The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-07-28

WHEN TIE GOVERNORS MET.

Herald In the olden times of on,
statehood, before the steam engine
pulled the earth with thunderous
stroke and reduced space TO a mere
matter OF time, when whiskey with
sugar was 5 cents a glass and all
backs were turned when that glass
was filled, and when n white man
was considered as good as a negro if
he behaved himself, the Governor of
North Carolina took it into his head
one day to pay a long promised visit
to his %neighbor, the Governor of
South Carolina. So he put a clean
shirt and a pair OF socks in his saddle
bags, mounted his horse and rode
away through the pine forests toward
the south. Diligently following his
nose IN this direction he came in due
time to the home Of his brother Gov
ernor, where he was received with all
the honors of genuine southern hos
pitaiity. When asked how he felt
his characteristic reply was ''Thank
you, Governor, l am tired, sleepy,
hungry and SOBER" The host cordi-
ally assured him that he could RENE
dy all these.
Next day dinner was served at -
o'clock as the horn blew for the hands
to come in. After it was over the
two Governors retired to the shade of
the long back porch. where cornc0b
pipes, with long twists of homegrown
tobacco awaited them.
There, in the long, soft afternoon.
reclining on easy bottom rockers, they
lollcd and smoked and talked the
hours away. Betwixt the twain, on
the floor, sat a trimming pitcher of
apple toddy, with the mellow, roasted
fruit impudently floating on the sur
face of the divine tipple. From time
to time this aided and enlivened the
conversation. They talked of the
comparative eXcellencies and advan-
tages of their respective States, of
the price OF cotton, of horse-racing
and runaway negroes as they talked
they smoked and as they smoked
they drank. They specialized on the
coming glories Of the country, they
pledged eternal friendship to each
other personally, and vowed to pre-
serve all neighborly courtesies be-
tween the two Carolina States forev-
or and forever, amen Now and then
they would dose in their easy chairs
under the mellow influences of their
happy surroundings, and on waking
up would diligently deny having been
asleep and take another drink to
prove their w%akefuiness. And thus
things went on.
Now it happened that the Governor
of South Carolina had a wifc-as all
good Governors should have, on the
principle Of the old maxim that he
who aspires to govern should first
learn to %obey-and her name was
Betsy Jane. She well knew the fail
ing OF her governor and she easily
guessed that the visiting governor
was tarred with the same stick.
Quietly watching proceedings she
at length concluded that these two
old cocks were about as full as they
could well hold without stopping over
and it was time to stop. Watching
her opportunity during a rather pro-
tracted doze, she slipped away the
pitcher, still half full, and inserted
in its place a piggin of cool spring wa
ter with a clear yellow gourd hanging |
on the handle. But the instincts of
nature are infallible. Though sound
asleep the Governor of North Caro-
lima felt that something was wrong
a lack OF spirits as it were-every
nerve in him cried out against the
presence Of a hostile element. and he
awoke. His pcrturbed soul had not
deceived him. The pitcher of toddy
was gone. He Immediately awaken
ed his host, who %courteously inquired,
what is the natter" Don't YOU
see what is the matter ?" said the
guest, looking Indignantly at the
piggin and the gourd. Indeed, |
see nothing wrong" said the now dis
tressed host. please tell me what is
the matter, my dear governor" "The
devil you say. Nothing wrong. in
deed! go to sleep with a pitcher Of
today before me, | wake up and find
a piggin of spring water, and the
Governor of South Carolina tells me
in his own house that he sees nothing
wrong about that Well, well All
| have to say, sir " said the Governor
OF North Carolina, rising with a very
great but rather unsteady dignity,
us that it is Il damned long time be-
tween drinks oh" said the Gov
ernor of South Carolina, as the situa.
ton flashed on him, 81 see; that's
Betsy Jane. She means stop. and
we're done for to-day. I'm sorry |
can't bring that pitcher back. | hum
Dly beg your pardon, Governor, but
maybe there's a Betsy Jane at your
mouse, and maabe you know how it is
Yourself" The offended dignity of
the Governor Of North Carolina dis
solved slowly into q genial smile of
Intelligent comprehension, and SOL
EMMY working one eye he fell-either
upon the neck of his host or upon the
porch floor, tradition does not say