Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-08-18
NED BRACE.

:ss-s-.s. NED BRACE. - 49,. r
This is familiar eognomen osll who have read
that incomparably funny book, the Georgia Scenes.
And if any man has failed to do this act Of justice
to himself, let him procure the book instanter, or
else hide himself incontinently. Judge LONG,
STREET, the author, in bis story now being put-
lished in the; eFssld and FTeside," p introduces
Edward" while ct SCHOOL,
Ned had pair of breeches which he called his
Monday morning breeehes. They were very full in
the legs-trousers in fact. In their natural posi-
ton, they hung tangent to the calves Of his legs,
or nearly so but by catching them near the hips
and pulling them backward and little upward,
they pressed tight upon the shins, and swung
entirely clear of the calves, by at least an inof
Ned had acquired such skill in directing the play
of these trousers, that he had brought his calves
through several penal Mondays almost or entirely,
intact. He knew the velocity of the switch, AMI
he gave his tuich just at the instant of It's reaeh
ing theleg and at the crack, hands off the pants
were back to their place. 81 = -
Ned slept into the ring, and received the first
cut with his usual success 1t was q clear aastl
The Doctor, without pausing, went through the
motions Of the second but arrested it in its des-
cent, and saw, with smile, the pants fly back to
recsive it. 81 thought" said be, s.that lick made
false report How was that done, Neddyf You
keep your hands little too much akimbo for the
occasion. Hands off and fair play, Neddyl Big
breeches are perfectly fair; but no pulling ~ The
remaining nine told las officer said of park Of
artillery in battle with beautiful effect" =.
"What !" the reader may be disposed to ask,
"did he (Dr. Waddel) ever whip grown up young
men ?" Not within our recollection, because we
never knew but one who rendered himself liable
to this kind of correction, and that one left the
school in quick time after the commission of his
offence but tradition said that he had done that
thing; and he used to flourish his hickory with
graceful, but terrific vigor Of arm, when lit
tie fretted' with matters and things in genera,
and thunder forth, ''Ill whip you, sirs, from Rob-
bert Pettigrew down to James Scriyen, inclusive.
The first was the largest, the last the smallest
student in the school. srr- ..
Apropos, Dr.. LABoRDE, in his noble History 0f
the College (of which, by the way, We shall have
somewhat to say hereafter) gives us capital ar
eodote Of Brace st home. The DR.. is drawing 3
mastery sketch of the venerable DR.. MAxoY, and
runs off into an episode in style which, although
the Ned Brace portion is absent, of itself cannot
but provoke hearty burst Of laughter. Bo@-
well was never more true to Johnson than our
mirth loving friend is to Ned Brace. He surely
tells it well, thus .....--s .. g.,.. - -.
Let others think as they may, but am bold
enough to declare the opinion, that there never
was an amiable man trho could not laugh. Whether
Dr. Maxcy INDUCED in wit or humor, or story
telling, cannot say; but he could laugh hearth
ly. In illustration give the following incident:
In the summer of 1919, he visited the village of
Edgefeld, where / resided. At that time GER
tain Edmund Baconlived in the place., He was q
lawyer by profession, and nature was liberal to
him in the gifts OF a commanding person, and
high intellectual endowments. Superadded to
to this was a humor rarely possessed by man. I
may be pardoned for saying that he is the 'Ned
Brace of the "Georgia Scenes" He abounded
in stories and anecdotes, and dealt them out with
maryellously comic effect. He was indeed resist
less. He ''would move wild laughter in the throat
of DEATH" He was the prince Of hospitality,
and no man Of note ever visited the village with.
out being invited to his table. DR.. Maxcy was Of
course invited. After dinner, the guests being
vet at the table, Mr.. Bacon began with his stories
and his inimitable representations. As he had
before him an extraordinary man, and critic Of
rare acuteness, he put forth his highest powers,
and was more than himself. Tie Doctor was not
slow to perceive his wonderful genius, and soon
on overwhelming influence was passing over him.
Story after story was told in succession; all that
is comic, all that is groesque all that's ludicrous
in human nature, was presented with the force Of
living reality. The Doctor laughed, and as the
great actor continued his representations, the
pleasant emotion gradually increased in intensity
until he lost oil control But it did nots.op here
He laughed until every muscle was conyulsed, anil
until he produced acute pain in his sides, and u
sensation of lauguor and exhaustion. His health,
as the reader knows, was delicate. Mr.. B. was
still going on. The company became alarmed :
the Doctors condition was now serious. It was
apprehsnded that, like another Philemon, he
might die Of laughter. Mr.. B. was asked to de.
sist The Doctor was carried from the. house to
recover from the effect. He was heard afterwards
to speak of Mr.. Bacon as the most wonderful man
he ever met and far SURPRISING all the comic ac-
tors of ancient or modern times.