Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-09-18
EnuaIto MARK Twain.

newspapers WrlJefS viii thoroughly
. appreciate the following o'er-true tale,
| which we take from the Philadelphia
\ Dispatch:
A week or two ago one of our report
ers had occasion to refer to a certain wo.
man, whom we will call Hannah Smith,
as denizen of the Eleventh ward. A
day or two afterward huge man enter
ed the office with his brow clothed with
thunder. In his hand he carried a
fearful club, and at his side trotted a
bulldog whom hunger had evidently
made desperate. With thai quick ap-
probation of the situation which sis
creditable to the superior intelligence of
educated men, the editor of this paper
and the proprietors darted to the win
dow, climbed outside, slid down the
lightning rod, and went across the street
to watch the bloody fray through spy
glass. With the fearlessness of con-
scious innocence we sat still, merely in
serting our legs in two sections of stove
pipe to guard against any misapprehen-
sion Of facts on the part of the bulldog
The man with the club approached
"Are you the editor7" he asked, spit
ting on his hand and grasping his club
We told him that the editor was out;
that he had gone to the north-pole with
Captain Hall, and that he would not re-
turn before 1876, in time for the centen-
nial celebration.
Are you the proprietor2" asked the
man.
We explained to him that we were not;
that the proprietors we're also ont; that
they had gone to South America for the
purpose of investigating the curative
properties of cundurango, and they ex-
pected to remain there for several years
"Well whoever you are,' exclaimed |
the warrior, my name is Smith.
We told him we were glad; because, if |
there was one thing better than the pos
session of the name of Smith, it was the
privilege of knowing a man by that |
name. But, Smith, we said, why |
this battle array2p 1t is absurd for a
man to put on the panoply of war, and
frisk into editors sanctums, fumbling a
club and accompanied by disheartening
bulldog, simply because. his name hap
pens to be Smith"
He said he called in to burst the head
of the man who had insulted his sister
" 1t is impossible, Smith, that such a
thing could have been done by any one
in this Office, a4f
Is, but it was, though; and her name
was published, tool Miss Smith-Miss
Hammer Smith, a.5tt
May we be permitted to inquire, Mr..
Smith, what was the precise character
of the affront offered TO HannahH
" Well, VOC see, said Smith, " the
blackguard said She was a denizen.
And | want you to understand" ex-
claimed Smith, becoming excited, and
his club in a wild manner
over our head, while the bull dog ad-
vanced and commenced to sniff up aud
down our stove-pipe--" want you to
understand that she is decent young ;
woman, with good character, and rome
Of your denizens and such truck. The
man who says she is a denizen is a :
and thief, and I'll smash
him over the nose if get a chance.
They may say what they please about =
me, but the man who abuses my sister
has got to suffer" And Smith struck ,
The table in violent manner with his !.
club, while the bulldog put his fore legs !.
up on the back Of our chair.
We pacifed Smith with a dictionary. "
We pointed out TO that raging warrior
hat the Websterian definition Of the a
word denizen" gives such person an n
lnofFending character and deprives the Il
erm Of everything like reproachi Smith Z
,aid he was satisfied, and he shook hands u
md kicked the bulldog down stairs.
The editor and proprietor, seeing all d
vas safe, Immediately climbed the s,
lightning rod and soon appeared at the Ia
where they were introduced to c,
smith, with the remark that they had bi