The Osceola times., 1880-07-24
The Dim Indubitablc
Fact.

morning of July 24th, 1880. Last
Saturday, the OsCEoLA TINES en-
tered upon the twelfth year Of its
existence here in the little town oi
Osccola, with list of readers,
when first started, not exceeding
at any time, hundred and fifty,
and now numbering over SIX hun
dred copies per week. Number Cd,
Volume CD, of the OscEoLA TINES
was described by the Memphis Ap.
peal to be, in general appearance,
like an Arkansas swamp deaden-
ing, and the editor was supposed,
by the faeetious outside world, to
wear a hunting shirt, butternut
pantaloons and o coon skin cap,
possessed by an unquenchable
thirst for rifle whisky. The out
side world had their opinions of
Osceola, Arkansaw, and many
were the jokes, good, bad and in
different got Oft at the expense of
the TINES and its editor. In fact,
in q rough unpublished way. the
editor was not only witty in him
self, but the occasion of much wit
in others. There were men living
in this county then, (and unfor-
tunately some of them are here 10.
day } who looked upon the publi-
cation of the TINES as q daring
and dangerous innovation, and
spent much time and breath to ex.
plain, that they had been in the
county always, and nobody had ever
thought of starting a newspaper; I;
chat the first thing you knowed,
the county would fill up with
strangers, and the ending of the
business would be telegraph and
railroads and high taxes. Look at
them Memphis and st. LOUIS pa
pers When they was first print
cd, the steamboat and mail hack
was good enough for the people,
but the cursed noospapers want
satisfied without railroads and tele-
graphs. I'd as soon allow pizen
10 lay around my house as noos-
paper ei-patting a lot OF devilment
in the heads OF the young people,
and making 'em think they know
as much as grown people. Cen
tiemen, Tn dg,n it," But the OsCE-
OLA TINES had come to stay. 1t
had been called, ordained ana set
apart to keep a lamp burning in
the midst of tho swamps and bay
GUS of Mississippi County. Truly,
in the dim indubltable past, this
editor, in his work as a pioneer,
has found one-half of his time and
thoughts occupied IN providing the
materials for dinner, supper and
breakfast-to keep the wolf from
his door. Often has he been be-
,caguered with bowling tempta-
tions to quit the printing business /;
and turn gambler, highwayman,
run crossroads grocery, or ad.
ver,ise himself as a retired clergy.
man, whose sands of life had al.
most run out, and who knew a GER.
tain powder that would slay bed
bugs and cure consumption. We
would have gone into this last bus
mess, but for the fact that in run.
ming n newspaper under so many
aggravating surroundings, We had
contracted the habit OF violent and
Involuntary swearing, and swear
ing is not the line OF the present
race Of clergymon. The printing
business had rendered it lmpossl-
Bile for US to succeed in profess
sion where an appearance OF sane
tity Is the one thing needful. 1t
was, however, long q favorite pro-
iect With US, and we even now, at
this late day. often imagine ourseli
living the life Of retired clergy
man, and pioasly aeiling the pow
der to the confdlng children of
men. Twelve years Of editorial
liiet years of toll, Of trial of hard
ships, OF hopes deferred, that
makcth the heart sick. Many oi
our best and trucst friends of our
primitive days, have long since
la'd down the symbols of their
mortality, aud have mingled their
dust with theiT sister clods Of the
valley; and as we write their cher
ishei forms rise from tho burial
places of memory, aud live with
US again. And, thank God, many,
very many Of them are still in the
flesh men, who ia storm and sun.
shine, aud hours OF deepest gloom,