Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-03-13
Straps Ut gotal Ai5totv.
"REMINISCENCES OF YORK
BY DR.. MAURICE A. MOORE.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, 1870.

to give q sketch Of DR.. William Moore nor
would it be becoming in me to record
panegyric over his merits. Enough Of our
people remember his purity of purpose,
singleness of heart and strict integrity of
character. Always devoted to his profess
sion, singularly tenacious of the dignity due
to the calling, and ever impatient of any
Jest or trick infringing on his practice-these
will be recognized as strong traits of his
character by those of the community who
knew him.
All Fools Day, which has just passed,
brings to mind Il practical joke OF forty-tive
years ago in Yorlville, Of which DR.. Moore
and young man named Kuykendal, were
the victims
Jack Kuykendal was hatter-industri-
Gus, sober, and much liked in our midst.
A marked characteristic of his might be
called-so strongly woven in his daily life
was his devotion to an uncle living near
Yorkville. He could hold no conversation
with any one without quoting the opinions
of "Uncle Jonathan Kuykendal," or hold
ing up his example. Uncle Jonathan
Kuykenda said this, or did that, was the
burden of his song; and from his acts or
ideas, in the devoted nephews' mind, there
was no appeal. The first Of April had
drawn near sun-down, and no fun marked
its annals. A mischievOus few conceived an
idea to scotch its dullness, and forthwith
exccutedit it. The proverbial affection of Jack
Kuykendal for "Uncle Jonathan kuyken-
dal" and the ultra respect in which DR..
Moore held the dignity of the profession,
were the strings to be played on.
A negro was instructed to go to the shop
where the former worked, call to him from
the street, through a plank ripped off on
that side of the building (the door opened
round on the other side into the yard) and
tell him his Uncle Jonathan kuykendal
was very i'll with the colic-about to die
and he wanted him to get DIR. William
Moore and come out with him as quickly as
he could. Young Kuykendal threw down
his work, ran out of the door, round to the
street as quickly as he could, to ask the mes
senger some questions; but the man had dis
appeared. Suspecting nothing fora moment,
he soon found DR.. Moore, and while he got
ready, ran to borrow horse for himself to
ride. He came to mel was about to ride
myself He went to some one else-hls
horse was very lame; a third-his animal
was out of town. In desperation, he applied
to old Mr.. Jimmy ROsS--hiS landlOrd-fOr
it was we'll known he would never lend his
horse. But moved by Jacks entreaties,
distress and ill-success in other quarters, to
the surprise of the jokers, he succeeded in
getting the horse. Soon he and DIR. Moore
Started at full speed. A little beyond the
present residence Of II. F. Adickes, some
one was stationed to hail them on the road
to enquire where they were going. They
were in such haste they hardly checked
their steeds to reply. "Isn't it the first
Of April?" with little leer, called out the
initiated interlocutor. DR.. Moore took the
alarm, came to a full pause, and wanted to
know how Jack got the news of "uncle
Jonathan Kuykendal's" illness. A few
words of explanation aroused suspicion,
and they turned their horses heads and rode
back. If they needed more, the amused
@c6 f IF h hem on aq4h tie hds eef as ey
went back, certified to the hoax. Then
came the good part-Dr. Moore's indigna-
ton and Kuykendal's delight. Not one
picayune did the latter care for being an
April Fool, in his relief that there was moth
ing the matter with "Uncle Jonathan
Kuykendal."
Stanhope Sadler, who always, and still
is, believe, Il practical joker, frequently
got up good ones; but one first of April,
quite early in the morning, the tables were
turned and the joker was caught in trap
like his own making. About sun-up, some
one stopped him on the street and told him
Sheriff Henry wanted to see him, immedi-
ately on business. Sadler forthwith went
around to Henry's office-one room Of his
residence. He caught the idea the in
slant Sader asked him what it was he
wanted to see him about, and answered
naturally and readily, "NO, it was my
wife that wanted to sec you-she is. in
the roonl," pointing to the door. Sadler,
without hesitation, stepped to the door and
unceremoniously opening it hastily walk
ed in. Mrs. Henry had just risen and
had only dOnned a short flannel skirt OF
scarlet. In amazement, she dropped on
the nearest chair, tucking her feet on the
rounds, trying vainly, with the scanty di-
mensions of the skirt, to hide their stoking-
less state. Sadler, completely aken aback,
spell-bound, apparently, till by stander in
the office, enjoying the fun with Sheriff
Henry called out, "YOu may come out, Sad
Ter, and maybe, remember for the rest Of
the day that this is The first Of AprH. STAN
hope bolted.
When Judge Smith was elected to the
Bench, he induced his friend, DIR. Jas. a.
White, to be admitted to the bar and re-
move to Yorkville. If he did not give him
his entire business, he threw large amount
into his hands. 1t was thus DR.. White got
most of the practice he had, for his success
as lawyer was very limited. lie was an
excellent man, much respected, though Il
little inclined to be dOgmatical and with
good deal of manner somewhat tinged with
pomposity. Judge Smith brought French
lady, Il Mrs. Tame, and her daughter, Miss
Louisa Tame, for the purpose of his daugh-
ter's education. They remained with him
a year, had 4 room in his house, and had
a school attended by some pupils from the
village The next year Mrs. Tame and
her daughter went TO housekeeping and
opened school for young ladies. DIR. White
opened boarding house for those who
might wish to come from distance. 1T
was quite Il successful enterprise. Mrs:
Tannc's became fashionable seminary, and
DR.. White had generally from twenty to
twenty-five yonng ladies from the different
upper districts, under his roof and charge.
His rule, though judicious, was not very
stringent, and the young men of the town
enjoyed this addition to the society, in pleas
ant intercourse and harmless tlirtatlOns with
their different favorites.
During this time, the then celebrated mas
ter of legerdemain, Handel, visited our vii
lagc. The first night his reputation drew 4
large crowd, which was delighted by his in
imitable skill. The next evening he was to
give another exhibition, and several of the
young gentlemen-myself among the num-
ber-Were anxious to have the pleasure of
escorting some Of DR.. Whites boarders to
the evenings entertainment. TO solicit
this privilege, we called in the morning at
DR.. Whites. He was not at home but,
alas Mrs. White vetoed the motion. ''Dr.
White" she said, "would not permit the at
tendance of the young ladies, as he disap-
proved of the whole matter" We re-
hearsed the tricks performed, and told her
that such and such ladies of taste and re-
spectability were there, and so pleased they
intended going again that night. Words
were wasted. Mrs. White stood firm, and
nna;,, no,, f.outol ,,c ,rith DR. NNhitn,s OIL.