Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-03-22
GE0RGIA'S CHIEF INDUSTRY.

Atlanta Constitution


Honey.
Atlanta Constitution.
Gentle reader, did you ever visit the
horse-swapping grounds at the spring
riding of the Superior Court of North
Georgia?
Well, if you answer no, we will simply
add that if you have any idea oftun, half
of your worthless life has been spent in
vain. We have, on one or two occasions,
gone out to see the performances of the
regular trained horse swappers, and must
say that it is enjoyable in the srst de-
gree.
Early Monday morning, and long be-
fore the court convenes, you may behold
them coming in on every kind of an an
imal-from a SO horse down to a 50
mule-and about 10 o'clock the fun COM
mences. The last one we visited was in
an adjoining county, and the first man
on the ground was gentleman banned
Uncle Dick Statham, who has been in
the hOrse-swapping business since he
left the cradle. He rode on the ground
about o'clock, with horse worth Just
Sc, and the others came up to ask after
his Lealth an 10 see what kind of stock
Uncle Dick had to swap on.
"Well, boys, your Uncle Richard has
been unjer the weather for a few days,
but he thought he would come up and
see if you all had any stock that cared
about. You needn't look at that mare.
She belongs to the old lady. gave her
to Betsy to ride to meeting She Is not
for trade unless could get right smart
of boot"
About this time Green H., the prince
of the brigade, came careering over the
| hill on a 50 nag, and rode MIN like he
had been born in the saddle. He sport
ed wide-brimmed hat, with pair of
spurs six inches long. Green looked
something like Napoleon at some of his
great victories THAT is we imagine so,
never having seen Napoieon), and at
once joined the crowd and wanted To
know who was on the hill that day swap
ping stock. Uncle Dick at once banter
ed Green and they soon exchanged by
Uncle Dick giving pocket-knife and a
drink to boot. This was the first blood,
but not the last by a long shot
A young fellow from Walton County.
who had his moustaChe dyed for the oc-
casion, came in leading a mule that look
ed like he had done nothing but peel the
bark off saplings around a still house for
the last three months. This young man
had heard that it was a shrewd dodge
among the educated swappers to play
drunk, and he was playing il TO the
Queens taste. 1t was not long before
he had changed his mule for a horse
W )rth 81 25, and gave 30 cents differ
ence.
Franklin County, at this juncture, sent
in her delegate in the shape of Johr ME
Dove, the Oldest trader on the ground,
and as such claimed some notoriety, and
whose word about the qualities of S.
horse was considered better than any
body's. He and Uucle Dick Statham met,
and after exchanging few commonplace
remarks, Mr.. Dove inquired after Uncle
Dicks stock and before long they trad
ed by Uncle Dick getting So and the
saddle blanket, which was piece of an
old quilt, in the bargain.
BY IL o'clock everybody was swap
ping, and, once in while drinking. all
seemed to be in good humor, and there
was no fuss or fighting in the crowd
They traded until night put an end 10 il,
and the swappers retired to their homes
and to camp outside of the town. They
got something to eat and were ready for
business next morning. Next day they
had trimmed their mules and curried
their horses, and the same scenes wefe
enacted over. Up to Thursday night
Uncle. Dick had made eighteen SWAY
had S25 in money. three pocket kniyd
two brides, two quarts of whisky and =
horse worth just about as much as The
one he brought
Any writer, with good descriptive pow
ers, could find material in the horse
swapping crowd to fill several dime
novels. Ifany one VINO can enjoy such
fun would only visit Monroe court
he could see for himself that moth
ing that has been written is exaggerated,