The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-03-16
@HE following pages are osten-

breathes and has his being.
While "Carp" is not strictly tn
author, yet the inspiration was gath
cred from him in the sacred precinct
of his chambers on the corner O
Main and Columbus streets, whicl
. chambers aforesaid are known fa
and wide by the expressive and ap
proprlate title of "Carp's Bug Roost.
Such facts as may accidentally
steal into this narrative, are from al
legged personal experiences, recount.
ed in "Carp's" inimitable, origina
and refreshingly modest manner
and are to be accepted on Carp's usua
terms, to wit: 'no likee, no takee.
Carp claims to have been not only
the first white child born in the
Northwest Territory, but that he
was the only one. lie claims that
he was here in advance of civiliza-
tion and when the world was very
young. He remembers everything
that happened in the early period of
the Nations life and very grea t
deal that never happened at all. He
remembers when the Pilgrim fathers
landed at Plymouth Rock, and was
the first person to greet them upon
their arrival. He was here when
Christopher Columbus discovered
the Bahama Islands and to Carp is
posterity indebted for the facts which
gave the credit of the discovery of
the mainland to the real author of
the outrage. He was present when
the Mound Builders laid the founda-
tion for the mystery that has puzzled
latter day archaeologists, and claims
to know all about the whole business
from Alpha to Mary Ann. He was
here when Sachem Bill Davidson
met Adam Poe in their historical
joint discussion, and sat on the bank
and refereed the scrap from start to
finish. He was here when Mount
Pleasant was in its infancy, and
watched its slow and steady growth
with the tender solicitude of fond
and loving parent. He was here
when Charlemagne won the iron
crown of the Roman empire and
General Seth Weldy of Logan chased
the festive ichthyosaurus, the fleet
footed glyptodon and the savage
ramphorhyncuss, during the post
tertiary period in the valley Of the
Hock-Hocking. He was hero longer
ago than "Sandy" Rainey can recol-
lect; years before Col. Hite became
the Peter the Hermit of free and un-
limited gall,at the ratio of sixteen to
to one, and at a time when the peo-
pie were too sensible to take stock in
miraculous conversions, or approve
the methods of "Chimmie" Ross, the
Franklin County Jack the Ripper.
Hence, Carp is authority. What
he does not know, added to what he
will admit he does not know, would
not constitute very large or impos-
ing volume. What he does know,
added to what he claims to know,
could not be published for lack of
material. Hence we say, Carp is
authority
The chapters of tho following alb
sorbing, fascinating romance are
true and real experiences within
Carp's personal observation and rec
election, and what he can't recollect
when he tries, is useless for any one
else to attempt. He probably poss.
esses the r ost elastic and accommo-
dating memory eXtant. He can rec
ollect anything any one wants to
know and often what no one has the
least ambition to learn. In fact
Carp can accommodate his memory to
any condition or circumstances, TO
suit any body or anything, or on the
other hand to suit nobody or nothing.
He personally knew every character
In this romance, including the hun
dreds of aborigines which we have
provided for the purposes OF the
story and who never lived on this or
any other planet. Yet Carp knew
every one of them personally and
has their individual notes for small
loans, which notes are written i'm in
dian hieroglyphics on birch bark al d
are hidden away among the old hats,
cigar stumps, broken bottles, COM
cuspidores and other bric-
n-brac within the classic precincts of
the "Bug Roost." Every exciting
fact or startling fiction that follows,
passed before his vision in panoram-
lc realism as he daily sat on the bold
brow of Mount Pleasant and bathed
his naked feet In the sunshine that
played about its rugged sides in the
dim and murky past.
1t is true that this story was writ
ten once before by Emerson Bennett.
But that fact cuts no ice with Carp.
A little thing like that never disturbs
the equilibrium of the imperterbable
Carp. He will not be influenced in
70 hiding his literary lamp under
oushel measure through fear of be-
ing accused of plagiarism. AS long
rs it is not murder in the first degree
~ hard work, that he Is accused of
Carp will "have no kick comin'." If {
Emerson Bennett wrote as Carp ,
loes, and the Lord knows he could
nj 10 II o., 4. q |