Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-25
GOLD DAVE"
Dave Culberson's UompOsition on 'Possum
Bunting In the Long ago
Special Correspondence Of the Globe-Dem
crat.

Bunting In the Long ago
Special Correspondence Of the Globe-Demo-
crat,
WASHINGTON, Jan. lin the recent
distribution of chairmanships in the
House, that of the Judiciary committee
went naturally TO Dave B. Culberson Ct
Texas. Mr.. Culberson has had for sew
ersl Congresses the name OF being the
ablest lawyer on the Democratic side.
He would have been chairman OF the
committee long ago but for the fact that
John Randolph Tucker OF Virginia took
precedence by priority Of service. As
soon as Mr.. Tucker dropped out Mr..
Culoerson became, IS q matter Of course,
the head Of the committee and the off,
cially recognized legal authority of the
Democrats. The fitness of the selection
is generally conceded. But few who re-
spect his ability as s lawyer know that he
owes lis success in life to a composition
on 'possum hunting.
The COngressman's cousin, who is s
well TODD business man Of Atlantis, Ga.,
tells the story. "Dave" and he were
boys at school together near Is Grange.
Ga, forty yesrs ego. "Daye" was then
fifteen. The sehoolmaster was Mr.
Jones, and he had long tried to spur
young Culberson into some interest in his
studies, for the boy was inclined to shirk.
The schoolmaster had assigned subject
after subject in the hope of getting COM
position out of his e.ey-going pupil.
"Dave" had always come 20 time with
some excuse. The schoolmester was dis
cournged, and he talked pretty severely
to the boy about his shortcomings, and
asked him how he ever expected TO get on
in life the way he was going.
The reproaches put "Dave" on the de-
fensive and he said "Mr. Jones, III tell
you my objection to writing compositions.
l don't want to be smart. Smart folks
are always poking their noses into other
folks business. I'd rather be g 'possum
hunter than anything else. 'Possum hunt
ing l know something about. 1t you are
set on having q composition, I'll write
one on 'possum hunting If you like"
$50 ahead" groaned the schoolmaster,
glad to obtain that much of concession.
Friday afternoon came round for the
compositions. sDave" took the floor and
read his paper.
"From that day to this" says Mr..
Joseph Culberson, who tells the story,
"there has never been finer description
written OF 'possum hunt" The school
master listened to the paper attentivelY,
and when the reader sat down he said
with great emphasis:
"David Culberson, l see il you the
marks Of greatness. But fear your mod
esty ard your inclination to take things
easy will keep you back all your life. My
advice to you is, il you want to make
something of yourself, TO go to some new
country and go to work. You need to be
spurred by different surroundings"
day or two after that Mr. Joseph Cul
berson says his cousin came to him anC
asked:
"Joe, did you hear what old Jones salt
, about me the other day."
, eyes," was the reply.
'What do you think of it,"
81 think there Is good deal in it," tn
cousin answered.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do,
said "Daye," with good deal OF earnest
ness. "I'm going to get after the oil
man to move out into Alabsms and try it
l I'll never amount to anything here"
3 Sure enough, the cousin says, "Dave'
, persuaded his father to move, and tn
, family journeyed $50 miles westward auC
:. settled. Several years afterwards "Cous
in Joe" made trip out there to see them
He found his uncle packing up for an
other move. "Dave had been making
reputation in the debating societies, bu
he thought the country was settling u
too thick, and he wanted to go turtle
| west. The old man was willing, for tn
young mans ambition had proven con
tegious to the whole family. The compo
sition OF 'possum hunting and the school
e masters advice took the Culbersons t
Texas. Before three years had pssse
r the community in which the family settle
had recognized "Dave's" ability, and ha
1 sent him to the Legislature. The wa
came on. Young Culberson enlisted as
private in the Confederate army. II
8 fcame ont Adiutant- General Culbersor
Fourteen years ago the Jefferson distric
r elected him to Congress and has kept hir
n there ever since.
When district casts "a 900 votes for
Congressman, who has no opposition,
lis pretty strong indication OF a goo
feeling on the part Of constituents with
e out regard to party lines. MIR. Culbel
= son is popular with the Republicans c
+ his district as he is with the Republican
o in Congress. The secret OF this popu
tfiaffty is his -mindedness. He is NO
4 q partisan.
:. G lin q Al z