Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-24
Out of the Past.

- -
Away in the long ago, In the early
SOS when Willet s. Main was sheriff
OF Dane county and under the law at
that time was the officer on duty be-
fore the supreme court, an exciting In
cident occurred before that august
tribunal that caused not a little mer-
riment. 1t was when Edward Y,
Wilton was chief justice and Ahram
u, Smith and Samuel Crawford as
ociate justices, The court room was
dingy little place in the southwest
orner OF the old territorial capitol.
{ was In this room with its modest
surroundings that my story had its
origin, The court was listening to n
rather sleepy argument; the opposite
attorney was waiting impatiently for
It TO conclude; the sheriff was doing
n his chair; but the court apparently
was all attention, There was In the
room an antique mirror OF rather lib.
era proportions extending nearly to
the floor, there the lawyers and by
tanders could see themselves us others
aw Them During the argument ot
he case, the door Of the room opened
and n countryman marched In, closely
followed by terocious looking dog
which proceeded to size up the room,
He saw his reflection IN the mirror
and. surprising It to be another dog
about his size and with bellicose In
tentions, he sprang for him with all
his might and main. In u moment MIR.
Dog was enveloped In a shower of
broken glass which flew In every dlrec-
ton; the glass was badly demolished
and SO was the dog. and he made his
exit as speedily rs possible. The
court was Obliged to take n brief recess
until the broken glass was removed
and order was again established. No
restored to its usual equauimity and
the case went on, but the sheriff was
especially instructed to ever after
wards exclude dogs from n participa-
ton in the proceedings OF that court
After all no one was hurt
but the dog and It's own
or was engaged In extracting
bits of broken glass from its hide for
some time afterwards. Looking glasses
In those days were not made OF
the dog would have met with greater
resistance.
Cen William r. Smith OF Mineral
Point was attorney general In 'h6 and
81. He was gentleman of tho olden
school, polished and accomplished
the very soul OF wit and humor, al
though at times he was rather dry.
He always wore his hair In n long
queue rolled back from his classic fore
head. At that early day the school
one. were under the law required TO
visit tho several counties In the state
and especially those in the extreme
north and west to make offerings OF
the public lands for sale. At one
time the commissioners were on that
duty in st. Croix county, then the
most northern settled county. On one
OF their trips through that hyperion
can region their stock OF whiskey
gave out and the general thereby be-
came great sufferer. Search was
made for the article In every habita-
ion that they approached but not with
very good success. Finally, however,
n small quantity OF the precious fluid
was secured, and It was conceded all
around that the general from his age.
dignity and inhrmities should be en-
titled to the first drink, and he pro-
eeded to take II. A the liquor dIs-
appeared silently down his throat, the
general made curious face and when
asked II It met his expectations, no
said with n wave Of his hand. Gen
tlemen, It Is very poor, but then It Is
great deal better than water"
The old general was very much given
games OF chance and his indulRen-
es therein were frequent. A game
was In progress once upon time In
Madison, Gabriel r. Long, an old Vlr-
ginian, and still favorably remembered
by the early settlers OF Madison, and
who was called by his friends Lucy
Long" was In the game. Lucy became
suspicious that the game was not al.
together straight and that the general
was becoming little careless. He
stood IT.. however, for while and
finally beloved out in high and ex-
cited tone OF voice that some one was
cheating. The general arose in his
majesty and replied,
who says there is cheating hore?"
Il do" said Lucy.
Who do you think is cheating?"
Il think you are. general" but nd
ded Lucy, never mind; let's go and
axe drink"
"All right, now you are talking sense
and think 1t Is pretty good law, too"
And the twain departed arm In arm
10 refresh themselves. forgetfu OF
heir dispute.
At one time, and | remember II very
well, the general became very serious
Iy m forn nm attack of the pnaumonia