The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-03

- w. tensiye acquaintance IN
~s'AS~1H the mountain region OF
North Carolina, and he advised me to 90 there,
promising me such letters TO acquaintance as
would assure me good quarters. lie mentioned
A country house in tho region OF the moon
sinners or Illicit distilcrs OF whisky, where
could have good opportunity of learning about
this class or people. lie said j would find some
good hunting. aud that the region was mex
Ceptionaily healthy aud the air quite lnNlgor-
atng. This added 20 q lOng-ielt desire Oh my
part 10 iud out for myself, by personal ooserNa-
tion, something of the class OF people known 10
mOonsIiuers decided my course; so some lhlee
wears AGO determined 20 take advantage OF the
opportunity thus offered.
Getting myself ready ] took the railroad
train foT q point in the mountain region o.
North Carolina where ] was informed there
was a small village. j had letter TO the Only
tavern keeper i'm the place, who was requested
20 furnish me with horse 10 take me 10 the
place oil any destination, some 40 miles distant
ON my arrival / had no difficulty IN hndlng
the tavern as il was near the station, aud The
only building whose appearance gave evidence
Of room enough 10 accommodate travellers.
Gathering my baggage, made my way to
the tavern. and was met on the front porch Dy
d stout man with a sunbuTnt face white hair
aud beard aud dressed in a suit OF brown Jeans,
with trousers which were about four inches
Zoo short aud revealing pair of coarse, coun-
fry-knit wool socks, encased IN a PAIR oil heavy
shoes, which seemed never to have known The
use OF backing. With pleasant but rather
dignifed air he bid me good evening, took my
baggage and invited me into the main room Of
the house which was very comfortable and
neat, and furnished with stout split-bottomed
chairs and pine table.
I was hardly seated before Mr. Braden, for
this was the landlords name, walked 10 The
door, and placing his hands on either side OF
his mouth, shouted out in stentorian voice:
/" Jim"
This was answered by youth Of about l6
years, dressed very much like the landlord,
who rushed nc ouce into the room, and alter
surveying me accurately, asked what was
wanted.
Take the bucket and run 10 the spring
quick and bring some fresh water"
Jim took the bucket from OF the shelf on the
side of the door and after having hung the
Fourd a nail, proceeded In trot toward the
spring
Mr. Bradeu walked the floor nervously. oc-
rasionally looking out OF the door and shouting
for i'm to hurry up Jim soon arrived and
was Furnished with clean basin aud soap and
towel 10 make my ablutons. This over, took
my seat and drew from my pocket the letter
which my friend In Washington had given me
10 him. He put on his spectacles aud opened
the letter, but ii was evident from his manner
that hc was having difficulty in reading IL. AZ
last be turned TO me and asked me who had
written H. told him Col. johnson. AT this
he slapped his leg vigorously, and said;
Why dod-samp ii, oughter to have knowd
Col JOhus0n's writing bat am poor reader /;
won't you read il to me2"
took the letter aud read IL to him, and
when ] had finished lie got up aud gave me bis
hand and said Sir, ] am proud 10 have q
friend Of Col. JohnsOns IN my house. Con-
slider yourself at home Won't you take a
puliYh Without knowing what was meant by
pull, but supposng il was something proper
20 take, assented.
Thercupon. lie nut bis hands to his mouth
Rnd called ont in a loud voice, Maud" Al
this young woman with a short dress o.
homCspuu, pair Of slippers, and no appearance
of stock ings, a bunch OF glass beads around hel
neck aud her black hair twisted and fastened
mp with pins. entered the room and was told Il
tell Martha 10 send in a jug OF that old
WHISKY and some sugar, spoons and tumblers
Jim was then called from his game Of ball
which be was playing alone in front Of th'
house. and ordered 10 run down 10 the sprinl
and bring another fresh bucket Of water, anc
~ BE- quick.
Daring Jim's absence the landlord walkot
I'D tB me with a serious look aud said: " an
no trag, ] am plain, honest man am prettl
well fixed, owe no man nothing, aud try q
treat ms ueighb0rs right, but Jet me tell yOl
better whisky than mine" BY this time jim
bad arrived with the fresh water, and aito
tryinga pull i needed no farther cOmmcnda
tIOn OF MY landlords whisky.
After q most satisfying supper, and smok
of native tobacco retired 70 my bed aud h8
ar5ire5Alug sleep. On awakening in the nom
81 j found heavy rain falling, accompanies
~ a cold wind. AT the breakfast table Bi
Bradon advised me not 10 venture on my joui
mey a. the road al best was very rough and ia
"trip under the circumstances would be a Yer
disagrocabie one.
Being iu no hurry and comfortably situated
needed NO persuasion 10 delay my jOurne,
During tic day the landlord had a number
CallUrs-ucigh who all seemed 70 be seel
iIg advice on various matters. In fact, 500
found that hr. Braceu was the man Of Oh
uclglb0rhOOd 20 whom everybody looked e
advice aud was regarded Ms an oracle.
During the day q man came in onYelOped j
q blanket, which was post on by passing th
bead through hole which WAS cut in the mis
die lie was quite q stout man with a nori
complexion, and had a thick suit OF coars
yeliOWIsh hair which stood straight out from a
parts oi Lis head. lie wore q suit Of era
scans, the coat being cut in the clerical styl
bis hat was std, low crowned and bros
brimmed, and his top boots were worn over Il
tT0user.. lie lad hcF watch fob, 10 d
emo Of which was attached piece Of gold co
very large dreamy looking eyes, and stared
anyone WHO addressed him with look Of v
Cancy.
soon learned by the conversation that i
name was Col BrOwdcr, for the lanl0rd ncv
introduced me TO any Of his visitors but act
as II they were as well known 10 me as 10 hil
The Colonel was very promptly asked 10 take
a pull from the best whisky In North CaroliI
which he was as prompt 90 accept.
j was informed by Mr.. Braden that @
BTOWdcr was one Oh the leading men OF L
noiRhborh0od that he was a trader ia liz
stock, bought mp poor cattle, sheep and hoI
and iaiicned and drove them 10 market real
3ug good profit. Col. Br0Wdcrs v0cabula
was, as iar ~ any observation extended, We
brief confined chiefly 30 saying Jesse" 10
most every remark made 10 him. On taxi
leave hr added somewhat 30 his stock Ol wOrt
JIG took mc by the hand and said:
Glad saw you when you come agin ri
ane a call five miles good road, hearty W
come thanked him aud told him il ! fou
tImo on another visit ] would be glad 20 vi
linn. To this he responded Jesse" nouns
Als horse, and rode Of.
The next morning was clear and cool. ant
had an curly start for my destination the 40
al DC. LAsby, 40 miles distant ] fou.A Jim
ifOnt o. the door mounted on bis horse, "
any baggage firmly secured aud holding tie I
die oil the horse provided Tor me- NV lnndl,
told mu that the animal I was 60 ride was
finest lag ia tic country; a fafs fox-troti
aud as 5Ure-l0Otcd az "a goat lie handed
"tlcEioT.' as he called H. OF the finest y a i
iu North Carolina, aud a parcel containing
luncheon and told mo that Jim was provit
with lineup and knew all the springs