The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-11

THE DEBATE
earth" for. oh, so many years hate to look
back on thcm-that came to this village.
My coming will live in my memory till
The sun grows cold,
And the stars are old,
And tho leaves OF the judgment book unfold.
left Malvern-the town where you take
the Diamond 10 railway for Hot Springs.
left there, say, on horseback. 1t was 3
O'Clock in the afternoon, and there was trip
of 80 miles before me, but galloped gayly
Off over sandy road, past rueful swamps,
under magnolias whose blossoms seemed
us big and bright as II Roman moon, while
Expresses lifted themselves ont of sullen
and silent pools on either hand and raspcd
me with the swish of their long, gray,
CHASTITY Spanish MOSES rs went my way.
Cabins were kicked behind my horse as
fled on-cabns of blacks, cabins of no
white trash"-and the inmates throngcd to
their thresholds ms l passed. Dirty, di-
shevelcd were they always, with plenty of
Rrats and brutal hounds; always unkempt
hair and bare feeet-aiwats
On on, Oh, | flew. A flash that splinter
ed the sky and sent myriad mock birds
futterng by; then u roar of Titan drumsl
Sheets of rain, through which rivers of
lightning swept and trickled and curvedl
Lakewood Hospitality.
halted my horse in front of large old
frame house, back of which spread a field
of cotton. On the gallery-as they call n
porch out here--was gray old man in his
bare feet.
Stranger" called. "can stay here to-
night?'
Mother, this chap wants to stop by" he
called to some unseen person inside.
Jack, your heard 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 Dos
sessed strong touches of character withal.
Take seat, mister" said the old man.
Supper is erbout ready"
He had a wife and at least IL children,
all OF whom came out in their bare feet
and viewed me as though l were a freak
just out of n 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 table on which were big hunks Of
bacon swimming in grease. Is by 20 inch
slice OF corn pone, a lot of greens" and
plenty of buttermilk
Grab fer yerselves,' said the old lady
Pm too pow'ful weak to wait on you uns. I"
stranger" she went on, "whar you uns
from?"
Originally from Ohio"
Whar you uns gwine?'
SHERIDAN"
Next morning the storm was over, the
sky was clear, and proffered fee for NV
entertainment
What do you uns take we uns fersn
queried the old woman wrathfully. I'VE
uns don't keep err hotel" and not cent
would she take.
Thanking the family kindly, mounted
my horse and went on
presume L had proceeded seven miles
when a fresh storm came up. The rain be-
gan to descend in torrents, and came to n
creek that had been swollen into q river by
the storm of the day before However. I
plunged in, but my horse lost its footing,
and the first thing I 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 crack ed;
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.
Question For Debate.
town. | mean an interior town
1t is 80 miles from anywhere. Trees grow
in the middle of the one main street The
few tradesnlen 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 debating club
during my stay here, and the first question
that came under consideration was:
Resolved, Tint Washington deserves more
credit for preserving America than Columbus
FOR discovering il
After the defender of Columbus had
spoken, the chaEpion of Washington took
the floor i.,id IL chew of tobacco
Mr. Cheer:nan, ladies and gents" he
began, Il ann heer tonight as IA defender
OF Gineral George Washin'ton, Eesquire
Mr.. Chccr'nam. Indies and gents"- He
paused, took his barlow knife out of his
pocket, cut OF a trc>:4 plug of tobacco. and
began again: MI. Cheerman, ladies and
gents, ann herr tonight as II defender of
Gineral George Washinton, Eesauire
Now, Waslin'ton wuZu't no SLOUGH. He
wuzn't no sariine lie wuZn't"-
But felt like running out and rolling on
the grass outside. knew if staid a mo-
ment longer | 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
encss are all religious and are far more
bitter than anything l ever met up with
between Republicans and Democrats.