The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-06-29
MORAL POWER OF MUSCLE.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

BY JUDGE CLARK.
It is about dozen years since business
not pleasure-took me to New Jericho, the
terminus of civilization and the Whammel-
over Rail Road And "hard road to ira
vel, /" that was. It had sleeper grades, sharp
er curves, and more of them than, it is to be
hoped, ever put in peril the public life and
limb before or since.
1t was Saturday afternoon, and we were
to reach Jericho at some indefinite hour
that evening, "time not being the essence
of the contract" .'....
At place called Blurin, we stopped ff-
teen minutes to "liquor." There had been
cock fight, and several other fights; and
big crowd there that day, and everybody was
in high glee.
The New Jericho delegation returned by
our train, and rougher looking samples of
rustic rowdydom it would have been difficult
to find, even in that favored region. Among
them was a six-footer, very Hercules in
proportions, with cock-o'- '-the-walk sort of
swagger about him, who took possession Of
two seats, depositing his body on one and
deadheading his legs on the other, One
cheek was puffed out by an underlying quid,
while ever and anon, with a back-action
jerk, he would send near a gill Of tobacco
juice over his shoulder, which those in
range had the privilege of lodging or ta-
king the consequences of, as they liked. AS
for his conversation, the curse of Ernulphus
or the table-talk of Flanders mess-room in
Uncle Toby's times in point Of maledictory
power, was weak in comparison
AT the next station young lady came on
board, as beautiful as Venus and modest as
Diana. How so rare flower came to bloom
in such wild, was question to puzzle over.
But there was no TIME to settle it. The
lady was standing and all the seats were oc-
cupied. I was on the point of offering mine,
when youthful looking gentleman, of pre-.
possessing manners and appearance, stepped
forwurd and addressed the couchant Her
cules:
aAllow me-" he said politely "tO turn
over the back of this seat"
"Hey?" the other grunted.
The request was repeated.
"See you dod darned first !" was the gruff
response.
aBut sir" the gentleman began to expos
tulate.
"Lookee here, you" clustered the bully,
"don't you offer for to so to rile me that's
my advice, an I gives it free gratis, cause /
feels an intrust in you"
"But this lady is entitled to seat" the
stranger persisted. ...
"Give her yourn then, dol drot you an
stop your chin music, or, by Hoky, you'll rile
me p
AS a last resort, tie gentleman appealed
to the conductor, who happened to be pass
ing. But the latter declined to interfere.
Such things must be left to courtesy. Be-
sides, it wasn't his place to take part in the
disputes Of passengers.
So saying, he went his way, punching
tickets, and taking no further heed.
"Dod blast you, you have riled me =!
shouted the bully, springing to his feet and
striding up to the young man, who didn't
seem quite sensible Of his danger. "Youve
gone and stuck your nose into other peoples
business, an I'm goin' to pull it"
An attempt was made to suit the action to
the word; but before the" metaphorically
offending member had been so much as
touched, something-it moved so swiftly [
could not be positive it was the gentleman's
fst-took Hercules directly between the
eyes and sent him sprawling to the other
end of the car. He didn't get up immedi-
ately, and when he did, he seemed bewilder-
ed as to whether he had been knocked down
or the train had run off the track. He had
enough, at all events, wherever it came from,
as was evident from the subdued air with
which he took his departure for the smoking
car. whittier his companions soon followed,
no doubt secretly chuckling at the result, as
usually do the chums of whipped bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor of the New
Jericho Rest, was the most communicative
of hosts. Before bedtime that night, l was
thoroughly and accurately "ap" lin all the
gossip of the place, and its scandalous statis-
tics at my fingers ends.
Among other things, I learned that
''stated preaching" had hitherto been among
the wants of the community, but that
Supply" had been at length obtained, and
the minister was expected to enter on his
duties on the morrow.
"And refreshin' season he hev of it,"
said Pap.
"Why so ?" I asked.
"Oh Bill Grinkey an t'other chaps is
goin to brake him in tomorrow; an eff you
want to see fun, I'd cdwise you to go thar"
And 1 did go, not "to see the fun" as
Pap Kilderkin suggested, but, l trust, from
better motives. Pap went toby what
prompted, I prefer not judging.
When we reached the church, the min
lister had not yet made his appearance,
though a goodly number of hearers had
already assembled. A few. minutes later,
yesterdays delegation to the Bluruin: cock
fight, headed by the vanquished bully, with
both.his eyes in full mourning, sauntcred
in, and proceeded noisily down the aisle.
"That's Bill Grinkey," whispered Pap,