man of talent and tack and it required
all tue ingenuity of Gov. l.. to manage him.
1t was evident, from the commencement of
the contest, that the race would be an unu-
sunl close one. All depended upon the vote
otlhe mountain counties the district. width
er both candidates directed their steps few
days before the election. They met at great
barbacuc, where nearly every citizen of the
county had congregatcG, | suppose, Mr.
Blade, you have never been present at 4 west
ern barbecue. Well,l shall not now attempt
unlike any gathering You ever Witnessed in
Yankee land. Eating, drinking, "speechity-
ing" aud dancing, are the order of the day.
The dance is carried on out of doors, uu-
der the shade Of the thick growing forest
not in heated close rooms. but where the de-
lighliul brerZes of Heaven fan the brow, and
give elasticity and vigor to the limbs of the
young and gay, rs they "Trip 1t on the light
fantastic toe"
"Well ms before stated, it was at one of
these "free and easy" gatherings that the two
rivals met. On the stump MIR q. couldn't
"hold n candle" TO Black Bob. lie was liter
ally inundated by the ready wit aud brilliant
repartcc Of his "sooiy" competitor. But he
possessed an accomplishment 10 which Gov.
l.. was almost stranger. lie was fine mu-
sician; and after the speaking was concluded,
Mr. C.. took ', ulin in his hand, and gently
and sweclly drawing the bow across the
strings, in n moment the woods were vocal
with the merry laugh, aud the ground trem-
bling beneath the dancing feet nfthe gay and
happy throng. 1t was plainly to be seen, be-
fore the first dance was over, that catgut was
in the asccndancv, and that the friends of
Gov. T.. were rapidly deserving him. Scarce
Nv half an hour had elapsed, ere the hitherto
unconqucrablc Black Bob stood alone, gazing
in melancholy mood upon thc triumph Of
his antagonist. The ladies' eyes sIarkled
brightly as MIR G. busiy piled the bow, willie
the men expressed their admiration in loud
and repeated hurras. This was trying mo-
nent for old Bob, but his fruitful genius was
not long in invenling plan by which 10 eX.
trcatc himselffrom an unpleasant dilemma.
Calling Tom Buster-Tom was leader lin
that region and decidedly some was Tom
Buster--he told HIM that he had II contiden-
tiul communication to make, but which he did
not wish to he mentioned by any one. OF
course Tom promised to keep dark, and the
Governor began:
"Do YOU observe" said he, that G.. plays
the fiddle with his left hnnd?"
eyes do, but then he is left banded"
"Not bit ofit," replied the politician
'not IL bit oft. know him wei, hnve heard
him play n thousand timcs--and down in the
valley and among the rich arisiocrats of the
towns, lie always plays with his right hand
and most splendid music he makes, too;
but he thinks len han9ed music good enough
for your mountain boys. you speak to
him about it, of course he'll deny it, but tell
you it is true" .....
"NVell, cuss him, we'll have no more ofhis
left handed music-he shall give us some of
his best lcks, or I'll be-ifhe shall stay III
these dirgus" ronrod the ufiIriated Tom.
Walking directly in front of Mr. g., he seia-
ed him bv the arm, told him. in loud and
tones, to stop his left handed
work, and give them touch Of the right
sort. In vain MIR G. declared that he could
not play with the right hand in vain he
protested and mplored. The indignant
crowd, sympathising with Tom, and wonn-
ded in their pride by the trick of the d'1Sto,
cratic Gddier, gathered around poor g., and
cried aloud for right handed music. The
storm waxed louder, tho excitement swclled
higher, until finally the discounted fiddler
concluding that prudence was the better part
Of valor, heat TASTY retreat, leaving Black
Bob sole poasc.aor of the field. Tins was
the battle fongh',',,d tho victory won. At the
election week later nearly every vote in
that county was cast for Gov. l..