The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-10
A Backwoods Editor.

For the benefit OF those who nave not
heard it, or forgotten it, we will give the
story of backwoods editor:
Years ago, when a certain Western
State (which we shall not name was a
territory, and with few inhabitants, a
young lawyer from one Of the old States
emigrated thither, and settled in the
town of * He succeeded admira-
bly, in his profession, and rose rapidly in
popular favor. He had been there near
" two years, when he induced printer
to print weekly paper, of which he was
editor and proprietor. Squire ;. was
much pleased for while with editing a
paper. He was man of very low stature,
but he used the editorial "we," as fire.
quently as if there were dozen of him,
and each as big as Daniel Lambert.
Strange to say, there were at that time
men in Office who were not particle
more honest than they should be; a
thing which probably never happened
before and never will again. Squire S.
felt all the patriotism Of son ofiT6,
and poured out grape and canister against
public abuses. This soon stirred hor-
nets nest about his ears; but as there
was no other paper in the territory, there
was no reply, and he enjoyed his warlike
propensities in security.
At length he published an article more
severe and cutting, against malfeasance
in Office, than had preceded it. In fact,
though pointed at no one individual in
particular, it was "scorcher."
. Some three or four days afterwards he
was sitting alone in his editorial Office,
which was about g quarter of mile from
the printing establishment; his pen was
busy with a paragraph, when his door
opened without much ceremony, and in
stalked man about six feet in his stock
ings. He asked, care you S., the pro-
prietor of this paper?" Thinking he
had found new patron, the little man,
with one of his blandest smiles, answered
in the affirmative The stranger delib
erately drew the last number of the paper
from his pocket, and pointing to the arti-
Gle against rogues in Office, told the af-
frighted editor that it was intended for
"him.' 1t was in vain that S. protested
he had never heard of him before. The
wrath of the visitor rose to fever heat,
and from being so long restrained, boiled
over with double fury. He gave the edi-
tor his choice, either to publish hum
BILE, very humble recantation, or take a
hogging on the spot. Either alternative
was s,wormwood; but what could he dol
The enraged ofice-holder was twice his
size, and at one blow would qualify him
for an obituary notice. He agreed to re-
tract; and as the visitor insisted upon
writing the retraction himself, he sat
down to his task. Squire S. made an
excuse to walk to the printing office, with
promise that he would be back in sea-
son to sign it as soon as it was finished.
S. had hardly gone fifty rods, when he
encountered a man who inquired where
Squire SIS Office was, and if he was at
home. Suspecting that he, too, was on
the same errand as the other visitor, he
pointed to the Office, and told him he
would fine the editor within, writing 8
most abusive article against Office holders
This was enough. The eyes of the new
conner flashing fire, he rushed into the
Office, and assailed the stranger with the
epithets, "liar, scoundrel, coward" and
told him he would teach him how tc
write. The gentleman supposing it was
some bully sent there by the editor
sprang to his feet and fight ensued
The table was upset and smashed into
fire wood, the contents of a jug of ink
stood in puddles on the floor, the chairs
had their legs and backs broken beyond
the skill of surgery to cure them. Thi;
seemed only to inspire the combatants
| with still greater fur, Blow followed
blow with the rapidity of lightning
First one was kicking on the floor, ther
the other, each taking it in turn pretty
equally. The ink on the floor found its
way to their faces, till both of them cut
the most ludicrous figure imaginable
The noise and uproar were tremendous
The neighbors ran to the door, and ex
claimed with astonishment, that two ne
groes were fighting in Squire SIS office
None dared separate them. At length
completely exhausted, they ceased fight
ing. The circumstances of the case be-
came known, and the next day, hardly
able to sit on horseback, their head:
bound up, they started homeward, con
vinced that they had attained very little
l. &c okso 46a al