Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-23
5arnr ann 5iresiDs
Gates.

There are a great many kinds Of
gates. Every man has a gait OF
his own that he carries with him
when he moves around. We do |
not mean that gait, but the gate
that man passes through when he
enters or leaves an enclosure in a
legitimate way, and does not climb
over the fence. When Sampson
left GAIA he was accompanied by |
one OF both kinds you remember,
but that has really nothing to do
with this article, neither has the
Wei.ghets Of the German. We are
coming 10 the subject directly.
What difference there is between
the gates of portals in England and
in other parts of Europe, and those
that impede travel out on Onion
creek, which is a part Of the United
States.
When an English editor calls on
some earl or noble marquis in
social way, or to collect arrears Of
subscription, he rides up a stately
portal at the end Of flower border
ed avenue, shaded by noble ances
trail elms. From the ivy.coyered
por;er's lodge energies the venera~
bic tom OF ore Of the nobleman's
family retainers. He opens the
gate, aid Lowing low with uncov-
ered head, and with the dignity and
bearing OF all archbishop, motions
the coachman 10 drive in, When
the edition hurls toward him a sill
yer coin OF tie capacity OF dime,
the ola mans howls of joy aud
gratitude my be heard for miles.
~ We have very different kind OF
arrangement N tins country. When
an editor goes out TO visit a irieDd
Oh Onion creek, The first thing he
does Tot see Is tie kind OF gate rr
ferred TO above. The Onion creek
gate, We mean the average gate IN
that neightorhood, has 10 lie open
cd by yourself great deal OF ex-
ertion, and iehce>iall. There Is
no obs, qulouS nenal TO come out
and OPEN it Tor } Gu. but there is e
hardy pioneer, in rude cabin close
by, WHO will come out and use
language 10 you, and intimidate
you with a gun It you 90 not shut
it after you lave ucceeoed IN OPEN
ing it.
1t roquires marked ability to open
the average Texas gate. 1t is usu
ally acorled with the rusty rem
nant Of a hl g. and tie only thing
that connects ii with the POST is
piece OF Oh rope Il at IS ned Oh
just lose enough TO enable the gate
10 tall over on one side and k"CcA
you down III the mud. Ii you are
strong enough to hold it up, you
have 10 liit one eLd OF 1t IN youI |
shoulder and curve your spine III
all attempt 10 carry it around III ID
semi-clrcle. Some gates have
neither rope nor hinge on them. "
have one OF these IN our minds eye
as We write. When you touch il
tries to tall down on you and
crush you 10 the earth. Ii you
succeed il battling it in that at
tempt, it tails over the other way
and drags you over on top itself.
1t would rather lie down tLan stand |
up, and it does not do the least BIZ
OF good to get angry with it and
kick it. In fierce struggle TOR
the mastery with Texas gate it is
best not to allow the gate a mo.
ments breathing space, Tor II you
do, it will lie down 10 rest, and il
is with difficulty that such gate
can lie aroused when it is peace
fully at rest in Tie mud. 1t is
with pleasure that We have noticed
a resolution sent to the Texas leg
islature from the ste ckmen's cons
vention, in which the stocklDen rec
ommend the legislature TO pass all
act requiring all pasture gates to
swing one foot clear OF the ground
and 10 declare all other gates
nuisance. 1t would take a strong
quorum OF the legislature to have
much Influence On some gates we
have wrestled NTH, but it won't do
any harm to call them nuisance -
1exas SiitIngs.