New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
POSSUM RIDGE ORATORT.

Excelsior Springs, Mo-. Dec. 15-Possum Ridge
has literary and debating society," the first meeting OF
which held night last week at the old log
schoolhouse up at the crossroads. Squire Beeson.
because of his eminent fitness for the place was
chosen to preside. which he did In his usual happy
manner. with corncob pipe In his mouth and his
feet thrown mp the table. The question for de
bate was "Resolvcd that a greater debt Of
gratitude to Washington than do to Columbus 4"
Judge Peters, member OF the County Court led the
discussion, saying:
Mr. President and Teller citizens. In my opin-
ion thar amt question ter be argyed, for it is all
enc sided. Atwxt them thar anybody ort
10 know which has got the call gratichood. !
haint got nOthin' agn Columbus, Mr.. President, an
/ amt gOln' 10 run him down. lie good
enough sort o. teller In his way. reckon. but he
want BOwhers nigh sich a WashintOn. an
what he done fer WANT patchln' TO what Wash
n'ton done. Mr.. President. ] yer wher'd we q
been terday II it hadn't been fer Mr.. Washln ton
Wher'd kentry n been il 1t hadn't been fer him
Columbus fair sort o. Teller, Mr.. President.
I amt d denyin' of that But Washin'ton with
a dozen Of i'm any day. Why Mr.. President, doOrin'
all the long an bloody when battles bein TT
an ginerls WIZ ben' whipped, Washln'ton stood
up fer our kcnry an got a lickin I've seed,
sir whar it wri: down that Gner' Lee tried mon
strous hard captur' Washin'ton, but he WIZ
able ter do Il; No, sir. nary time he never-Mr
Washin't ton wuz too much fer him. Mr.. President,
il H. hadn't been fer WaslntOn the South would a
trlumphcd an the kcntry would been ruinaed
bowdccously. What, | yer could Grant an
Boraparte an Stoncvail Jackson done II Wash
in'ton hadn't a been thar ter hope EN-? An what,
Teller citizens WIZ Mr.. Columbus a don' OF all this
time7 Whar wuz he Mr.. President. while Wash
in'ton wuz n fghtn like wildcat hot skillet
an a putin OF JEFF Davis down? wild ap-
plaase) Wuz he n fghtin' Of his kentry's battles,
Mr.. President No, sir, lie wasn't lie never
fiji n lick fer his kentry. Now, Mr.. President, you
sh0rey can't fail 10 sec which o. them fellers Is en-
titled to our gratichood. Mr.. Columbus wW right
pear sort Teller, reckon, but he want nowliar In
comparison to Mr.. Washinton. Leavin' the question
with YER Mr. President. I'll now set down.
The Rev Isom Bedsaw. known rs the silver
tongued orator OF Possum Ridge next addressed the
audience in reply TO Judge Peters. lie said:
Mr. President ladies, gentlemen an feler citizens
O, Possum Ridge I'm here tonight ter champion the
cause o. one o. the greatest hs kentry has ever
produced I'm here tonight to speak out In favor o.
the man who ut his own expense went ter the trouble
o. diskvcrin' u.s. The % that man, teller citi-
zens T. Columbus Ny antagonist axes whar columbus
WIZ Willie Washin'tOn WIZ hgllun' OF MS kentry :
battles an answer him. fellcr citizens, by say In
| ak We WbaF would be now, IL we hadn't been
diskiye,ed an what good would Mr. Waslhn'ton rs
lghtin' mount to Washin'ton WIZ right smart
nnnkins ! reckon. but he want knee high 10 Column
Ens Mr. Washn'tOn want necessary 10 the savin'
n, This here kentry Mr. President. Thar WIZ plenty
O, Others who'd done IL Jest as we'll But, Mr.
cnlrmbus hadn't / say, Mr.. President. that, II il
hadn't been fer him wouldn't been dshlvered.
Did any OF We ever hcser up what II cost Mr. Column
bus 10 diskver US gentlemen, il must cost more
than II dOe5 10 run four months decNtfick school.
Hear bearJ Yes, sir ! tell ye Gskverin' countries
is priced work an costs lots Mr. President, I've