National Republican., 1883-09-05
rur MAN ON rnE AVENUE.
Small Talk About MEN and Measures.

shipped on gulf steamer at Galveston, and
| so concluded would walk across the little
tongue of land that separated the gulf from
the Atlantic. The second day struck wild
country. dense tropical forest grow over
the narrow road, which was scarcely
moro than bride path, the
trees and vines frequently meeting at
the top and shutting out the sun at MONDAY.
knew the country was full of seven feet
rattlesnakes and nine foot moccasins, and as
the ground was wet and tho vegetation rank,
/ kept q weather eye open for snakes every
minute. was in a state Of nervous appre-
hension. BY and by two or three colored
fellows came tramping through the swamp.
l could hear them spashing along for quite a
distance, and when they reached the road
was at ha nd.
"'Aint you afraid of snakesP inquired,
anxiously.
"'No," was the reply; day lay quiet here
in winter same rs day do up norf, only not
quite so much so. Turn ober a log and you'll
find 'em lively nuff, but day don't go roamin'
roun' dis season OBJ de yer
"Much relieved l then inquired what
game the hunters were after, to which re-
ceived the answer black BAR
! "'Whst! exclaimed, you don't mean to
say there are black bear hereabouts, do you ? -
AYES, indeedy de woods is full Of em, an
pc 'nters till ye can't resi-
al learned that was in the great hunting
ground of Florida, and l subsequently ascer-
tanned that the hunters had not been stuff
ing me VIII a they told me the woods were
full of bears and panthers. They exist there
in boundless numbers. 1t was thirteen miles
to the nearest settlement, and you had better
believe made time, although didn't arrive
there until long after dark. forgot all about
the rattlers and the moccasins. 1 was full to
overfowing with bigger and more
q wild cat or panther in every
bush. 1 hadn't as much as o ponknife
about me- and 1 felt desperately for lead
pencil to jab with in case painter should
spring upon me- was never so frightened
in my life before or since. Those thirteen
miles were the longest miles l ever travelled.
If ever visit Florida again it will not be as
q pedestrian tourist. will ride in q coach
or won't co."
"In all my travels" resumed the tall,
gaunt man after refreshments, az never saw
more amazingly fertile region than the Rio
Grande valley for two hundred and fifty miles
above FL Paso, and for q considerable dis
tance below. The Rio Grande like the Platte
and Arkansas, runs sluggshly across the face
of the country through an expressionless gash
cut in the land. The ground is perfectly level
and fat for two or three miles from the river,
and sometimes further, and on that ground
they raise from 80 to 140 bushels of wheat
to the acre. There is no land like il
in the world. One of these days wheat grow
ers will find out about the astonishing fertility
, of that soil, and grab it up and make enor.
, nous fortunes. And it won't be many years
either"
A special pension examiner related story
last night which was voted good one al
though one member of the party said HI
, thought he had heard 1t before.
~ was sent down into Arkansas about
year ago on business for the Office" he said
II visited little town short distance bacl
from Helena. The postmaster knew wa
coming, and on my arrival he took me IL
charge and introduced me to the citizens o
the place. shook hands with twenty-sever
generals, nineteen colonels, eleven judges, ant
nine majors by actual count. They treatei
, me as though were cabinet minister, an(
/ began to swell up with importance.
Q thought had never met finer set of gen
r tlemen. The blue jeans whisky was Of prim,
quality, and in good supply, and when wa
> put to bed / had about made up m!
> mind to throw up my commits
, sion, settle down, and run for con
Y gress. The next morning 1t was all ex
!. planned. The gentlemen with military anC
{ judicial titles were on hand early, each will
, J, his little story. One Of them drew me into
corner and explained that he had lost 'thutt.
, head of steers in the wah.' Another assure,
me the union forces had destroyed twent,
: bales of cotton during the wah. A third
who, afterward found out, commanded
rebel regiment for two years, and then bri
gade, made his speech as follows:
Q "I was peace loving citizen during tn
9 wah, sah and stood by the union side till tn
d last. Tho d-d scoundrelly Ysnk--ahem
ahem, excusme, the federals, mean, burned
' my house and barns, and fences, and drove
? off my stock. Congress appropriated $1l0,
1 100000, I understand, to pay losses incurre,
by loyal citizens, and of course you will SO
o that we get our shar' down hyer.'
20, certainly" responded, q great ligh
dawning on me; Certainly, you will all &c
-. paid in full. That's what am here for. TIL
u commissioner Of pensions sent me to Arkansa
K to adjust war claims and pay them off, Q
= certainly"
l. The generals and colonels and judges an
1t majors poured their statements into my ear
all that day and the next. l finished IN!
l.. examination of the two or three cases ha
in hand with all possible dispatch, and qui
. the town. was in mortal fear they woul
l. find out my real business and power
Is and expedite my departure, There isn't
a, man in the bureau with nerve enough
~ visit that town to-day on pension business
and as for myself we'll, when get ready
leave this vale of tears by the rope route,
may 20 back again, but not till then, Th
" inhabitants would hang any man who woul
:, g. show up among them claiming to be pen
~ ~ sion examiner. They made the postmaste
leave the town, although he was innocent {
intentional mistake"
' -S----
" The Rtverdale Disaster.
O. Supervising Inspector General Of Steal
II Vessels Dumont has received letter frol