Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-01-14
THE TWO GOVERNORS.
A Classic Tale of the Good Old
Times.
From the Richmond Reforme-

Times.
From the Richmond Refornse-.
A great many years ago the Cover
nor of North Carolina received
friendly visit from the Governor of
South Carolina After a real North
Carolina dinner of bacon and yams,
the two governors lit pipes and sat in
the shade of the back veranda with
demijohn of real North Carolina corn
whiskey, copper distilled, within easy
reach. There was nothing stuck up
about those Governors" says a North
Carolina State historian, in the home
ly but vigorous language of his sec
ton. There they sot and smoked,
and sot and smoked, every once and a
while taking mutual pull at the
demijohn with the aid of a gourd,
which they used As Democratic COB
let. The conversation between the
two Governors Was on the subject of
turpentine ard rice, the staples of their
respective States, and the further they
got into the subject the lower down
they got into the jug, and the lower
down they got into the jug the dryer
the Governor of South Carolina get,
who was Il square drinker and a warm
! man, with about million pores to
every square inch Of his hide, which
enabled him to histe in likely share
oi corn juice, or other beverage, and
| keep his carcass III the same time well
ventilated, and generally always ready
tor more, while the Governor ot North
Carolina WAS !; more cautious drinker,
/ but WAS mighty sure to strike bottom
nj about the twelfth drink, like a. if
nature had measured him by the
| gourdtul. " ell, they sot and snnk Ell
and argued, and the Governor of North
| Carolina WAS as hospitablc as any real
Southern gentleman could te, tor he
ladied out the whiskey in the most
liberal manner, being particular t.
give his distinguished guest three
drinks to his one, end guaging his
own drinks with great care, for fea.
that if he didn't he NIGH, lose the
thread OF his argument, and the demi
john might run dry before the Cover
nor of South Carolina should be ready
to dust out for home, in which case il
would look like he had not properly
observed the law. of fhospitalyit, which
would have been a self-inflicted thorr
in his side for years to come. and ne
amount of apology could ease hi mint
or enable him to feel warranted il
showing his countenance to his fellow
men, especially in his home district
where for generations it had boen s
main point with every gentleman t.
keep his visitor well supplied with
creature comforts, and to hand him /,
good gourdtul as a stirrup-cup whel
about to make his departure for tn,
bosom of his family. Singular to re
late, the cautiousness manifested by
the Governor of North Carolina wa
of no avail, for st one and the sam,
time the Jug went dry and the Cover
nor Of North Carolina, much to hi
subsequent modification, when he
learned the fact afterward, dropped of
into quiet sleep, while the Governor
of South Caroiina continued to keet
ON with his augument holding the EN-
PITY gourd in his hand in close contig
uousness to the demUohn, and wonder
ing at the apparent absent-mindnes!
of his hitherto attentive host, to whom
after minute and half of painful
silence, he made use of but one re
mark: Governor, don't you think it's
long time between drinks,' the re
mark was overheard by George, the
body servant Of the Governor Of NORTH
Carolina, who knowing that there was
something wrong, took to the woods
where he remained in seclusion fol
three days; but the Governor of South
Carolina, receiving no reply from the
Governor of North Carolina, mounted
his horse and rode sadly homeward
with an irrepressible feeling at hi:
heart that there was coming to be {
hollowness in friendship and that hu
man nature was in danger Of drifting
into q condition of chaotic mockery.