The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-14
Young Rhett's Revenge.


Years before the war, while sectional
feeling was boiling toward fever heat,
one of the young Rhctts of South Caro-
lima, says Washington correspondent,
was sent to Harvard University. At that
time the students were sharply divided
by Mason and Dixon's line. The Nor
thern boys were led by big bully from
New Hampshire farm. who thrashed
every body in both parties, but display
cd his partiality by thrashing the South
ern boys twice to the Northern boys
once. The university has changed
wonderfully since then, Of course, but at
that time it was more like great Eng
lish public school in some respects than
like great English university. Young
Mr.. Rhett had not been there long be-
fore he was knocked down by young Mr.
New Hampshire. 1t WAS a novel ex-
perience for the Carolinian and he could
only think of one remedy : he promptly
sent the bully n challenge. New Hamp-
shire made no immediate reply. This
naturally increased the curiosity Of the
other fellows as to what the outcome
would be. One morning New Hamp-
shire waited at chapel door for Rhett,
and quite crowd gathered when he
arrived.
did you write that ?'' asked the New
Hampshire boy savagely, holding the
challenge before Rhett's face.
"Yes, did," said Rhett, pale of face
but defiant of heart.
New Hampshire said nothing more,
but deliberately tore the challenge into
ships and bits and threw them in Rhctt's
face, when he nnd the other boys went
into the chapel, leaving the dazed Rhett
alone. Mechanically he stopped and
picked up the pieces Of paper lying at
his feet, then he went over to Boston,
playing with the bits Of paper in his
pocket as he walked. In the afternoon
no reappeared, but said nothing to his
nearest friend about his visit to Boston,
nor did he disclose his plans for getting
even with his enemy. Every day for
weeks he visited Boston, and when not
away on these trips occupied himself
with his textbooks. One day. when a
number Of his fellows were standing on
the campus, among them the bully,
young Rhett made his appearance for the
first time in many days.
"Come here" he said, calling the bull
ly by name.
Come here YOURSELF" was the reply.
Meet me half way,' said Rhett, and
the bully consented.
AS soon as New Hampshire got with
in striking distance Rhett, quickly
knocked him down. Surprised and
maddened, the bully rushed at Rhett,
when ne was again felled, and every
time he got up Rhett skillfully defended
himself and offended the other. AT
length the bully, badly used up, Tell
helpless at Rhett's feet, who put his foot
on his breast.
"Let me up" moaned the bully.
mot just yet" said Rhett. "You got
challenge from me once %
"Yes," groaned the bully.
"Instead Of replying to it like a gen
tlemen, you tore it up and flung the
pieces III my face" went on Rhett.
eyes," was the reply, with an effort.
"Well, I saved the pieces, and you've
got to eat them before you get up was
the cool reply.
Thereupon he slowly led the fallen
bully the carefully preserved, bits of
paper, and they wero all eaten. Rhett
had utilized his Boston trips to the best
advantage with the most scientific
sluggers Of his day. 1t was not until he
had succeeded in knocking down one of
his instructors that he undertook the
bully.