Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-07-05
SAVANNAH HARDIN COUNTY, TENNESSEE

cold and silent lips to move in G burst
of paterotc fervor, Applause The
Day We Celebrate, Gentlemen ar
lady, my tongue falters wen contem-
plate the bottomless immcnsity of the
theme and realize that, with the undy-
ing confidence you have ever reposcd
in me, you have entrusted it 80 my
care. Can do it justice? [Cries Of
Tackle 1t anyhow, judge
"Go back with me, Mrs, Porter an
gentlemen, to the first original origin
of this day, The soil of this now eX'
tensively discovered country had never
yet felt the passionate kiss of a white
mans foot, At the base of Plymouth
Rock band of Injuns was camped.
They arose one mornin, as had been
their custom for years, an prepared
for the usual duties of the day. A war
rior who had gone to the waters edge
to wash his dusby face an no less
duslty hands suddenly disturbed the
peaceful echoes with the startlin' cry:
OuNl, llO.
"'Whereaway?' shouted the chief, in
great agitation.
"'Thereaway, he responded point
ing out over the breast of the discon-
tented waves.
Far out at sea u sail was discovered.
Nearer and nearer it drew, risin' an
fallin' on the impatient waves, an as it
neared the shore the natives beheld
with awe lordly man in lingly dress
lookin' through telescope. Lady and
gentlemen, that man was Columbus,
and he was at that moment engaged in
discovering America. The natives
drew back in timid alarm as the vessel
approached an ground her Prov into
the sandy shore, and a moment later
Columbus stepped ashore an claimed
this gc-lorious land an planted in the
sacred soil the great flag of freedom
an liberty a counterpart of which is
now ailoatin' over us, thanks to the
paterotc spirit of our beloved goddess,
Mrs, Porter. Wild applause. That
fcller citizens, was the Fourth day o
July, an ever since that day has been
one of rejoicin' over that fortunate dis
covery. Oh, feller citizens"
"Beggin' the speakers pardon" said
Gabc llarker, who had gone down in
the audience where he could better
hear the Judge, but aren't you a little
mixed in yer dates, yer honor? We dc
not celybratc the disllivery of America
to-day, but the birth of the immortal
Washington. We are here"
"Thc court will not permit itself tc
be interrupted 1t knows wat It's
talkin' about, an if the cradle-rocllet
gentleman from Philadelphia is gropin
in blind ignorance, he should cndeavol
to suppress the fact an set still an try
to learn somethin'."
"The gentleman from the cradle o
liberty is endeavorin' to throw som,
light on official ignorance. tell you
sir, we celebrate the birth O George
Washington an not the landin' O. Co
lumbus an the Pilgrim fathers.
know, fur my father fit under Wash
ington."
"An' the court knows that the libert,
brat doesn't know wat it's talkin
about" the judge retorted. ave celc
bratc the dislSivery of America. Ain
l right, Big Sam?'
Big Sam said he really didn't know
but he thought a Judge ought to know
more than common miner.
"Of course he should" the judge con
tinucd, IAN if the offspring from
dug-out cradle interrupts me ag'in II
jump down there an teach him les
son in patcrotism.'
"Thc one-hoss jedge of half-hos
court can't teach me nothin'. If i
comes down here I'll beat hole in TIL
ground with him"
The judges coat came off like
flash, and he bounded from the plat
form. Gabe was waiting for him, an
the two men came together like in
furiated bulls. The excited crow
surged around the combatants wit
eager interest, some encouraging tn
child of liberty, while others urge
the judicial light to greater efforts i
defense of the honors he had accorde
to Columbus. On and on they fought
kicking, biting, wrestling, striking
until at last the Philadelphian Dor
the judge to earth and jumped on hi
PROSTATE form with both feet The
the bystanders interfered, and the de
feated man, more dead than alive, wa
picked up in an unconscious conditio
and borne to his cabin,
While the dance was at its heigl
that evening sympathetic group stoo
around the rude bunk on which reste
the demoralizcd form of the judg,
Opening his swollen eyes the injure
man feebly said;
Boys, reckon | got licked"
scot it piled onto you in purity fa
shape, jedge," one of his friends IT
piled
81 desarved it, boys, fur bcin' s
burned forgitful, My memory ain
pannin' out much good dust as G
older"
Deserved it, jedge? Was you 70
, lerin blind lead in the Columbl
business?'
yes Ireckon Gabe was right a,
| want You to explain to him that
won't lay this up ag'in him. I've bee
layin' here thinlSin' it over, an no
, it all comes to me as plain as day,
was Christmas wen Columbus disco
cred us, an not the Fourth"
CAPT. JACK CRAWFORD,
''The Poet Scout
A JOLLY FOURTH.