The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-04-06
miscellaneous.


The late Alexander ii. Stephens used tc
tell with great gusto the following story il
which he and Robert Toombs figured:
a doctor named Royston had sued Pctcl
Bennett for his bill, long over due, for at
| tending the wife of the latter. Alexander
Ii. Stephens was on the Bennett side and
Robert Toombs, then in the t. S Senate, was
for the doctor. The doctor proved the mum.
Der of his visits, their value according tC
local custom, and his own authority to dc
medical practice Mr. Stephens told his
client that the doctor had made out his cast
and there was nothing wherewith to rcbut
or Offset the claim, and the only thing left ia
do was to pay it. NO. said Peter; II hired
you to speak in my case and now speak y
Mr.. Stephens told him there was nothing TO
say he had looked on 10 see that it was made
out, and il was Peter was obstinate and at
last Mr. Stephens told Peter to make speech
himself If he thought one could be made. II
will, " said Pc,r, if Bobby Toombs won't be
to hard ON me" Senator Toombs promised
he would not and Peter began.
"Gentlcmcn of the Jury, YOU and is plain
farmers, and if we don't stick together these
ere lawyers and doctors will get the advant-
age Of MS. amt no lawyer or doctor, and |
amt no objections TO them in their proper
place, but they amt farmers, gentlemen of
the jury. Now, this man Royslon was no
doctor and went for him to come and doc
tor my wiie's sore leg, and he come and put
some salyc truck onto it and some rags, but
never done it a Bit of good. Gentlemen of
the Jury, don't believe he is II doctor any
way. There are doctors as is doctors
sure enough, but this man don't earn his
money, and fyou send for him, as Mrs Sarah
Atkinson did, for negro boy as was worth
81 ,0OO he just kill him and wants pay for it.
81 don't" Numbered the doctor.
did you cure him ~ asked Peter, with the
slow accents of n judge with black cap on.
The doctor was silent and Peter proceeded
CAS- | was saying, gentlemen of the jury,
we farmers when we sell our cotton has got
to give valIy for tie money we ask, and doc
tors amt none too good to be put to the
same rule. And don't believe this ere sam
Royston is n doctor no how"
Look at my diploma if you think am no
doctor"
His diploma ~ exclaimed the orator, with
great contempt. "Ilis diploma Gentle
men, that is Il big word for printed sheep
skin, and it don't make no doctor ofthe sheep
as first wore it, nor docs it ofthe man as now
carries it. A good newspaper has more in it,
and pint ont toy c that he amt no doctor mt
all The doctor was now in II fury and
screamed ont
ASK my patients if am not doctor"
Il asked my wife" retorled Peter. "She
said she thought he was not"
ASK my other patients" said the doctor.
"Ths seemed to be the straw that broke
the camcps back, for Peter replied with look
and tone of unutteIable sadness: THAT is n
hard saying, gentlemen of the jury, and one
that requires me To die or to have powers as
| have hearn tell ceased to be exercised since
the Apostles. Does he expect me to bring
the Angel Gabriel down to foot his horn he
fore his time and cry aloud, Awake, We dead,
and tell this court and jury your opinion OF
Sam Royston's practice?
"Am to 30 to the lonely church yard and
rap on the silent tomb and say to UNI as is Mt
last at rest from physic and doctors bills,
Git up here, you, and state if you died ma
tural death, or was hurried up some by doc
tors He says ask his patients, and, gentle
men of the jury, they drenR ded0i Where is
Mrs. Beasley's man Sam ? Go ask the
worms in the grave yard where he lies, Mr.
| Peaks woman Sarah was attended by him
and her funeral was appointed and he the
doctor had the corpse ready. Where is the
| likely Bill ms belonged to Mr.. Mitchell Now
in glory in expressing his opinion of Roy.
ston's doctoring Where is that baby gal Of
Harry Stephens? She is where doctors cease
| to trouble and the infants are at rest. Gentle,
men, he has eaten chicken enough at my
house to pay for his solve. found The rags
and don't suppose he charges for max
ing her worse, and even he don't pretend &c
charge for curing of her, and am bumbly
thankful he never give her nothing for hcl
innards, as he did his other patients, for some
thing made UNI all die mighty sudden"
The applaus was great. The doctor lost
and Peter won