The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-19


cincts of the Farmers Alliance, and in
order to indelibly fix upon your mind
great truths, We will proceed to carry
you through the ordeal of initiation.
That handful Of guaEo cast into your
eyes is intended to show you the folly
of an undue use of this expensive
commodity. A limited use of guano in
the right place is proper; but you will
not, I hope, soon forget the lesson
taught you about its abuse. Now carry
the benighted brother to the Grand
Vice-Tycoon for further instruction."
was then violently turned around,
my guards released me, and I was told
to so straightforward at brisk tot.
This did, but soon ran against a ten
rail fence that ha: been secretly built in
my path, and in the fall was skinned
from head to heels. was soon brought
up standing again, the guano sack re-
= moved S fro@a2ver my sSss ard Z gss
carried before the fellow sitting on the
pile of sacks. With look of plying
contempt this Vice-Tycoon spake to
me thusly:
"Benighted brother farmer, seeking
the light of truth, we administered to
you the Fence Degree, in order to inl-
press upon your mind the fact that to
be a prosperous farmer it is necessary
to avoid too close intimacy with q
fence. 1t is the habit of too many far
mers to sit astrlde rail and watch a
niger work his crop. We trust that
the lesson you have just learned will
not be lost. The six well-dressed men
you see over in that corner represents
the mercantile world, and we will now
proceed to administer to you what is
known in the Alliance as the Ok, or
Hewer of Wood Degree"
My guide then stepped up and tying
a board over my eyes-like they do
fence-breaking steers-I was led into
the center of the room. Soon heard
a great scufiing at the door, and the
six fellows representing merchants
forced into the room little spotted
bull calf, as wild as Texas pony. He
was brought up alongside of me, and
the pair of us yoked together, one Of
the merchants holding a rope tied in
the ring of the yoke. I thought I had
seen pretty tough times, but I soon
knew that my past experience was but
chlld's play compared with the ordeal
before me. That little bull and were
turned loose, and the time we made
around that room would shame race
horse. I knew I had to keep up or my
neck would be broke. It had always
been a mystery tome how steer could
turn its yoke, butitis no longer secret.
The bul turned his twice and turned
mine three times. I yelled for some
one to head US, but the louder I hol-
lered the faster the little bull travelled.
Just as I gave myself up for lost we
were brought toa standstill, the yoke
removed from my bruised and bleeding
neck, and was again led before the
Grand Tycoon, who consollngly ad-
dressed me thusly:
"Benighted brother, seeking wisdom,
the lesson you have just received is to
impress upon your mind the sad truth
that you are but beast Of burden for
the commercial world. The merchant
hasa yoke of servitude upon your neck,
and you can only look for relief to a
Farmers Allianceman. We will now
administer to you another degree show
ing the difference between cash and
credit
Twas again taken in hand by two
merchants, who forcibly tied strong
cord around each of my thumbs, and
III tWlnkIng was suspended 10
ridge-pole. That I yelled with pain
and begged for mercy, it is needless to
add. One of my torturers demanded
to know how much cash I would pay
him TO be released. I offered all the
money in my pocket, which was 35
cents. He agreed to let me down for
81 cash or $40 on credit, secured by g
mortgage, lien, deed or gift and waiver
note on my farm, stock, wife and chill
Ieagerly accepted, and on be-
sableszand
Lne Es ~: cH0u LED oeIore
the officer astride the worm eaten fence,
who explained the Thumb-Swinging