The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-02-13
SOLOMON DoOLITTLE.
A Brief Biography of a Character
Met Almost Daily in Every
Community.
A General Jack of AIIT,ades.

A General Jack of AlI,TIades.
Somewhere iii America, and some
time In the present century, the
subject of this story was born. His
parents, caring but little for educa-
tlon, the children received but little.
Sol, however, managed to- get a
smatterlng or superficial knowledge
of the English branches. 1t is sup
posed by some that he got as far as
Trige( r )nometry, for, as the boys
sometimes say, he was always ''trig
gering." Judging by his actions as
well as words, he deemed himself
not whit inferior to his illustrious
predecessor who wrote the Pro
verbs. Soon after quitting school,
he offered his services to his con
Stituency Tor almost any position
they had to bestow.
Most of his aspirations were real
lied. He was o1e of the most sue
cessful electioneerers that ever fig
ured in the district in which he
lived. And had he been as dilIgent
in filling positions as in seeking
them, and confined himself to fewer
vOcations, wealth would haye
crowned his labors. Indeed, he did
appear for few brief years to be
doing well. Long enough, at least,
to deceive some of his best well to
do friends, who afterwards had to
pay hundreds of sdollars security
money" as they called it. Tickle
ness and ''triggery" reduced Uncle
Sol at one time to abject poverty.
And as the friends who were able
to succor had fed from him, he be
came somewhat dispirited, at the
same time little soured at the
well-to do people.
According to the version of some,
and the teachings of the old Book
itself, there are but two sorts of
people. And there lived in Uncle
Soils country mary, very many, of
his sort. Hence in his poverty and
trouble he thought of this and took
fresh hope. He knew that there
were always two or more aspirants
for the same office of the other sort.
So he was from about the time of
the big Shakes" according now
to Uncle Peters recollection IL |
standing candidate for "Chief cook |
and bottle washer" | have said
that he was very successful! cleo
tioneerer. l meant he succeeded !
among his ''sort," and on this plan
He would tell his constituency that
Mr.So-and SO was proud ,aristocrat
ic, Overmuch righteous or temperate |
in short, he is not of our sort.
Sometimes when he found out
there was GOODNESS existing be- |
tween parties representing both |
sorts he would be very busy com
from one to the other !
Protesting dear friendship for both,
he would bind both equally in Sc
crecy as to what the other said |
about him-especially in a case
where and when he knew that either |
or both were doubtful voters. A
vulgar adage says 1.-The devil some
times overshoots himself" 1t was |
often demonstrated during Uncle |
SOPs campaigns. AS it is difficult
matter for the most acute of the OBJ
servant to tell every time which
sort or party man belongs to, even
Uncle Sol, with a long experience
and great deal of cunning, would
often tell his store of secrets to the
wrong man.
AS to his politics and religion,
they were like the answer an old
colored preacher gave to white
one who would know of him how
many members belonged to his
Dat" said Cutfy, "'pends
pom de times. If iL's 'vival times,
all in de neighborhood are mem
bers; if it's backslidIng times, wy
Uncle Billy and Aunt Nancy are all
lie members l had" Uncle Sol's
politics or religion depended greatly
upon times and circumstances AL
though it is said he professed some
in his young days, at least
enough to get into the church oil
his sweetheart, yet he failed to cul-
bivate, and that like his garden and
fields was choked of thorns and
5histles. He quit attending church,
except when he was seeking an Of
ice. Then, when with the A church
he would give the BIS ''lits,''
and Vice UerSa.
His cunning, craftiness and Chi
,anery being much greater than his
stock of common sense and good
his friends of the better
class grew in number beautifully
ess every time he canvassed the
country for office. Space forbids
my telling all the mean things done
Dy Uncle Sol during his public ca
reer. Let me say to boys: This
man had a tormentlng conscience.
poverty enough, little happiness
here, less prospect Of any hereafter,
and had the appellation of General
lack o. all trades" or, Solomon
Doolittle." Whenthe next generation
Of Doolittles are sufficiently drilled
for aspirants, let every good and
qualified man in the land offer fo-
he same office at once (as in SoPs
iays) that the young Soils may,
ike the old one, succeed.
PETER PENDER, JR.
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.