The Dickinson press., 1891-11-14
LONG TIME BETWEEN DRINKS,
The Incidents That Lead Up to the Now
Famous Saying.

The Incidents That Lead Up to the Now
Famous Saying.
Every nan in the United States is
supposed to know what the governor
of North Carolina said to the governor
of South Carolina" but possibly some
do not know when and under what
circumstances the famous remark was
made, so the New York Sun explains.
Nearly a century ago a man promin-
emit IN political affairs in North Carol
ina moved across the border and set
tied in South Carolina. He had been
there only q short time when, he COM
mitted some small crime or INSIDE
meanor for which he was indicted.
10 escape arrest he returned to his
old home in North Carolina. In due
course Of time the governor of South
Carolina issued his requisition on the
governor of North Carolina for the
fugitive criminal.
The fugitive had rich and influential
friends in his native state, and they
interceded with the governor until he
refused to grant the requisition. A
long official correspondence followed.
Prominent men in South Carolina told
the governor that he had not been
treated with proper official courtesy by
the governor of North Carolina. The
result was that the South Carolina
governor. accompanied by a large
party of friends and atfidavits, journey
ed by stage to Raleigh, the capital of
North Carolina, for a conference with
the governor about the matter of Civ
ing up the criminal.
The governor of North Carolina,
with a largo party Of distinguished
friends, met the governor of South
Carolina several miles from town and
escorted them to the governors man.
sion, with all the ceremony due such
distinguished visitors. Before the OBJ
ject of the visit was stated the entire
party sat down to an elaborate dinner.
After dinner vino was served, and after
wine, brandy-the applejack for which
the old north state is famous. After
many rounds of drink the decantere
and glasses were removed, and the
governor of South Carolina stated the
object of his visit He demanded the
surrender of the fugitive criminal.
The governor of North Carolina re.
fused. Then followed a long and heated
discussion. in which the attorney
generals of the two States took an &C
tive part.
Finally the governor of South Car
DINA grew angry, and. rising to his
feet, he said: ''Sir. you have refused
my just demand and offended the
dignity of my Office and state. Unles!
you at once surrender the prisoner
will return to my capital, call out tn.
militia OF the state and, returning her,
with my army, will take the fugitiv,
by force of arms. Governor, what d,
you sayp"
All eyes were turned to the governo
of North Carolina, and his answer wa
awaited with breathless interest. Tn,
governor rose slowly to his feet an,
beckoned to a servant who stood som,
distance away. His reckoning wa
firm and dignitied, as became his pc
sition. He was slow about answering
and again the governor of South Car
DINA demanded: "Whatdo you sayP
81 say, governor. that it's a Ion,
time between drinks"
The reply restored good humor
Decanters and glasses were brough
out again. and. while the visitors re
, manned. if any one attempted to refe
to the diplomatic object of the visit
| he was cut short by the remark tina
it was a long time between drinks.
+ When the visiting governor wa
, ready to return home he was escorte
! to the state line by the governor
North Carolina, and they parted th
t best of friends.
The fugitive was never surrsudsral