Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-10-06

H/II
THE DEBATE.
earth" for, oh, so many years hate to look
back on tLcm-that | came to this village
My coming will live in my memory till
The sun grows cold,
And the stars are old,
And the leaves of the judgment book unfold.
left Malvern-the town where you take
the Diamond 10 railway for Hot Springs.
l left there, l say, on horseback. 1t was
o'clock in the afternoon, and there was a trip
of 80 miles before me, but l galloped gayly
off over sandy road, past rueful swamps,
under magnolias whose blossoms seemed
as big and bright as a Roman moon, while
expresses lifted themselves out of sulen
and silent pools on either hand and rasped
me with the swish of their long gray,
CHASTITY Spanish MOSES as went my way.
Cabins were kicked behind my horse as
l fled on-cabins of blacks, cabins of ''po'
white trashn-and the inmates thronged to
their thresholds as | passed. Dirty, di-
sheveled We're they always, with plenty of
brats and brutal hounds; always unkempt
hair and bare feet-always.
On, on, on, flew A flash that splinter
ed the sky and sent a myriad mock birds
huttering by; then a roar of Titan drums
"
lightning swept and trickled and curved
Backwood Hospitality.
halted my horse in front of large old
frame house, back of which spread field
of cotton. On the gallery-as they call a
porch out here-was gray old man in his
bare feet.
Stranger" called, "can stay here to-
nightl"
Mother, this chap wants to stop by" he
called to some unseen person inside.
Jack, your | heard a directing agent in
the interior region, take the boss an put
on yer perlitest"
Jack appeared-a TALL slouchy youth,
with very good face, and one that pos
sessed strong touches of character withal.
Take a seat, mister" said the old man.
Supper is erbout ready"
He had a wife and at least II children,
all of whom came out in their bare feet
and viewed me as though l were freak
just out of a side show.
The old woman went back and presently
called out:
kim to supper, eff you uns all is akin
men,"
The mistress of the mansion sat at the
head of a table on which were big hunks of
bacon swimming in grease. a Is by 20 inch
slice of corn pone, lot of greens" and
plenty of buttermilk.
Grab fer lerselves," said the old lady.
'I'm too pow'f full weak to wait ON you uns."
stranger" she went on, "whar you uns
fromt'
Originally from Ohio"
"Whar you uns gwine?"
SHERIDAN
Next morning the storm was over, the
sky was clear, and proffered fee for my
entertainment.
What do you uns take we uns fer?"
queried the old woman wrathfully. 1--WE
uns don't keep er hotel, and not a cent
would she take.
Thanking the family kindly, mounted
my horse and went on.
l presume | had proceeded seven miles
when fresh storm came up. The rain be-
gan to descend in torrents, and came to a
creek that had been swollen into a river by
the storm of the day before. However,
plunged in, but my horse lost it's footing,
and the first thing | knew was floating
round regardless in the muddy waves.
managed to catch hold of the bride of the
horse and was soon landed on terra firma
The lightning dazzled the thunder cracked;
the rain poured; the wind howled Great
branches came tearing off the trees. My
horse kicked, pranced, cavorted in fright as
rode into this dismal town.
A Question For Debate.
Sheridan is a representative Arkansas
town. | mean an interior town.
1t is 80 miles from anywhere Trees grow
in the middle of the one main street. The
few tradesmen lock their store doors in the
middle of the day and go fishing hunting
and swimming. A silence as awful as the
end of the world prevails.
The village organized a debating club
during my stay here, and the first question
that came under consideration was:
Resolved, That Washington deserves more
credit for preserving America than Columbus
for discovering it.
After the defender of Columbus had
spoken, the champion of Washington took
the floor and chew of tobacco.
Mr. Cheerman, ladies and gents" he
began, Il am heer tonight as defender
of Gineral George Washin'ton, Eesquire
Mr. Cheerman, ladies and gents''- He
paused, took his barlow knife out of his
pocket, cut off fresh plug of tobacco, and
began again: Mr.. Cheerman, ladies and
gents, am heer tonight as a defender of
Gineral George Washin'ton, Eesquire.
Now, Washin'ton wuzn't no SLOUGH. He
wuzn't no sardine. He wuzn't"-
But felt like running out and rolling on
the grass outside. | knew if | staid mo-
ment longer l would give way to my mirth,
for the manner of the speaker showed that
he was as serious as st. Alenz at the baptism
of the child Chrystophus.
They have no politics here. Party differ
ences are all religious and are far more
bitter than anything | ever met up with
between Republicans and Democrats.
WILL UBBARD-kERNAN.