Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-13
AN INDIAN DOCTOR.
A MAN Who Got His Diploma I'm
the Woods, and Does Not BE.
lieve Stringent Laws should
DispOssess Him.
little Rock Gazetto.l

Lltlle ROch OdAetVo,I
Yesterday the governor received q
call from a curious visitor. The gov
ernor, of course, is a kind Of State
executive father confessor, to whom
all kinds of grievances are brought,
and hobby" calls are not strange, and
do not demand very much of the at
tention constitutionally due to the
appointment of notaries public. But
the caller in question does not belong
to the common herd of annoyers.
After leaving the executive chamber
he came down the street, gesticulating
with one hand, aud with the other
carrying two sticks. Stopping near a
crowd. he began, to make an exhibit
ton Of grief-stricken lOquacity.
"Dr. Peter Robbins is my name,
sab" he said, in answer to the ques-
ton. 81 was born in Pensacola, and
am an own dear cousin to Billy Bow
legs. My mother was a Injin oman,
and my father was a Spaniard. Some
where in the family there's a streak OF
Guinea niger. My mother was rich
and gin me high farming"
He turned and grinned at the crowd,
including the governor, who occupied
an honored position. Such a grinl
His lips, covered with thick growth
of stubble, parted from a mouth pick
eted with set Of cross cut teeth. The
intense brilliancy of his eyes, and
their restless glitter in emphasis to
the narrowed expression of his face,
gave him an expression eccentric aud
fepulsive.
"All | want is my rights" he said,
leaning on the two sticks. i am a
doctor, and just because l wouldn't
let a man die, the doctors say shan't
practice. When the other doctors
gives man up, cures him. That's
what makes them mad. Gentlemen,
| am a man of learning"
"How long have sou been practi
cling ?" asked bystander.
Nearly all my life"
did you attend a medical college ?"
Il got my pioneer in the woods,
among the roots and herbs.
well, don't you know that the law
says that when a doctor gets a diplO
ma in the woods he must practice in
the woods, and that when he gets a
diploma in the city he must practice
in the city"
But, sab" said the doctor, his eyes
glittering another almost unearthly
emphasis to his feathery face, II pra1-
ticed down in the swamps.'
Then you make a mistake, for
swamp licenses are different from wood
licenses"
Il don't want that sort of talk. I'm
in earnest. | practiced 10 Helena,
where my wife lived"
Where is your wife now2"
"She liked another man better than
she did me, and went off with
hin"
Have you married again?"
"Yes, sab, sorter.
did you get divorce ?"
"She divorced herself from me with
three children by that other man. She
was Uneasy black woman as you ever
see."
Just then black fellow, dressed in
garb and the burnt cork reg
ulation flip collar, came up with his
banjo and asked:
Fur how long is yer wound up2"
go away, you descendant of the
baboon. | am a descendant of
Sham
The Minstrel musical attache of
patent ehurn MANI did not 90 away,
but stood, with serio. comic expression
picking an accompaniment to the old
mans rhapsody Of complaint. When
the crowd ceased to encourage the
speaker, and when for moment he.
stopped, the minstrel remarked run
down" and withdrew. The old doc
tor, after declaring his intention ofap-
pearing before board ofmedical ex-
lminers, shambled away. Later he
visited the drug stores, at each one
demanding his papers, but falling to
appear before the College of Physi-
clans. license was not granted.