The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-15
sUITING TIE CROWD.
Arp Tells Some Good Stories on Politl-
clans.

When man travels abroad and mixes
with strangers and would be treated with
civility he should not do anything or say
anything that runs against their opln'
ions, their interests or their prejudices.
Zeb Vance said that one time away back
when be was running for Congress
against Holden he had to go over
mountain range and down into valley
where he had never been before. The
humble people in that valley were
almost cut of and hid out from the rest
of the world, and especially from that
side of the world in which MIR. Vance
lived. He knew nothing about their
politics or their religion. "North Caro-.
lima is curious state," said he. "Her
religion is speckled and spotted like it
had the measles. In one valley you will
find the people all Episcopalians, how.
ever poor or primitive. The ancestors or
first settlers came from old England and
brought that religion with them, and, as
nobody moved in or moved out, their
descendants kept the faith of their
fathers. In another valley you will find
them all Presbyterians, because the
ancestors came from Scotland. In
another they will be all Methodists or all
Baptists. and every one of these separate
communities will have an old patriarch
working in the lead, and he is looked
upon as the bell.wether of the flock.
Now, it is necessary that a politician
should know the religious faith of those
with whom he is 'lectioneering' for votes.
Ifhe can't chime in with it exactly he
musen't say anything 'agin' it. Now
said Vance, when got over into the
valley to meet my appointment, l found
about seventy. FIVE of the humble sover.
eigus gathered at the crossroads where
there was little store and wagon shop
and westinghouse. They had on their
home made clothes and were standing
around chawipg tobacco and talking
about craps and waiting for me to come.
I soon got familiar with them and got
them in frst:rate humor, but as Holden
was to come over in day or two l
wanted to fix things in some way so that
he could'ent unfx them. Holden was
Methodist, and I was afraid these people
were. I noticed an old man sitting off
on chunk and marking in the sand
with his long walking stick. He had on
big brass spectacles, and his heavy
shaggy eyebrows and big long nose indi.
Gated character, and 80 I set him down
as the bell.wether of the flock. After
while got close to him and was aboutto
address him when he gave prsyerful
grunt and got up and braced himself On
his stick and looking at me said in SOL
emn voice, This is Mr.. Vance I believe
'Yes sir said I, giving him my hand.
'And am Emanual Stenor,' said he,
.and I suppose you have come over the
mounting to talk to my boys about their
votes.' 'Yes, SIR said I, that is my
principal business and Il well, Mr..
Vance, said he, interrupting me, 'be.
fore you proceed any further with that
business, 1 would like to ak you ques.
tion or two.' Certainly, sir said l.;
Certainly 'Well, Mr.. Vance, allow
me to az you what church do you belong
toF
"Well, that was a sockdologer and it
come right straight at me, and for
moment was demoralized, but rallied,
and as the boys had all gathered around
to hear the old man put me through, 1
cleared my throat and said: That is u
fair question, my friend : a fair question,
and I will tell you about that. My
grandfather came from England, and as
over there the established church was
Epiacopalian, of course be was an Epis-
copalian."
ri paused moment to see the effect of
this, but there was none that was favora.
BILE. The old man marked a little more
in the sand and spit his tobacco away off
on one side. So l continued: But my
grandmother came from Scotland, and
you know that John Knox left his mark
upon that whole nation, and so of courFe
she grew up a Presbyterian. I paused
again, but there was no sign, no awaken
ing, no chord struck, and the old man
marked some more in the sand. "But
my friend, my father was born and grew
up in Methodist community, who were
in this country, and converted by John
Wesley, and, of course, nc became a
Methodist I thought now 1 had him
sure, but didn't There was no sign of
sympathy from him or the boys, and SO I
took nay last shot. But my good old
mother, sir, was born and. raised Bap-
tist, and it's always been my opinion that
,,o, boo oof to M undor tho yyotor