Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-02-28
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS.
l. i. & v. V. D GALLAHER EDITORS.
Charlestown, Jefferson Co, W.. va.
OFFICE IN "JEFrERsoN BUILDING"
Saturday, February %, 1874.
Trying on Experiment.

He comes in with an interrogation point IN
one eye and stick in one hand One eye was
covered with handkerchief and one arm in
sling. His bearing was that Of man with
settled purpose in view.
q want to see" says he, "the man that
puts things into this paper"
We intimated that several Of US earned
frugal livelihood in that way.
"Well, want to see the man which cribs
things out of the other papers. The fellow
which writes mostly with shears, you under
stand"
We explained to him that there were seasons
when the most gifted among us, driven to fren-
zy by the scarcity of ideas and events, and by
the clamorous demand of an Unsuitable public,
in moments Of emotional insanity plunged the
glittering shears into exchanges. lie went on
calmly, but 10 @ voice tremulous with sup
pressed feeling and indistinct through the re-
cent loss Of half dozen or so Of his front
teeth
Just so. presume SO. don't know
much about the business, but I wanted to see
the mantle man that printed that little
piece about pouring cold water down a drunk
en- mans spine of his back, and making him
sober. If you please, want to see that man.
| would like 10 talk with him."
When he leaned his stick against our desk
and moisteued his serviccable hand, and re-
sumed bis hold Oh the stick as though weigh
ingit After studying the trick a minute, he
added, in a somewhat louder tone
Mister, came here to see that ere man.
| want to see him bad"
We told him that particular man was not
in.
JGst So presume So They told me
before come that the man l wanted to see
wouldn't be anywhere. I'll wait for him.
live up north, and I've walked seven miles to
Converse with that nan. I'll sitdown enl wait" 3"
lie sat down by the door and redectively
pounded the foor with bis stick. but lis feel
inss would not allow bin 70 keep still.
81 suppose none Of you didn't ever pour
cold water down any drunken mans back to
make him instantly sober, perhaps
None of US in the Office had ever tried the
experiment
Just SO. thought just as like IS not you
had not. Well, mister, have. tried it
yesterday, and have come seven miles on foot
to see tie man that printed that piece. It
wasn't much of a piece, don't think; but |
want to see the man that printed it, just few
minutes. You see John Smith he lives next
doer to my house when I'm to home, and he
gets how come-you-so every little period
Now, when he's sober he's all right, ifyou keep
out of bis way but when he's drunk he goes
home aud breaks dishes, and trips over the
stove, aud makes it incon7enient for his wife
and sometimes he gets his gun and goes out
calling on his neighbors, and it amt pleasant.
" Not that want to say anything about
Smith but me and my wife don't think he
ought to do 50. He came home drunk yoster-
day and broke all the kitchen windows out Of
his house, and followed bis wife around with
the carving knife, talking about her liver, and
after while he lay down by my fence and
went to sleep. bad been reading that little
piece-it wasn't much Of q picce-and
thought if could pour some water down his
spine, on bis back, and make him sober. it
would be more comfortable for bis wife, aud a
square thing to do all round. So 1 poured
bucket Of spring water down John Smiths
spine Of bis back"
Well" said we, as our visitor paused,
" did it make him sober? p
Our visitor took frmer hold Of bis stick,
aud replied with increased emotion
Just 50. suppose it did make him sober
as Judge IL less time than you could say
Jack Robinson but, mister, it made him mad.
u made bin the maddest man l ever saw and
Mr.. Smith is bigger man than me, aud stout
er. He is a good deal stouter. Bla-ess him,
never knew be was half so stout until yester-
day end he's handy with bis fists, too.
should suppose he's the handiest man with his
fists ever saw.
"Then be went for you, did he ?" we asked
him, inuocently.
Just so. suppose be went for me about
.Lo bss, ba kne,r but don't hold no pruice