Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-13
DOCTORS.
a Coed Story TOld A boat Alexander
stephens and DOb T0OmTs


a Coed story fold boat Alexander
stephens and LOB T0OmTs
New York World.
Adoctor named Royston had sued
Peter Bennett for his bill, long over
due, for attending the wife Of the
latter, Alex H. Stephens was on
the Bennett side, and Robert
Toombs, then senator of the United
States, was for DR.. Royston. The
doctor proved his number OF visits,
their value according to local Gus
tom, and his own authority to do
medical practice. Mr.. Stephens told
his client that the physician had
made out his case, and as there was
nothing wherewith to rebut or off
set the claim, the only thing left to
do was to pay it. "No," said Peter,
81 hired you to speak to my case,
and now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him there was
nothing to say; he had looked on to
see that it was made out, and it was.
Peter was obstinate, and at last
Mr.. Stephens told him to make a
speech himself if he thought one
could be made.
81 WILL" said Peter Bennett, "if
Bobby Toombs won't be too hard
on me-"
Senator Toombs promised, and
Peter began:
Gentlemen of the jury: "You
and | is plain farmers, and if we
don't stick together these ere law
yers and doctors will git the advan-
tage of us. Iaint no lawyer nor
doctor, and | amt no objections to
them III their propeIIplace, but they
amt farmers, gentlemen Of the jury.
Now, this man Royston was a
new doctor, and | went for him for
to come an to doctor my wife's sore
leg. And he come an put some
salye truck onto it and some rags,
butitneyer done it one bit of good,
gentlemen Of the jury. | don't be-
lieye he's no doctor, no way. There
is doctors as is doctors sure enough,
but this man don't earn his money;
and if you send for him, as Mrs.
Sarah Atkinson did, fora negro boy
as was worth $1,000, he Just kills
him and wants pay for it,
g. DON'T" thundered the doctor.
"Did you cure him." asked
Pe!er, with the slew accents ct 8
judge with a black cap on.
The doctor was silent, and Peter
proceeded:
AS was saying, gentlemen of
the jury, we farmers when we sell
our cotton has got to give vally for
the money we ask, and doctors amt
none too good to be put to the
same rule. And | don't believe this
Sam Royston is no doctor, nohow."
The physician again put in HE
oar, with, " Look at my diploma, if
you think I am no doctor"
ellis diplomat exclaimed the
new-hedged orator with contempt,
"His diploma? Gentlemen, that is
a big word for printed sheepskin,
and it didn't make 10 doctor of the
sheep as first wore it, nor does it of
the man as now carries it. a good
newspaper has more in it, and III
p'nt out to ye that Ae aiu't no doc
tor at ALL"
The man Of medicine was now
in fury, and screamed out, "Ask
my patients If | am not a DOCTOR"
81 asked my wife, retGrted Pc
ter, "an' she said as how she thought
you wasn't"
"Ask my other patients" said
III hOJsJOn'
This seemed to be the straw tbat
broke the cameps back, for Peter
replied With q look and tone of un-
utterable sadness,
"That is a hard sayin', gentle
men Of the Jury, and Que that re-
quires me to die Or to have powers
as I've hearn tell ceased to be exor-
cised since the Apostles. D9ss he
expect me to bring the Angel Ga.
briel down to toot his horn before
his time and cry aloud, Awake, ye
dead, aud tell this court and Jury
your opinion of Royston's prac-
tice?" Am | to 60 to the lonely
o,rovouord and nan an iha e,leof y