, 1885-01-16
4 RATrLE 81 aIANrs.
They Wanted the Fellow who Wrote
That Artiele-r

western Lotter-l
About twenty-five years ago, when a Ger
tain western state was a territory, and witt
few inhabitants. a young lawyer from New
York emig rated thither and settled in thu
town Of L. He had been there nearly
two years when he was induced 70 print .
weekly newspaper. OF which he was the edi-
tor. Squire s. was a very little man, hui
he used the editorial I'VE as frequently al
n there were a dozen Of him, and each as big
as a giant"
Strange to say, there wero at that time
mon in Office who wera not.a particle more
honest than they should be-; a thing which
probably never happened before, and never
viii again. Squire S. felt all the patriotism
Of a son Of '76. and poured out grape and
canister against public abuses. This soon
stirred hornets nest about his ears; but NJ
there was no other paper in the territory
there was no reply for a time.
At length he published a n article more So
we're against malfeasancs In Office than any
that had preceded II In fact, though Il
pointed at no individual In particular. &c was
a ascorrhor.H
Some three or four days afterward be was
sitting alone in his editorial office. which wns
about a quarter Of a milo from tho printing
establishments His pom was Busy with a
paragraph, when his door opened, and In
stalked a man about six feet in his stockings.
He nskeds Arc you s., the proprietor OF
this papers7 Thinking he had found n new
patron, the little man, with one Of his bland
est smiles, answered in the affirmative. The
stranger deliberately drew the last number
OF the paper from bis pocket, and pointing to
the article against rogues in Office, told the
affrighted editor that 1t was intended for
"him.1
It WINS in vain hat s. protested that he
had never heard Of him before. The wrath
Of the visitor rose to a fever heat, and from
being SO long restrained boiled over with
double fury. He gave the editor his choice,
either TO publish a very humble r~ecantation
or take a fiogging IN the spot Either al
tentative was NORWOOD, but what could
he dol The enraged o~fice-holder was twice
his size, and at ono blow would Qualify him
for an obituary notice. He agreed to re.
tract, and as tho visitor insisted uponiwrit-
ing the retraction he himself sat down to
the task. Squire s. made an excuse to walk
TO the printing office, with n promise he
would be back in season n sign 1t as soon as
IL was finished.
s. had hardly gone 6fty yards when be
encountered a man who inquired where
Squire SIS office was and II he was at
home. Suspecting that he too was ON the
hdme cTfhuu as tne Otner Vl8ttOf, he pointed
to the Office and told him he would find the
editor within. writing a most abusive arti-
Gle against office-holders- This was enough.
Tho eyes OF the newcomer flashing fire, be
rushed into the office and assaulted tho
stranger with the epithets, 4liar, scoundrel,
coward, y and told him he would teasA. him
how TO write.
The gentleman, supposing It was some
bully sent there by the editor, sprang to his
feet, and n fight ensued. The table was up
set and smashed into hrewood, the contents
OF a large jug Of Ink stood In puddles on the
floor, tho chairs had their legs and backs
broken beyond the skill OF surgery to cure
them. This seemed only to inspire the COM
batants with still greater fury. Blow fol-
lowed blow with the rapidity Of lightning.
First ono WA kicking on the floor, then the
other, each taking 1t in turn pretty equally.
Tho ink on the floor found Its way to their
faces, TIL both OF them cut the most ludi-
crous figure imaginable.
The noise and uproar were tremendous.
Tho %neighbors ran to the door and exclaimed
with astonishment that two niggers were
fighting In Squire SIS Office. None dared
separate them. 1t length, completely ex-
hausted, they ceased fighting. The circum-
stances OF the case became known, and the
next day, hardly able TO sit on horseback,
their heads bound up, they started home.
ward, carrying with them the most striking
evidences Of their attempt to redeem their
honor.