Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1891-04-03
Mossback Tortured.

he historical proprieties IN these
etters. Some time ago l prom
sed to write cousecutively OF
past vicissitudes, faithfully and
methodically following the troub-
led current of my political career
down to the reef of Mossback's
woe--on which, l regret to say,
Mr.. Longfellow never founded a
poem. At times it is a fearful
to adapt to my c,se
his lines, thus:
God save US all from a wreck like this,
On the reef OF Mossback's woe!
The politician is not a historian.
He is generally an adept at max
ing history, but Is often ashamed
to write it. If he can gather the
date from the political palm, he 10
content to let some one else reap
the palm from the political dates.
Having been politician SO long,
it is with great difficulty l turn
historian. suppose l may term
myself such, however, since the
Multums now designate me as
the "Jackleg Macaulay.." Unity OF
arrangements beyond my art, be-
sides, events and impressions in
timately associated with the past
frequently come forward, which
serve to emphasize the chronicle.
After this explanation, | ask the
readers sufferance and proceed
with my crazy-quilt record of
facts.
My brother, Andrew Jackson
Mossback, was never like any OF
his relatives. He was one of those
family accidents, which all must
admit, but nobody can explain.
If he could get hold of an old
greasy book, it was no use to pro-
pose game of cards to him. l
would walk three miles to see a
niger whipped, but he would
walk five to watch water-mill in
operation. He knew where the
Cumberland river has its source,
and l knew every fishworm in the
county by name. Writers may
preach the unison of contradict
ions, but | do not believe in it.
This brother and never had in
common hope or an aspiration
| I hunted the filter tree, while he
hunted a job; he agreed with his
employer, while l quarrelied witt
fate. Our differences widened with
years. The prevailing opinion in
the family was, that Andrew
Jackson was silly. Yet he hae
} such original ways and such re-
markable self-reliance. we coulc
not pity him. Often l have heart
nay father say, with tears in hi
: eyes, that he wished he had never
bestowed so brilliant a name upor
so dull son. He was whipped 81
often for his seeming obtuseness
that we adopted the sobriquet o
J "Old Hickory" In ridieule. Blu
it did no good. His pervers it.
grew with his growth. Leaving
home in his teens, he driftet
t along the rivers for a time, final.
a settling down in Ohio, in o local.
4 ty dominated by Wings. To sucl
a nature, environment is NOR
: potent than tradition. The trans
ition was speedy and complete
t he renowned the political faith o
Y his ancestors. Occasionally h
l wrote home. but as none of Il
could read his letters coherent
or answer them intelligibly, W
d soon ceased to hear from him, ez
+ cept at long intervals, when b
would send some pecuniary toxic
of regard. We mourned him a
Il one doubly lost. But he WAS nc
+ in a losing business somehow. 81
|. marched with Sherman to tn
f seal havs never forgiven hi1
4 for that-came back captain an,
went about his business. Takln
advantage of the beastly war tai
e if, which very nearly destroye
, the government by saving it, h
engaged in manufactures. Thi
. tariff, which robs the people
). seems to bankrupt some MANI
!, facturers. while it enriches other.
I. 1 can not understand this, thong
y l have heard Fogle explain i
often. Andrew Jackson was OIL
= who prospered. He has been i
!: the habit of writing to me ono
i or twice year. | got a lette
: from him yesterday. give som
extracts.
"The business outlook is yer
4 fattering. No scarcity of factor
!, smoke this year. Better gro,
, lots of potatoes; our employee
will want them at least twice
day.
"Do you suppose. they ran GU
3 of the negro supply, before the
: killed those Italians in New Or
, leans? We don't have that sor
, of slaughter-house here in Re
publican Ohio. How many hav
you in Missouri?
"Our city is threatened with
s boom. The pulse of real estat
Is alarming. These manufacture
ing towns get there, l tell you.
Solomon, do you want ligh
hut rayinc ioh2 Wa will 900,