Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-02-27
in aud out of style

S III. in aud out of style
time and again sluce the Colonel first
got it, sometimes being exactly the
same shape as the hats Of the period
worn by city swells, and again being
sadly different from them. Years had
had their effect on the old hat, how
ever, and its gloss had given way to
certain bare places that would not
shine, let Col. Thompkins rub them as
he might. The hat retained something
of its old-time dignity, in spite of the
worn and greasy-looking places on it,
and as it was the only one in Howell
County, Col. trhompkins felt himself
distinctive parsonage.
The old fellow said he was a journal
list. There were few people in Howell
County who knew what he meant by the
word, but they instinctively telt that he
was person Of unusual Importance and
power, because OF the hat he wore. Col.
Tompkins was tell and as straight as
hickory sapling. His trousers were
tight, except at the knee, where they
bagged badly. They failed to meet
his shoe tops by an inch or so, and the
daintiest suggestion of fringe was no.
ticible on the inside of the lower edges.
The coat that Col. Tompkins had worn
ever since he came to Howell County
was plain, square-cut sack, made of
cheap cloth that had once been black,
butwhich for as many years as any one
could remember was a dirty brown,
with traces of the original black still
clinging about the seams, as if 10th to
part with an old friend
The little town in which Col. Thomp-
kins had become a central figure was at
last in need of a newspaper. 1t had a
school house, three-story brick up on
the north hill-and a court house with
a clock in the dome was talked of. The
matt street had few good stores on it,
there was big mill nearing completion,
lumber interests were thriving
and the trade of the town was extend
ing among the better classes Of north
erners who were moving in and buying
out the happy-go-lucky natives who
would rather fish and hunt than plant
corn and cut wood. That was. why Col.
Thompkins, at little meeting Of citi-
zens, presented the subject of starting
a newspaper.
Il am a journalist" said he, "and
can give you what you want. If [ do
say it myself, gentlemen, there are few
men west of the Mississippi who handle
more trenchant pen than your hum
ble servant I will write articles of
force on any subject from the county
hog law to the proposed archaeological
development Of Delphi: [ will serve
the people of Howell with news from
the four quarters of the globe fresh
every Thursday morning; the busy
merchants of this embryonic city will
be given much needed opportunity to
place the advantages of this market and
of their respective institutions before
the people of this valley, and altogether,
fellow citizens, feel that we cannot
fail to appreciate the benefit of such a
circulating medium in our midst"
The Colonel's statement was received
with considerable favor. Few of the
old-timers knew what he meant by his
reference to ancient Delphi, but they
all appreciated the necessity of full in-
formation on the county hog law every
week. The dream of their lives was
to see the inquisitive brindle razor back
in the hand of the laws strong arm.
1--WE need er noospaper, an there's
no gittin' eroun' it," remarked old Jim
Fruitly. the president of the meeting,
"but we must know how much. she's
gwine ter cost, fust How much, Gun
mel" he continued, addressing the jour-
nalist, will this hyar newspaper cos'?"
1T can be placed securely on its
feet" responded Col. Thompkins, for
about $500. With that sum of money
it will hardly be necessary to have a
single subscriber to start with"
Give hundred dollars" repeated the
chairman, absent-mindedly, as Col.
Thompkins sat down. lis er heap er
money-er mighty heap"
There were numerous ominous head
shakings all through the room, and Col.
Thompkins slowly rubbed his brown
sleeve around his tall silk hat and
looked earnestly at the president.
Then Bill Cunningham, who owned o
half interest in the mill, rose and adj
dressed the meeting.
"Tm willin'," he began after series
OF shuffies and throat-clearing, "Pm
willin' ter do my part of this thing an
see Their noospaper git or start. I'll gin
$lO."
"Bludsoe'll act ez seckiterry," inter-
posed the president, "an' he kin put me
down fer ten erlongside or Bill"
I'm good fer five in this hyar,"
yelled Simon Cox from the back of the
room.
"An' yer might put me down fer
twenty" said old man Hardy. who