The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-08-26
RAGSDALE AND THE LEPROSY.

A correspondent writes from Homo
lulu: Bill Ragsdale, one of the most
famous political characters the Sand
witch Islands ever produced, was for
many years the Parliament interpreter
Ragsdale at that time welded more in
tluence than any dozen MOBILES or AS
semblymen. He was a half-white, very
well educated, close English student,
a brilliant, witty talker, immoral, fear
less, jolly and sharp. He bullied the
native members and misinterpreted the
foreign members, for or against any
measure he was at all interested in; and
as it was well known that a cash con-
sideration would interest him, he gen
orally killed or carried a measure as he
was paid best to do. When the session
was at all dull, and some grizz'ed old
native member had made a droning,
cultural speech in favor of new bridge
in the Kohula District, and set every
one asleep, Ragsdale would rise i'm
pressively and interpret thus: "Nobles
and Assemblymen: The learned, grave
and venerable member from Kawaihae
says" Then Ragsdale would soar
away in poetic flights of fowery En-
glish; quoting half the English poets;
dash off into an impetuous, fiery TRADE
on the ills of life generally; tell witty
story, half in French; and, having walked
and interested 1.-THE foreign members.
would conclude thus: S"That paternal
old party from Kawaihae, who put YOU
to sleep with his bad native speech,
says that if new plank amt put in
that Kohula bridge, the,-fir thing you
know some wahina (woman) will break
her blessed leg on it, or her horses leg,
which would be, worse; and so if you
have finished your maps, gentlemen, you
had better proceed to a Vote
If some stupid foreign member, made
a dull speech in support of measure
Ragsdale favored, he would "interpret"
it into native by ignoring it entirely, and
making rafting and telling speech in
native on his own account, probably
carrying point where the foreign men,
Der would have failed. His worst trick,
or best, as you like it, was to burlesque
foreign members who spoke against any
measure he was interested in. He would
mimic the foreigners mannerisms, and
twist his sober English into funny ma
tive, all in the gravest possible manner,
and do more harm than good with
speech intended to support the measure
under discussion. OF course this did
not always go unresented, and he was
more tban'o once discharged. but only to
be employed, as his services, though
erratically performed, were indispensa-
BILE. Once Bill Ragsdale was arrested by
man named Dowsett, who married
Ragsdale' sister. The arrest was on
account of the sudden disappearance
from Dowsetts ranch of certain heads
OF live stock, and in connection there
with Ragsdale got one year in prison.
lie took his confinement pleasantly for
few months, and until election time,
when, by simply exerting his own influ-
ence, he secured a pardon. His broth
er-in-law, Dowsett, had been in the Par
lament a number of terms, and was
again candidate. Upon securing his
liberty Ragsdale went into Dowsett's
district and did a little quiet work
among the natives, who all swore by
him, and who fiercely resented Dow
setts unbrotherly treatment. The re-
suit OF the election in that district was
that Dowsett, who had several times
been elected by an immense majority,
was defeated, and Bill Ragsdale was
elected by the largest majority the dis
trict ever gave. Meeting the defeated
and chagrined candidate few days
later, Bill said; THAT'S even, dear
brother-in-law. You retired me into
prison and I've retired you from poll
Tics. Aloha"
Ragsdale always dressed in an ultra
danditied style, and when finally he be-
gan wearing one light glove, even while
performing his duties as Interpreter it
was thought to be only one OF his &C.
centricities. He told the sad truth soon
gfterward. He was leper. The hor-