The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-03

I The Ie Man, and ~ he Next Lest ~
Perhaps at time in his life Is man happier thai
hen. IN his early manhood he begins to see aud fse
| signs of the development of his muscle" MAR
xiorie7 in his strength ard the youth who car
''staad or and knock companion's hat from his
head Is proud dung-hill cock when he Grst no.
tlocs signs of coming spurs. The Young man who has
tho sand" TO stand AID say he is the best man in
town. Is subject Of awe and admiration among lis
4 fellows.
But the best rusn Is sometimes seized with fts of
emotional insanity" At such times he Is terrible
yea, he ia grand
4 disposed of by Judge Tr!pp on last Sat-
uTday the testimony in which went to establish the
solidiy of the "best man." Two men were arragned
for assault and battery, hsticufs whiskycufs-
something equally degrading and dangerous. One
young named Wartenbe, whose physical
make up would not strike terror to heart Of Paddy
Ryan or Jem Mace. This was 1.-The best man." The
other man. William Ratclif, tall, lank, smooth
faced, spindle -shanked boy This was the next best
man."
Several weeks ago. best the next best met at
a low doggery, on Main street, in Jackson. Having
met at such place, It long until both were
drunk. When the two best men-or the best two
men-the bullies Of the town get together in dog
gerry then 1t Is time for all timid men to hee to the
outside of the corporation.
After the best and the second best had taken on
board sufficient OF the blood of John Barleycorn to
lift their courage up to the right pitch they began to
feel and express contempt for such poor creatures
not blest with iron frames and lion hearts, Sud-
denly, in unguarded moment, like the juvenile
who innocently touches a match to can of rine-
powder, thoughtlessly throws a brick at can of
dynamite needless of the terrible explosion that
is follow, the "best mann-wartenbe let fall
this fre-brand:
FL am the blank blankest best man In this townw
'Then I'm the next best! said the slender but ter
rible Ratcif. BY this time the parties were going
out of the back door Of the doggery. In passing
through the door the best man slapped the second
best in the face Like the cat that toys with the vic
tim before sinking the deadly teeth into it, like
the lion that fondles with man whom he could crush
at one bite with his mighty jaws, the second best
looked at the best, smiled sweetly and softly said:
"Ifyou hit me there, you must hit me lightr'
Upon further demonstrations of Wartenbe, Ratclif
reached down and attempted to pick box of dirt
to throw at wartenbe. Then wartenbe concluded 1t
was not safe for him to fight with much giz
zard as Ratclif, he concluded to remove some Of
the gizzard, and for this purpose drew huge prun
Ing knife with hooked blade, and rushed at Ratcn.
He made one grand heroic slash, at his terrible
turned and "took to his heelsr Like
the deadly polecat, he Ratcif the best he had
In the store-then fed. Being the best man he pre-
'ented the best-ooking side of himself the crowd
and in his flight presented a bold rear.
Ratcif meantime had found lot of empty wine |
bottles. These he began heaving after the flying |
Wartenbe adding wings to his fight 1t was thought
70 be good sign that Warterbe had sufficient shame
20 fly from wine bottle. Rstclff heaved some ten
welve bottles after the fugitive Wartenhe, the
'ottles were all empty, Wartenbe didn't stop. And
With the heaving of the laa bottle ended the desper-
t- struggle between the best and the best.
Now, seriously. believe these yourg
ashamed Of themselves-thcy ought to be, at least.
While they were bowling around that doggery, about
'eiag the best men IN town. there probably
lozen men in town either of whom could sthrash-'
hem both Had they spent the time in decent useful
which they spent carousiug around the
oggery. they both would have been regarded as bet
er
The bottles Ratclif threw cost him about dollar
piece, while Warterbe's attack Ratcif-s gizzard
ost hin something over twenty-five dollars.