The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-11-12
From Cozzens' Wine Press
Apecdote Of General Coombs.

ADecdote of General Coombs.
Although veteran of the war of 1912,
and ono cf the bravesL General Coombs still
retains the sprightliness Of youth his head
is erect, his back straight as pine tree, his
eye as bright as gamo cocks, and his
laugh as cheerful as the carroll of a bird in
nesting time. All these qualities are, doubt.
less, owing to an internal well,spling of wit
and humor, as certain " keep the outer
man fresh and yerdurous rs the spray of n
fountain will keep its borders in perpetual
bloom. One day the General was travelling
in a stage coach with one of those unhap,,y
philosophers who bestow more attention up.
on the Jumps on their skulls than on the
Innings thereof, ycl,ped phrenologists. OF
course, everybody in the stage was thor.
oughly bored by this professor until the
General drew him into an unluckv ambus.
cade. Sir" said Leslie, " used TO be of
opinion that this science was neither correct
nor founded upon proper grounds, although
had never gwen The subject ihe attention
! now find 1t merits, but am convinced,
from the very able discourse you have Civ.
en us, that your theory is just one, and
Of no little consequence when we need 10
make an estimate Of the characters and dis
positions of men. But although / had no
great faith in it, yet was sometimes struck
with resemblance in its leading features TO
a science with which am familiar, and by
which am, in great measure, guided in
my intercourse with strangers -
"I presume" interrupted the professor.
with a smile of selfsatisfaction, :you al.
lude 10 physiognomy
No, sir" replied the General, any
science is dogology."
"Dogology J" echoed The professor, aghast.
Dogology," said the General, with a
winning smile, l can always tell, sir, by
the appearance of dog, what sort of a
man his master is"
Sir" replied the phrenologist, drawing
himself up stifly, +" | see your intention Is
to cast ridicule upon my science"
Pardon me-" said the General, with q
most amiable expression Of countenance, " ]
will convince you to the contrary. At the
next town where we stop for dinner, and
which have never visited before, will tel
you from the dogs in the streets what sor
Of men their owners are. And If fail e
do so, will forfeit the drinks for the Who'll,
stage load Of passengers"
"Oh, yes. that you could readily make
up fanciful theory, am convinced, and
draw an imaginary character for that Of the
master of every dog, / have tolerably good
reasons for believing but how am to tel
whether you are correct or notg l am q
stranger here as well as yourself" said the
wary professor.
"We will leave the decision to the land
lord of the tavern where we STOP lie mus
know every person in the place." replied the
General.
Agreed" said the phrenologist. winlinc
at the other passengers, and regaininy hi:
self satisfied air, g. agree to that, and will
forfeit the drinks If the landlords account
tallies with your descriptions"
On arriving at the tavern, dinner wa.
speedily discussed, the passengers being anx
ious TO enjoy the exhibition Of this move
science. The General beckoned the land
lord out Of the barroom. This drew all IN,
idiers with him. so that with them and th,
passengers there was a tolerably large prour
in front of the tavern, and, of course, thi,
attracted other persons to ses what was 90
ing on; 3, thai, by lie iis..s ;he Landlord
had been made acquainted with his dutie.
as arbiter, quite respectable audience was
collected--in numbers at least.
The owner of that dog said the Gen
eral, as fine pointer, with steel chain co!
lar round his neck, passed, "is a gentleman
Of education and property. lie lives well
dresses well, has fine house, (the best
house in town, quoth the landlord,) enjoys
himself nationally, isfond Of society, sports.
man, (that he ISL is generally popular and
on good terms with his neighbos. How is
that, landlord !"
4True as die" said the landlord, athe
very man,
Just then little wiry Scotch terrier dart.
ed from under garden gate opposite, and
rushed up the street after flock Of chick.
ems. The owner Of that dog,n said the
speaker, SIS boy about fourteen or fifteen
years Of age. A sly little rogue, always
about some miachief; he is a spoiled child,
perhaps the only one; be and tho dog are