Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-08-01
SCENE AT cULPEPPER COURT
HOUSE1N OTHER DAYS.

1
HoUSE1N OTHER DAYS
We extract from Virginia. illustrated.
in the August number OF Harper's Maga.
zine. the following:
AT Gulpepper Court House. or some
Court House thereabouts. Dick Hardy,
then good humored. gay young bachelor.
and The prime fayorite of both sexes. was
called upon 10 carve the pig at the Court
dinner. The district judge was at the ta-
BILE, the lawyers. the justices. and every
body else that was disposed to dine. AT
Dick s right elbow. sat a militia colonel
who was lricked out in all the pomp and
circumstances admitted by his rank, He
had probably, been engaged on some court
martial. imposing fifty cents tine upon
some absentees from the last general
muster. Howbeit, Dick, in thrusting the
fork into the back of the pig, bespattered
the officers Regimentals with some of the
tsuperfluous gravy. "Beg your pardon. :"
said Dick, as he went on with the carving.
Now these were times when war spirit was
high, and chivalry at premium. "Beg
your pardon" might serve as a napkin to-.
wipe the stain from ones honor, but did
not touch the question of the creased aod
spotted regimentals.
The Colonel, swelling with wrath,
seized spoon, aud deliberately dipping
I it into the gravy. dashed it over Dicks
prominent SHIFT frill.
All saw the act, and with open eyes
and mouth sat in astonished silence. wait
ing to, see what would be done next
The outraged citizen calmly laid down
his knife and fork, and looked at his frill,
the officer. and the pig, one after another.
The Colonel, unmindful of the paid
countenance and significant glance of
the burning eye. leaned back in hisehair.
with arms akimbo. regarding the young
farmer with cool disdain. A murmur Of
surprise and indignation arose from the
congregated guests. Dicks face turned
as red as turkey gobler's. He deliber>
ately took the pig by the bind legs. and
with sudden whirl threw it down upon
by the squashing blow, astonished and
blinded with streams of gravy and wads
of stuffing, he attempted to rise, but blow
after blow from the fat pig. fell upon his
bewildered head. He seized carving
knife and attempted to defend himself
with blind but Intellectual fury and at
length with desperate effort rose and
took to his heels. Dick Hardy, whose
wrath waxed hotter and hotter, followed
aud belaboring him at every step around
the table, through the hall. and into the
street, the crowd shouting and applaud.
ing. We are sorry TO learn that among
the crowd were lawyers, sheritfs and CON:
stables and that, even his honor, the
judge, forgetting his dignity and position,
shouted to him in loud voice, "'Give it
to him. Dick Hardy There is no law in
Christendom against basting man with
a roast pig" Dicks weapon failed be.
fore his anger; and when at length the
battered Colonel escaped into the door Of
friendly dwelling, the victor had noth-
ing in his hands but the hind legs Of the
roaster. He re e.entered the dining room
fourishing these over his head, and vent
ing his wrath in great oaths.
The company re>assembled, and finish
ed their dinner as best they might. In
reply to toast, Hardy made a speech,
wherein he apologized for sacrificing tho
principal dinner dish, and, as he express
ed it, for putting public property into pri-
vate uses. In reply to this speech treat
was ordered. In these good old times
folks were not SO virtuous but that man
might have cakes and ale without being
damned for it and it is presumed the
day wound up with a SPREE"