Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-28
-Ei=a5e:h ". Grisro!d in Century.

Ana greet the Coming monarch Win All
-Ei=u5e:h ". Grisrol,l in Century,
TIE phrase, "Who struck Billy Pattcl-
son?' is said to have originated during Il
msiec in the early days of Franklin
county, Ga, when wealthy merchant of
Baltimore, rejoicing i'll that euphonious
cognomen, was struck from behind while
trying to make peace among the COM
ba,ants. Mr.. Patterson Immediately
called out in tone that showed him to be
fighting mad, "Who struck Billy Pattcr-
son ?" and repeated the demand with an
offer Of 500, and finally as much as 81, ,0GO
reward for the desired information which
was not, however, forthcoming, as the
angry man is reported 10 have been " as
strong rs Il bear ard as brave as lion,"
though ordinarily Of very peaceablc dis
position. Years afterward in his will, he
related the above facts and bequeathed
$l,000 to be paid by his executor to the
man wLo would tell "who struck Billy
Patterson His will is recorded in the
ordinary's office at Gainesville, Franklin
county, Ga, aud We are told that anyone
curious about the matter can there fad it
and verify the preceding statements.
THE Senate has DtS;si 5h, PendletCn
civil service bill by vote Of 80 to 5. This
looks decisive enough to indicate its
speedy adoption by the House. where ii
will be called up at an early opportunity,
but where report says it will encounte,
vigorous opposition. The civil service
bill Of MI. Kasson now pending before
| that body embraces provisions for fixeG
tenure Of Office and examiration:
with the view OF fitness Cor the
particular service required. Tho clas:
favoring such provisions is largely repre-
sented in the House, and it is moro than
probable that the bill finally passed there
will differ radically from the one sen,
over by the Senate. The questions o
Congressional influence, tenure of Office
and methods cf making appointments will
bo discussed from q somewhat different
point of view, SO that when the bill goes
4 back to the Senate it will, no doubt, be sc
i materially altered and amended as to force
:, its reference to a conference committee
There the bill viii have to DC again modi-
I fed so as to harmonize the two houses, Ol
| the committee may not be able at all t(
reach al agre ement. and thus the bill will
| fall, 50 to speak, between the two houses
| WESTERN Pennsylvania, ever noted fOl
| the picturesque character of its love
making and all those things appertaininy
to affairs cf the heart, comes gamely tt
the front with holiday sensation, wherein
two residents OF the Smoky City, riva
claimants for the hand OF a maiden fair tt
sec, agreed upon the Marquis of Queens
bury rules as the most proper and con
vincing love test. So in the presence OF
large crowd of encouraging spectators,
and with the usual accompaniments oi
seconds and umpires, the two brawny
lovers proceeded to pummel each other in
the most approved fashion, secure
from the Intervention OF the lynx-eyed
| guardians Of the peace. One meeting
was not enough, As neither man
would concede his defeat nor that
his claims to the young lady's hand
had been varquished. So q second mil
was arranged, and this time the vcrac ous
scribe reports eighteen of the liveliest
kind Of rounds to have been fought, the
result Of which was that one Of the con
testants had his esr Knocked off and was
SO completely Frustrated that it is believed
that he will die, while the other is sc
bruised and disfigured that the girl pro
badly won't have him now that he has
won her with his knotty knuckles. Zest
was given to the occasion by the spectators
joining in at intervals and shooting into
the crowd with more or less serious effect.
Altogether the affair seems to have been
highly exciting one and unique contri-
button to the festivities of the Christmas.
tide.