The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-01-03
E. DUDLEY DUNCAN
Rides Into Nashville in a
Passenger Coach.
The Gold Weather Forces Him to
Ride Fifty Miles.

"uNOlUiSeu anu equally LnuCu'uldllSuSu
pedestrian Legislator from Washing
ton county, reached Nashville yester-
day at 8 20 p. m. ON the Lebanon
train, having ridden from Watertown.
A representative of the american,
who was also on the train, was accord
ed an Interview, the first, by the way,
which Mr.. Duncan has granted to any
newspaper during his novel and unen-
viably notorious peregrinations. He
vehemently declares himself humil-
lated by the publicity given his jour-
ney, which he began without the
slightest intention of seeking or OBJ.
tanning either fame or notoriety.
WRITING A NOVEL.
81 was" he said, writing novel,
the plot OF which / had determined to
lay in the heart of the Cumberland
Mountains, and in order that l might
write intelligently Of people and
places, manners and customs, l was
compelled to make personal cbserva.
tions thereon. 1t is occasionally
ludicrous and bit humiliating to a
writer to find himself led into the
error OF having his heroine made love
to over marble mantlepiece in a re-
gion where such furniture is by no
means abundant. In addition to the
information 1 thus secured for my lit
erary work and which I trust will
shield me somewhat from the satire of
the keen and capable critic, inciden.
tally picked up many a suggestion
which ought to enable me as a Legis.
lator to be humbly helpful to the
greatly neglected but none the less
deserving and patriotic denizens Of
the over mountain counties.
AS THE LEGISLATURE
was not to convene for some weeks
yet, and the weather at that time be.
ing excellent, | determined to exer-
else an able bodied American citizens
inalienable right of walking to Nash
vile through the very region concern
ing which | was about to write.
was the more anxious TO do this be-
cause | have every winter taken long
walk from love OF the exercise and for
its health giving benefit. only last
year walked from Johnson City to
Asheville, N. c., nobody at that time
interposing the slightest objection,
nor had any reason to suppose that
the public and the moulder Of ite
opinion--the press-would be less dis
posed this time to give cordial consent
that / should
ATTEND TO MY OWN BUSINESS,
even though that business should be
walking through 800 miles OF the most
unique and interesting country on
earth. Being much of the time far in
the country, and always away from
the newspapers, / did not know unit
reached the valley that I was being
given such widespread advertising
none the less undesirable because it
was free. I deplore this silly sensa
tionalism to which I am unwittingly
subjected all the more because il
seems to reflect upon the good county
of Washington, which SO generously
honored me by giving me libera
majority over worthy and popula
political opponent Whatever ill-effec
may come from it, l shall be glad If
| l MAY BEAR II ALL,
since Washington county, the mothe
of many real statesmen-observe tina
| am not 'collarless,' nor do / la,
claim to the enviable title OF states
man'-is in no sense responsible 70
its representatives. determination t
walk to the scene OF his legislativ
duties"
"But, Mr.. Duncan. it is pleasant
charged by the press that you wake
rather than accept pass which wa
rendered you," interpoSed the repor
er.
The truth is, | do not understan
how a member OF the Legislature ca
consistently accept unearned fsvol
from Observation-Disclosures or corporation
possibly affected by the laws he ma
he called upon to make, and l shS
accept no passes.
NOT HOSTILE 10 CORPORATE
"This decision, which / believe Il
average citizen has usually had Il
right to make, does not imply al
hostility upon my part toward Il
, railroads, or any criticism of those
my colleagues who NAV have receiv
and who will use passes. The railroa
are public necessity; instance Z
fact that sm using this one becau
I do not feel like footing it throuI
4 this ice and snow. / have no war
-..I.> ,,,>,., ,...t.o.a. -. 49,. -.