Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-03-21
The Doctors.
A Good Story Told About AleXan.
der Stephens and Bob Toombs.

A doctor named RDyston ha
sued Peter Bennett for bis bill
long over due, for attending tn
wife Of the latter. Alex. Fl. Ste
phens was on the Bennett side, AN
Robert 1oombs, then Senator OF
the United States, was for DR.
Royston. The doctor proved tn,
number of his visits, their value
according to local custom, and hi
own authority to do medical prac
tice. Mr.. Stephens told his ellen
;bat the physician had made ou
his case, and as there was nothing
wherein to rebut or offset the
claim, the only thing left to be
done was to pay it. "No," sale
Peter, 81 hired you to speak tc
my case, and now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him that
there was nothing to say he had
looked on that it was made out,
apd so it was.
Peter was obstinate, and at
last Mr.. Stephens told him to
make a speech himself if he
thought one could be made.
"Iwlll,if Bobby Toombs won't
be too hard on me-"
Senator Toombs promised, and
Peter began:
"Gentlemen Of the jury-You
and I are poor farmers, and if
we don't stick together these
ere lawyers and doctors will
get the advantage Of US. l amt
no lawyer nor doctor, and | do
not object to them in their prop
er place; but they amt farmers,
gentlemen of the jury. Now,
this man Royston was a new
doctor, and | went for him to
come ar to doctor my wile's
sore leg. And he come an put
some salve truck on it an some
rags, but it never done it one
bit Of good, gentlemen of the
jury. / don't believe he's no
doctor, no way. There is doc
tors as is doctors, sure enough,
gentlemen Of the jury, but this
man don't earn his money, and
if you send for him, as Mrs.
Sarah Atkinson did, for a negro
boy as is worth $1,000, he just
kills him and wants pay for it."
II don't!" thundercd doctor.
did you cure him?' asked
Peter with the slow accent Of al
Judge with the black cap on.
The doctor was silent,and Pc
ter continued:
GAS | was saying, gentlemen
Of the jury, we farmers when
we sell our cotton has got to
give yally for the money receiv-
ed, and doctors ain't none too
good to be put to the same rule.
And ! don't believe this Sam.
Royston is no doctor, no how"
The physician again put in his
roar, with "Look at my diploma
if You think l am no doctor"
ellis diplomat" exclaimed the
new fledged orator with con-
tempt. ellis diploma! Gentle
men, that's big word for print
ed shccpskin, and it didn't make
no doctor Of the sheep as first
wore it, nor does it Of the man
rs now carries it. A good news
paper has more in it, and I'll
pint OUT to you he amt no doc
tor at all"
The man Of medicine was now
in a fury and screamed out, "ask
my patients film not a doctor"?,
Il asked my wife," retorted
Peter, can she said as how she
thorght you wasn't"
"Ask my other patients" said
DR.. Roystun.
This seemed to be the straw
that broke the camel's back, for
Peter replied with a tone Of un-
sadness.
"That is u hard sayin', gentle
men of the jury, and one that
requires me to die or have pow
ers that I've hearn tell ceased to
be exercised since the apostles.
Does he expect me to bring the
angel Gabriel down before his
time to toot his horn and cry a.
loud: Awake, ye dead, and tell
this court and jury your opin-
ion of Royston's practiceY Am
/ to go to the lonely graveyard
and rap on the silent tomb, and
say to 'em as is at rest from