The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-10-12
Selected Story.
" SHAKES" ="

"SHAKES."
Everybody in and around Norway Flat
was acquainted with Shakes. Shakes was
every ones favorite and every ones laugh
ing stock. What his real name was no one on
the Flat, except the postmaster, knew, or
seemed at all anxious to ascertain. In out
ward appearance he was a specimen Of de-
based humanity. Debauchery was indelibly
stamped upon every feature. 1t was deemed
. rare sight to see him with clean face.
Streaks Of gray forced themselves through
the accumulatioas that clung to his long
matted locks and untrimmed beard. A
coarse blue woollen overshirt, with tattered
sleeves, covered his back, from whence many
doubted whether it had been removed since
the day he first put it on, in Grifhn's store,
twelve months ago. His duck pants had
completely lost their original whiteness, and
were tucked in well-worn, much-patched
pair of gum boots The veritable felt hat
worn by him in '52 still maintained its usual
position on the side of his head. The only
change it had apparently undergone since
then was that piece of old coat now con-
stitused the crown.
Shakes history outside Of the precincts
of Norway Fiat was wrapped IN complete3
mystery. lSyen tho time :of his fis
ls6aast B tie
of the AOcciden.al Norway EIsss princi,
nal hotel, drinking and ,da-efhg saioon-and
Also one Of the pipneefs OF the place, assert
ed nShakss blnmed around here when l
fnat rived in So" 1t was generally be-
Ieyed that he hailed from the temperance
St.te of Maine. Shakes, however, was no
temperance man himself; to the contrary he
had earned the unenviable reputation Of be-
ing an inyeterate "whisky hummer" No
one had ever known him to pass a single
night ON the Flat "out Of his cups" 1t is
true that these constant imblblngs had SO
enfeebled his system as to cause him to
readily succumb to its influence. ..,
A lonely log-cabin stood on the hillside.
Shakes owned, and professed to be its occu-
pant, but seldom, if ever, crossed Its thres,
hold. The bar-room OF some one or other OF
the numerous drinking hells was his home; /;
the floor, bench or faro-table, was his
bed.
Although slave to his appetite for in
toxicating drink, none Of its vendors on
Norway Flat were much the richer for hav.
ing Shakes as their customer. 1t was sell
dom that coin passed from his hands to the
barkceper's drawer; but drink ne must
have, and somehow or other he always man
aged to obtain it. The manner in which it
was obtained was secondary consideration
to him. Nothing was too humiliating or too
DEGRADING for-him to do for it. When beg
ging failed, strate y was Immediately resort
ed TO. and in this he was invariably success
full. He would enter the saloon, 80 up to
the bar with thumb and forefnger inserted
in his pocket, and address the bar-keeper
thus
81 say, bar-keep, hurry up; give me
brandy straight"
The bar-keeper would first cast a glance
at the position of the hand, and then tender
the bottle to Shakes, who would unconcern-
edly drink "here's luck" and retire from
the counter without paying.
"Ho, Shakes"
"Eh 2"
"Come and see me-"
"No, thankee; don't feel it now; jest had
'un." 5.'i
And the bar-keeper learned that he was
duped once more, but dared not attempt to
punish his deceiver. The indignation Of
the entire camp would most assurcdly fall
unon the individual who dared to abuse
Shakes. He was Norway Flats privileged
character" "Likes his whisky, l know
Int he's harmless, good-natured old devil
r., T. ~ that" was the sentiment universally
fs rFpsssaeG s BY the members of that mining
Iaebrise as be was, Shakes was not ind0 DO
lent. he y Fas @ alvays, in sunshine or rain
engaged ip ehopping eora-wood or in driving
sRakes-long shinaes, from, which iatSel 1T,
occupation be received his aickpame. In'
s san rcse On Shakes eatering the woods ;
Get on hin making tibee line" for tn,
"Pony Saloon" Fire wood was wezth 81
a cord, and shakes sl8 Thousand, in thoss
days on Norway Flat. Shakes always chop
ped from two to three cords day. @a
dord he paid Chilly, the bostmaa, for agi'
inn il, which Of course considerably Ain'ln.
;shed his earnings, stil thars vas % good
margin left. HOY il came to pag that ns
fshould always be poor could neyf be salts
fsotorily explained. His copdtson OF being
what be termed aaat broIeo was apparent u