Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17
, smile on his long face as ever DOM

smile on MS long lace do S'S' " '
! had.
Ephraim started in with a rush. and
| tried his favorite game Of getting his fore
/ feet on his opponents shoulders. FAIL
/ ing in this he tried to use his hind-feet
| on Greggains's stomach, but at the call
of foul" from the referee he resumed
| the proper method of sparring. Greg
| gains made a number of passes for Eph-
rains head, but at this point the donkey
/ showed that he had a new trick, Tor
( each time such a pass was made, he
would dodge the blow by falling upon his
| knees.
SHARP TACTICS.
These tactics were kept up for some
time, until, finally. Ephraim succeeded
i'm getting his forefeet where he wanted
them-on Greggains's shoulders. Every
body was watching to see what the
donkey would do next, when, suddenly,
he whirled around on his hind legs, as If
on a pivot. and as he did so his right
forefoot just brushed the side of Greg
gains's face. Had his blow ever struck
him IT would have broken all the bones
in his face; as 1t was, 1t staggered him
bit, and when Ephraim dropped on MS
forefeet and then raised himself. Greg
gains was more on his guard, and. after
a few passes between them, got In
noored Ephraim in heap, and ended
the battle.
The donkey did not seem to mind II.
and a few seconds later was oontentedly
eating sugar out of his victorious oppo-
nent's hand Greggains remarked that
Ephraim was a good thing TO back, even
if he did occasionally lose the day.
This was rather amusing 70 one OF the
party. a man of aldermanic proportions.
ole l4FF mo
fession. When he heard what Greg
gains said Mr.. Mendenthall struck an at
titude. such as John L. Sullivan might
have assumed in his palmy days, and an
nounced with great hautuer that he was
prepared to battle with Ephraim until
set Of sun.
Greggains promptly accepted In behalf
of the donkey Donkey and lawyer APP
preached each other, and. after the GUS
tomary formalities, started in. When
/, Ephraim stood on his hind legs, in order
to strike with his forcfeet. Mr.. Menden-
thall clinched. and then both broke away.
In the sparring Ephraim managed
to land his right fotefeet squarely in the
centre of his antagonists stomach, and
in return the man of law hit his long
cared antagonist directly under one OF
the aforementioned ears.
This astonished Ephraim to such an
extent that "A general mix-up followed,
and was ended by the donkey attempting
10 seize MIR. Mendenthall by the hair of
the head with his teeth. This move on
the part of his opponent was so uneX-
pected that for a second he was too sur
prised TO move. but when he saw the
donkey. with open mouth. and ears laid
back. rushing at him, his courage fled.
and he did likewise. with Ephraim In
hot pursuit.
1t was a mad race while it lasted, until
LAWYER Mendenthall, I'm order TO escape,
ATTEMPTED TO climb a tree. Nature never
intended him for that sort Of exercise
especially under such circumstances.
Ephraim reached the tree just as the
lawyer fancied he was getting into sale
~. Forgetting all science and all else
but revenge. the donkey used the weapons
nature intended that he should. and land
ed two small but very hard hind feet
against the person of the representation
of the law who, under the influence OF
that catapult went several feet upwards
along the tree trunk in rapid fashion.
Ephraim then seemed satisfied, and walk
ed off TO a choice-looking plot of grass
and began eating as If nothing unusual
had happened.
A recent exploit Of the same donkey
was characteristic OF him and his tricks
\ lOrSe-tTdlneT Elbtlt AlltHs VI
Iivermore called at Ravenswood to break
q team of horses. He entered the corral
where Ephraim was taking his exercise,
and without any prelminar.es the donkey
began sparring with Allen for an opening.
The manner of his reception was so sud
den and strange that before he could
gather himself together the active ana
energetic Ephraim had landed several
telling body blows, and tho first thing
Mr. Allen did was 10 seek safety by
climbing TO the top of 2c-foot ladder.
when the donkey was finally secured
and Allen released, he went into Liver
more and swore out a warrant for the
arrest of Mr.. Ephralm, Of Ravenswood
for assault The warrant was given 10
Marshall Taylor for execution. and he.
thinking that Mr.. Ephraim was one OF
Air Buckleys coachman, protested 10
povenswood 10 arrest the man.
II happened that when he arrived there
the first man he met was Greggains who
when asked where Mr. EphraLm could be
found. replied. In the corral" Think
ing that perhaps the man was hiding from
him the marshal boldly entered the cor
raj courageous, and cool, armed with the
law. But Ephraim is a law unto him
self. and. caring nothing for either mar