Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-21
Che storv Teller.
THE VILLAGE BRAVO.

Nearly every country village has its "Bra
vo." We do not mean can Assassin" no
"a man murderer for hire" as Worcester ex
plains the word but we mean the man be
fore whom all others must give way-the mai
who can "whip anybody in town'-the grea
big animal who thinks his position enviable
and who is envied by men with little bodie
and little brains.
Our village had its bravo, at all events
and perfect type of his class he was, too
His name was Jonathan Burke, though
never heard him called Jonathan but once
and that was before Justices court. JacE
Burke was his name, "the world over" as hi
often said. He was big, buTly fellow, 81,
feet and two inches tall !; with broad, massive
shoulders, great long arms, and head like
small pump pkin His face was characteristic
A low, receding forehead, and small pug
nose; thick heavy ips, and broad, deer
chin. His eyes were Of light gray, verging
upon catlike green, while his hair, which
was short and crisp, was of burnt, sun. dried
color, neither red nor faxen, nor yet of q
dark hue. The only feature of the whole
man which tended to detract from Herculean
proportions was the fiat, or rather hollow ap
pearance of his breast. To one skilled in an
atomy or physiology, it would have been at
once apparent that he had but little of wha!
is generally denominated "bottom," and that
long continued physical effort would have
reduced his "wind to pant"
Jack Burke was born and reared IN our
village, and ever since he had begun to 60 to
school he had been the terror OF all unlucky
wiphts who had chanced to cross his path.
He beat his companions without mercy, and
took great delight in being feared. AS he
grew older he became more insolent and over
bearing, and at the time of which we write he
was disliked by all the decent people of the
place. His voice was loud and coarse, and 1t
broke in on all circles which might be gath
cred near him.
And then this bravo did not possess the
spirit of generosity usually betrayed by those
who happen to be giants in strength. he
was, on the contrary, low and mean, taking
delight in tormenting the weak, and even lay.
ing out his whole strength on those not half
his size. In short he was coward as we'll
as bravo. He forced himself upon all our
little gatherings, and seemed to delight in
stalking about and realizing that none of US
could put him out. He was now twenty-five
and forgetting all useful knowledge he had
ever gained at school,
Among the recent accessions to the popula-
ton of our village, was young doctor named
William CRANKY. He was small, pale
looking man, not over FIVE feet ten inches tall
and quite slim in frame, but the man who
studied him closely would have seen that his
paleness was the result of long confinement to
his studies, and was more, after all, delicate
fairness of skin, than want of health. And
it would also have been seen that his slight
frame was very muscular one and most ad-
miraby moulded and put together.
William CRANKY was what the girls Of our
village called handsome man, and none Of
the youth of our village envied him the fiat
tering encomiums he received from that por-
tion of our community, for as we became ac-
quainted with him we loved him for the
manly and generous qualities we found in
him. He was warm friend and a noble
opponent.
And CRANKY had proved himself an able
physician, too; for though he had been in
our village but year and month, yet the
confidence reposed in his skill was far greater
than had been reposed in the ancient blister
er and phlebotomist that preceded him.
One day some of US went into his study !;
he was unmarried, but being only three. and
twenty, of course was not bachelor-we
were invited in as we walked by his boarding
place, and were pleased to accept the invl'
tation. His study was gem of place for
comfort, and among the articles not aoso.
lutely necessary for the study of his profes-
sion, we detected rifle, pair Of foils, pair
of heavy wooden broadswords, while upon
the floor were pair of dumb-bells. | won
dered what these were for surely not for the
doctors use, for l could do nothing with
them, save to hold them in my hands, and
swing them about at an angle Of about forty.
FIVE degrees, and | was much heavier than he
was.
asked him what he did with them. "Oh,"
said he, smiling, 81 exercise my muscles with
them" and as he spoke he took them up and
raised them at arms length, and there held
them for some moments, his fine breast round
ed out like Roman curass. Then he threw
them up and out, and around, handling
them as though they were mere toys. 1t
seemed impossible that so small body could
contain so much strength, but he assured me
he had gained it all by practice. He had
labored for years to develop a muscular sys.
tenn, in which he had been lacking when q
child. And he also said that keeping his
muscles we'll hardened and developed, he was
better able to bear the fatigue of his profes.
sion, which called him from his rest often for
several nights in succession.
We were making arrangements for grand
picnic in our village. The girls were busy
making pies and cakes of all sorts and shapes,
while we youths were preparing two tables
and clearing up the grove, which was just
outside Of the village, on the bank of the
river.
The day at length came, and the sun smiled
from cloudless sky, and a fresh breeze came
sweeping up the river, bearing grateful
GOODNESS upon its bosom. We reached the
ground in due season, and only one thing
came to mar the pleasures of the occasion.
Jack Burke made his appearance upon the
ground, in a. shabby, dirty suit, and with an
insolent swagger. A chill ran through the
whole crowd Many of us would gladly have
helped put him away, but we shrank from
meddling with one who was so strong and gi'
gantic, and withal so reckless and mercless
in his wrath. We saw the thin, delicate lips
OF the doctor quiver as he noticed the filthy
fellow staggering about, but he said nothing
then.
One of the party was youth named Da
vd Singleton. He was quiet, good heart