Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-07-21
Duck farmer to Henfarmer
Riverside on the Nacut,

Glen Dell Cove, Port Republic.
July 49,.
In these letters | predicted the return
of prosperity. 1t will come. Undoub-
ually predicted glory for the Henfar-
mer and the Duckfarmer. 1t is coming.
He who falls in the fray will go on to
glory and the victor will be presented
with spray Of the morning glories.
With surprising boldness the HeDfar-
mer challenges me to q duel. With
eager, and with desire for relief from
the tedious humdrum ofthe dull hours Of
routine work on the farm, | accept the
challenge. The old Grecian blood has
not yet frozen in my veins. Associated
for sixteen years with an aggressive news
paper and trained by an editor who
knew no fear, am fearless. Like Spar
taeus, dare face the Numidian lion in
his den or meet any three Roman
gladiators on the bloody sands. But
why boast of deeds of daring past?
Suffice it to know that Count Beriah
Hentarmer is no coward and trust he
will prove himself "a fOeman worthy
of my steel" To me belongs the choice
of weapons. Nay, will cOncede your
request and not choose stub pens.
Neither will choose the French foil
with which l have often disarmed my
man in the Demosthenian school, for
fear Beriah is not an expert in the art OF
fencing. Shot guns are too common
and pistols are out of date since the duel
of Burr and Hamilton. | might choose
the cutlass or the sword OF Damascus,
but as this is an an affair of honor, to be
contested by two gentlemen who have
envious regulations and are seeking de-
struction, l will choose a weapon of
both defense and offense. / therefore
choose corn stalks and stale duck eggs
at one hundred PAGES.
The battle ground should be mutually
agreed upon. will therefore respectful
ly suggest for the consideration of Mr..
Briery Island, in the Nacut, beyond the
ther Smallwood of Garden Point has
given his pei mission. If that is not an
agreeable place to meet / suggest Dog
For my second l choose Capt. Samuel
and knows of duels and meetings in
my private attendant, and Judge Elmer
DdTOU, Ddui NduOdut, OdpUclu DdUcb
| and ViscOunt Ike SmaIlwOOd will act as
gentlemen of honor. The time of meet
| ing will also be left for mutual agree
ment. "Come on Macbeth for con-
| test rough, and cursed be he who first
cries Hold, enough The Duckfarmer
| awaits thee.
My brother in husbandry, l admire
your dazzling metaphors; your flights of
eloquence pleases me and for your bold
ness and apparent bravery admire you.
| But it grieves me sorely that a mind 80
bright has been befogged by the delusion-
ary promises and glittering statements
OF foreign false prophets. Even our ma
| tive American Indians would denounce
them as singing birds. So Bro. Beriah
thinks that all the National prosperity
and comforts of home, and the musical
organScame as q result of the gold
standard. Vain delusionl False! Ask
tie peasantry of Italy if it is SO with
them. Go to Russia, where the larger
portion of gold is boarded, and ask the
laborer what of home comforts. And
merry old England; ask the tenant
farmer if the Esty organ fills his tenant
house with sweet consoling music after
| the day of toll is over. Does not the
HI MIA rmer know that America one hun
dred years ago was but bowling will
| derness? Does he not know that
pioneers, in any newly settled country,
must be deprived of earthly mansions
aud luxuries of life, the first few years Of
his habitation? Where sre the log cabins
of our forefathers, the pioneers Of Amer
lea? will answer by asking: where are
| the blossoms Of last year? The star ol