The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-10-12
AN INNOCENT PARSON.
His Attempt to Describe Ram Fight
in Ring Vernacular.
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune
\ preacher told this story at a wedding
supper recently
II was riding along a country road near
Bloomington, he said. when | noticed
group of sheep in Il pasture. There
was large open space in the midst Of the
flock. and at either end of the space stood
ram. In the center. but standing a lit
tie at one side was third ram. The two
rams had evidently had falling out about
something, or else they had come to set
tie in Il friendly contest which was the bet
ter ram. Ram No. > seemed to be acting
as-judge. umpire-what do you call it
Referee? Yes. that it. the third ram
was the referee. | don't know under
what rules the meeting took place. 1t
may have been Queensberry or Roseberry
You see am not up to these technical
matters.
when all the prelminaries had been
arranged and both contestants had been
cautioned apparently that there was to be
no 'fouling ! think | have seen that
word III the newspapers occasionally, and
therefore | suppose it is a correct word to
use III this connection-each backed off tn
the farthest limits Of the circle which. by
the way. was not squared circle. The
referee stepped out Of the way. and the
rams dashed toward each other. When
their heads came together, there was a
terrific crash, and the force of the concus-
sion threw them as far apart as the length
of this table
All the guests looked the full length
of the table, from the passion flowers at
one end to the bride $ cake in the far
perspective. and then at the preacher in
the middle distance but nobody said any
thing
Then, continued the preacher, they
took their places apparently none the
worse for the encounter. Again, evidently
at preconcerted signal from the referee.
they dashed together. This time the
shock was even more terrific than the first.
and | noticed that as one of them went
back to his-ah, what do they call it, cor
ner ?-he was little unsteady on his legs
.'Groggy = ventured the bride
Il believe that is the technical term.
replied the preacher although, as l have
intimated, ! am not at all familiar with
sporting phraseology. When time was
called for the third -ahem-that is,
mean to say when the rams had recov-
cred strength for Il third collision-there
was another rush crash. and one of the
rams, the one you 50 APPLY described as
groggy' with an acknowledgement to
the bride) fell to his knees. His adver-
saiy did not seem inclined to follow up his
advantage, but possibly he may have been
restrained by the rules of the meeting.
At any rate after contemplating his fallen
foe gravely for Il moment he walked back
to his place. The other ram. after resting
briefly, struggled to his feet The third
rm-the one | have called the referee
looked at him rather mquiringly, as 1t
seemed to me, but the warrior showed 10
sign of recognition. He ambled to his
side of the ring and faced about A muir
muir of some sort seemed to go through the
| flock. The odds were apparently 3 to l
in favor of the other ram-that is to say,
it seemed to he the general opinion that
the ram with the weak knees had been
outclasssed, as the other one was decidedly
the heavier of the two
However the smaller ram seemed
to have wonderful recuperative powers.
When the proper interval had elapsed he
came up smiling, us it were. even thought
could see a twinkle in his eye for [ was
quite close to the fence and this thing
took place only little distance away. As
the referee stepped back from the center
Of the ring. where he kept his position
between the meetings, the other two rams
drove at each other pellmell At the very
instant when their hard horns would have
met. however the smaller ram suddenly
changed his course to the right, and the
other went through the ranks like cata-
putt
Just as he turned about. evidently
boiling over with Indignation at the trick
which had been played on him. the other
one, with the added force given by longer
run from one side of the circle to point
SCNCldl iNCl UutSluC vi IL. NIlSIC TIC
ram momentum had carried him. shot at
him like cannon ball striking him full
in the face and driving him several feet
away, where he lay limp and helpless.
The third ram who was promptly on the
spot, as | suppose every competent referee
should be. nodded his head several times
indeed it looked to me as if he was count
ing-and then the fallen ram failing to
rise the whole flock marched away toward
knoll in another part of the meadow with
the victorious ram at the head. Presently
the defeated ram got ON his feet and made
his way to secluded spot down by little
run, where saw him reclining in the shade
Of a large willow tree as l rode away.
What an interesting study natural
history is said the bride grandmother
as she adjusted her glasses
1T is indeed. said the groom father,
coughing behind his napkin.
A Dog Mimic.
From the Chicago Times Herald