The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-21

disturbed my cOrp0rosity and | dreamed
that the tiger got loose and came prowi-
ing and bowling around the car and
somehow | got a Ratchet out of the took
box and lifted the young lady through
the port hole upon the roof, and volun-
teered to defend her with my life and
my sacred honor The tiger made des-
perate leaps to get up there, but every
time he got a paw on the cave, | cut
it off and let. him fall back again. 4
don't know what became Of the other
ladies, but think that other wild beasts
got in and eat them up. The men had
all fled prematurely, but / saved the
pretty girl, the sweetest and tenderest,
before | woke up. Who wouldn't in q
dream? What curious things are
dreams, anyhow! The next trouble ON
the old mans mind came over him ae
Salisbury, where / was billed to lecture
that night. On my arrival | found that
august body, the Presbyterian synod in
session. Preachers and elders innumer-
able were scattered among the good peO-
pie all over town. They were holding
night sessions, and wouldn't have adj
journed for Mckinley or Grover Cleve-
land or the yellow fever or a fire. But
this was not all, the Episcopal bishor
was to lecture on the Holy Land, where
he had been recently, and knew thar
would fall between and get smother
ed. Mr.. Marsh seemed to feel very bad,
and apologized by saying that when he
booked me he did not know of these
meetings. WELL" said l, ''the saints
will all go to these meetings, but you
have sinners in this town." He admit
ted that there were some. And SO I
went ahead and lectured, and was sur
prised to see before me a select and cuI-
tured audience, select, and I hope elect
according to Presbyterian theology.
So all is well that ends well. The next
evening found me at the nice little town
of Marion, in western North Carolina,
away up in the land OF the sky. They
are good people there, I know, for they
filled the courthouse that night and gave
me an ovation. The old soldiers are
thick in that region, and they came out
to hear me, and some of us got together
and talked of old Bob Lee and Joe
Johnston and Generals Early and PEN
der and Whiting and Hoke and RAN
som and Pettigrew and Clingman and
others. Their eyes watered and their
hearts burned within them, and they
got closer and closer together. What q
people these tar-heels are-these des.
ScAudnlS oI Iue ScOtcn! About every
other name is Scotch, a McLane or Nc.
Fall or McLaurin or Macarthur or Nc.
Somethingelse, and then there are Al.
eXanders everywhere. and CaIdwells
and Carlyles. After the lecture we had
musicale at the hotel by the gifted
Gruber family, who keep the hotel, Mr..
Grubber and Mrs. Grubber and their
seven children. have heard much mu-
sic during my long life, but 7 never
heard any better anywhere. How the
old mans fingers did dance upon the
strings; how sweetly did the still hand
some m9tron sing the ''Last Rose OF
Summer" and other old-time songs of
Scotland! What delightful chords came
from. the piano under the touch OF the
young ladies and the sweet little black
eyed girl OF only ten summers! And
when they played "Home. Sweet
Home" with variations, l could hardly
restrain my tears. felt like we all
ought TO hold a seance If we could with
John Howard Payne and tell him how
the world loved him for his song. had
sweet dsnams that night. I am still on
the grand rounds talking to the unpre-
tending people of this grand old State.
It seems to have got out, however, that
had joined John Robinson's circus and
gone off with it. Some of these mis-
rhievous drummers told that. Yours on
the wing, BILL ARP.