The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-02-11
An oLp-FAsHiosED MAN.

| What ha- become az tive Old-fash-
! toned man who used to carry all the
letters aud pamphlets he received,
in the crown of his plug hat.-Troy
Chief
The last we heard Of him he was
still alive, although very aged and
/, decrepit. We well remember him as
he was twenty years ago-but that,
according to some people Is only q
trifie. The boys used to bunch each
other as he went shsmbling along
and whisper In low tones. Older
folks said he was q "cOpperhead."
We did not know the significance
Of the term in those days, but the
very mention of II inspired our
young hearts with dread. He was q
large, stoop-shouIdered man whose
clothes fitted him much IS the gar
ments of the bucolic ''scare-erOw,"
aud on certain occasions lie carried
an old umbrella stick Ia lieu OF
cane. Albeit In later years he came
in possession OF real store cane OF
ebony with little ivory tipped warts
at random on its surface. Being "A
public functionary his old "Greely
hat" came into good use. 1t was at
once his Office desk, safe and port
mantesu, as well a. doing service as
a covering for the head.
In warm weather he used to carry
his handkerchief therein, and we
have often times followed him as a
boy in company OF other boys, just
to see the contents Of that hat when
he removed IL TO wipe the sweat off
his bald head. He was in rather
bad odor in those years Of the long
ago. He served the public, and yet
not by the popular consent. He was
deputy as SCISSOR, or deputy constable,
and when not serving in one capa-
city he performed the duties, as
sumed the dignities and pocketed
the emoluments Of the other.
In the fulness OF time the oppro-
brious appellation, "copperhead"
fell into desuetude, and he became
"Old Jake" 1t was during this age
that q vacancy occurred in the
office Of village marshal. The VEN
cradle and grave aud honorable
board Of trustees concluded that he
would be just the msn for the place,
and they appointed him. So faith
fully and satisfactorily did he per-
form the onerous duties of the posi-
ton that he was elected for one year
by reclamation. Again he was
chosen and all the time chung to the
practice of carrying his official
documents in the crown Of his hat.
When il came around to election
time again, he had opposition. Not
that he was q poor officer, but po-
pular impression began to gain ad-
herents that he had enough and
should retire, aid here Is where he
served good purpose I'm perpetual
ing the efficiency Of his party.
A young Democrat Of the village,
ambitions, and devoted to the inter-
ests Of his party, but trifle perverse,
inclined to be Irreverent tickle, and
withal to indulge in levity, under
took to keep the old man in office.
His method of procedure was uni
que. He selected a representative
OF the inferior parts Of town for his
dupe and at once brought him out as
candidate for marshal. He thus
kept the opposition divided aud his
old friend in office. Since that time
this young Democrat has graduated
as q party boss, has been postmaster,
and even q time or two delegate to
the state convention.
But the old-fashioned man with
the tall hat full Of official papers
shone with the greatest brilliance as
q collector OF personal taxes. One
cold day he levied on an overcoat,
the property of printer who never
could save up enough money to keep
his poll tax paid. This was the sig
nal for opening of hostilities be-
tween the old man, and "a certain
class, and to-day that printer, II he
lives, has not forgiven the old man.
The old man was brave man, a
little cranky, perhaps, but he did
his duty.