The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-30
A SOUTHERN
GOVERNORS VISIT.
TO ACONVlCT CAMP WHERE
HECOT A CORDIAL
RECEPTION.

l n 6Oks8 i AVN.
Thomas Nelson Page in Harper's
Drawer.
| ~ once made b mistake myseli
BY trying to be very thorough" said
the governor, shutting his teeth
down on his HavAna, aud closlng
hla eyes retrospectively.
"When vas it2" We asked.
Not SO long ago" said the gov
sraor. Does any Of you think !
look like a relon?" he asked. The
replies were not unanimous. "Well
was arrested a. one within the last
two years." lie sad. "Whsn l came
into the governorship l thought /
would he very thorough, and one Of
the first thlnas l investIg ated was
the convict system. The neuspa.
pera said tad made promises that
| would give honest labor . show.
| Perhaps did. So one day l slipp.
Cd of By myself and went up to tie
N. nes to see how the thing was be-
ing worked when NC one was expect.
ed. The charges had been made
that the lessees ran things verv diff.
ferently, when an investig alton
| committee was expected, from
the way they usually ran
| them, aud that ordinarily the treat
| ment was very harsh. intended to
90 down into the mines, and I put
on an old suit IF clothes in which
| used to hunt occasionally. They
were torn and muddy, and con-
graduated myself that NJ one would
know me.
"In the pockets were all sorts OF
| Odds and ends, such as airing, wire !.
knife, nippers, etc. got the con-
ductor to let me off toe train st q
! CT lossing, and walked mile or two
| TO the mines. As got near them.
| thinking l would look over the
ground before going out into the
cleared space. l turned out Of the
! path and struck up the bill through
the brush. l took a survey. and saw
small group OF me% around fire,
one or two Of them convicts, ore or
two perhaps vlsitcr, and one guard
with donble.barreled shotgun
acroas his arm. Iwas thinking Of
going down, and took = step or
two, when some one behind me
| said 'Hold oD: come back here
turned, and there 80 steps from
! me was guard, an ugly old fellow;
long and bonY, With bis shot-gun
across his arm. What do you wan:e
I aaked.
"I wants you, be said, 'and l
wants you quick. Come hsre.'
81 went over, moved rather by
curiosity. well, what do you want
with mel'
"'rm goin' to take you to the
warden he said.
"'But l won't co. 1 don't want
to go to the warden. and | wont
CO.
"'Yoa won't? Well. we'll see il
you won't. II you don't, you'll git
load of buckshot in you,' hs said,
dropping his gun, aod pulling back
the hammer slowly.
IL saw that be had me and l de-
tsrmlred to explain. 4 AN visitor
up here l said.
Eyes, no doubt; that's why /
wants you to finish ont your visit.
We can't bar to part with you.
Walk along thar
"'But-' | began.
"'But Dothing,' said he; you don't
want no but bat thls.' and be gave
me crack With the butt Of bic gun
which nearly knocked me over.
sMarch on
"Look hsre; I'm the governor Of
the state,' said l, trying to look i'm.
posing.
"He looked ct me quizzica allye
You're a pretty looking gov'nor /,
amt you7 said be. well, Gov'nor,
I'm glad to see you; I'm gwlne to
help you nn;sh out yo' term. Walk
along thar an shet ~ yer jaw. I'm
gi.tin' kinder tired on it, and Pm
q good mind to let you have load
Of buokshot any ways, je.t to teach
you maaLers,
"Well, that old fellow marched
Il