Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-09-05
A Thrilling Incident.

occasion to go frsm Green Bay
to Chicago, on the Northwest
ern Railway. At Oshkosh we
were Joined by delegation of
lawyers on their way to Madi-
son, the capital, to attend the
Legislature then in session.
They were all men Of more
than usual intellect, and Of ex-
ceptional character. Two were
ex-judges of the circuit court,
and one ] had seen chairman of
the Young Mems Christian As
sociation. The party found
seats near together, and after
the first salutations were over,
and the news duly discussed,
they began to look around for
means to while away the time.
After awhile some one proposed
game of cards. No sooner
said than done. Two seats were
turned apart SO as to face each
other, cushion improyised for
a table, and three of our law
yers, including the chairman of
the Young Mems Christian As
sociation, and Chicago runner
on good terms With them, were
soon deep in the mysteries of a
game of eucher.
l was surprised to see Chris
tian gentlemen and judges of
law-cquity-leaders of society,
makers Of public sentiment,
law-givers for a great State, di-
rectors of public morals, sup
posed TO be public exemplars of
all that is good, and guides to
the young--thus setting pub
licly their seal of approval TO a
most dangerous and evil prac-
tice. To be sure, they played
for stakes 10 higher than the
cigars for the party. But it
seems to me that, in the eyes OF
all discreet persons, this does
not change the act nor lessen
the danger of its example, but
rather heightens it, as from the
less TO the greater is the invari-
able course of crime. But /
did not intend to moralize O..
paper, but was about to say that,
while / was filled with such
thoughts as these, one Of the
party grew tired of the game
and our rema' ming judge WAS
invited to take bis place. l
saw the blood mount in an hon
est blush Of disapproval to his
manly face, and he hcsitated
and drew back. But the game
had become interesting, and
his excited companions urged
him. "Comc, Judge, take il
hand" they cried, "wc can't go
on without you" So the judge
rose slowly from his 6eat, in
wardly condcmnmg the act as ]
evidently saw, and stepping
forward took a seat among the
players, and the game went on.
/ had noticed an old lady in
seat to the rear of the play
ers, who had got on board at
Mcnasha, believe. Gray and
bent with age, she had set
abashcd, and with eyes closed,
seemed asleep most of the time
until the train stopping at Os-
kosh, took On board the compa-
ny of lawyers. She then un-
dcrwent Il change and became
greatly interested in the COM
pany, looked often from one to
the other as if she recognized
all, or was trying to recall their
faces. When the game of cards
was started she became very
restless, would hitch uneasily
iabout in her seat, take up the
hem OF her faded apron and ner-
vously bite the threads. Once
or twice l thought she wiped
her eyes under her "Shaker
bonnet but could not tell. She
acted so strangely | became
more interested in her than in
the players, and watched her
closeIy. She got up after time
and tottered forward, holding
on to the seats as she passed.
She brushed against Judge -
in passing, but he had become
interested in the game and did
not notice her. Reaching the
water tank at last she drank a
cup Of water and took a seat