Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-23
NAMES FIGHTING scHooLMAsTsR.
A CASE WHERE HE NIGHT HAVE saw
ED HIMsELr TROUBLE by NAMING
HIMSELF.

at was not my privilege to be pupil
Of the famous Chris Page, the hghting
schOolmaster, said = state Of Maine
man, s,but I saw him display his quail
ties once under circumstances that
caused me 70 remember him gratefully.
IL happened several years after the war
that my business took me into northern
Maine, and was stopping for the night
at country hotel situated on leading
route to the lumber woods. IL was In
the autumn, and after supper sat down
In the Office TO enjoy the blazing open
fire. The prohibition law seemed not TO
have reached that remote district, for
there was bar In full operation In =
side room. A half dozen rough men,
who appeared to be lumbermen on their
way into the woods, were In the office
ana their frequent visits to the bar had
made them bolsterous. They had con-
siderable horseplay among themselves,
but, for the most part, were civil enough
TO other gucstH Of the house. There WAS
one exception, . big, muscular fellow
wearing q red shirt, who was out for
trouble and meant TO be bad. Seated
quietly In corner by the fire was tall,
lsnky man, dressed In ministerial black,
With quizzical, smooth-shaven face,
who occasionally exchanged remark
with the landlord.
"A dapper little drummer travelling
for Boston house arrived late with his
wife, and after supper the two went Into
the parlor, which opened upon the Office,
to walt while the landlord got their room
ready for them. The red-shirted man
Was talking profxnely and so loud that
his voice reached the psrlor, and the
husband closed the door between them.
Immediately the big fellow kicked the
door open aud threatened TO xnnihilste
the small drummer II he venturcd TO
close lt again. At this point noticed
that the tall man In the chimney corner
Was looking glum, but he said nothing.
As soon as possible the little drummer
got his wife out of the room into the
hallway, and they we're passing NJ
stairs, when the big fellow, catching
sight Of them, made n remark Insulting
| 10 both aud started toward the husband.
he had made but step when up got the
tall man.
"'Stop there, my friend" he said In a
tone drawing, but full OF business
Don't 60 any further or say another
word In that lady's hearing
"The big fellow turned In astonish-
ment, then doubled up his fists and
ground his teeth.
".Who la hell are your he asked.
Do you want anything OF meg
ale took = step toward the tall man,
AMI IN au Instant he caught straight
right-hander Ia his neck that sent hin
down to the floor. but he MAS hard
and meant hight. lie got upon his feet,
made rush for his antagonist, and for
few minutes there was tight so lively
that the two men seemed To dill the office
climbed upon the wood box, aud the
other spectators got behind the coanteI
| or lodged about. But IL was soon evil
dent that the man In the red shirt WAS
getting all the punishment. As the two
fought rough and tumble, the tall man
was so 1.-the aud clever that his heavier
opponent could not land blow on him
or force him 10 clinch, but was ham
mered all over the room. There were
some attempts made To separate them,
but one pcacemaker went down In
heap, owing To tap on the jaw from
the tall mans elbow, and the landlord,
CRYING peace, was sent smash through
the door into his own parlor and brought
I'D on the floor In the middle OF the
room. where he sat still and waited.
1.-The fight ended by Red Shirt get
ting jammed In u corner where he held
hi. head down aud devoted all his efforts
to saving his face. The tall man hit
him two or three times " here he pleased,
and then asked:
"'Do you think you'll insult the next
lady and gentleman that happen to come
TO a hotel where you are disgracing
yourselfy'
"rhere was no answer and the tall
man gave him a humping blow In the
face.
"'You think you will, them he said.
| fhump, thump, came two more blows.
| "'I'll be damned IL | ever do, roared
the fellow, with suddenness and sim
certify that were funny.
| Those are sentiments | approve,
said the tall man. How do you think
you'd like drink after your exercise
Come up, all hands, to the bar and drink
with Chris Page TO the future well doing
OF reformed sinner
".rhe dewitt muttered the big man,
As he mopped his nose and blinked rue,
fully out OF a pair OF swollen eyes,
! You licked my brother once. Why
didn't you say who you were In the first
place aud save Us two all this troubley' y