The National tribune., 1899-08-03

People yelled, and those nearest to him
gave him the right OF way with about the
same celerity as woman would get away
from a mad bull in an open pasture: ne
scvthe-SWinger then shouted out that lie
wished he had JEFF Davis and his Cabinet
in front of him so he could NOV them all
down with one SwOop. thus ridding the
Corporation of horrible and monstrous
incubus who oppressed the multitude gen
orally and him i'll particular.
He then progressed towards the olu
Market. swinging his Scythe from house
to curbstone at every stroke. People were
coming, meeting him, mostly market peo-
pie. As they noted him and his Scythe
they fed to the middle of the street, falling
over each other, and fled as men flee before
a tornado or fire. He had u free way III
three seconds by a watch. Approaching
the Old Market at Seventeenth street ana
Main. he halted in front OF the police statloh.
The blue coats went for nm.
Now. Time with the scythe became abso-
Iutaly inspired, swinging his instrument
of destruction in a circle, with his heel Tor
a pivot and yelling at the police TO come on;
The police halted, somewhat dlSmayed al
this circular demonstration with the ScYthe,
and were debating whether to attack HIM
or stone him to death-street paved with
cobble stones; a gentle friend arrived,
took him mildly by the arm and led hlm OIL:
presumably promising TO set EN- up again.
scytf1e returned to Harris, and all went
away happy. or intended to get happy,
So ended "Old Time on Rampage. III
was a curious and unique scene.
HAMPDEN SIDNEY COLLEGE.
must now turn back a step or two. but
1 know the reader will come back with me
and remain with me while taking up the
thread of my "RecollcctionS"
When the Ordinance of Secession was
finally passed by the Richmond Conyen-
ton / was Instructor of Music at Hampden
Sidney College, teaching vocal and instru-
mental music Ibid not reside at the Col
lege, but in Richmond, and visited the
College once week, remaining day and
a half, sometimes two days. There We're
about 240 students attending the College
at that period, rs well as my memory serves
me- Prof. Atkins, or Atkinson, was PreSi-
dent of the College. The College is situ-
ated nearly half way between Richmond
and Danville, some go miles from Rich
mond on the Richmond g. Danyille
Railroad. l had been employed by the
students with the approval of the President.
just after the State seeded, l learned
through the papers that the students had
offered their services, as battalion, to the
Confederacy, through JEFF Davis, and had
been accepted; therefore | went to the
College, which was my last trip, to settle
our mutual affairs. Taking the cars at
Richmond and proceeding by way of
Burksville, and over the High Bridge"
which has since become historically fam
Gus, disembarking at the pretty little town
of Farmyille, within few miles of "Appo-
mattoX," later the scene OF the surrender of
Gen. Robert Z. Lee to Gen. Grant and his
hosts.
Getting on the coach at Cobb's Hotel
for seven mile ride to the College, per-
ceiyed that the driver, young white man.
was red-faced and "as happy as a lord, -
the result OF superfluous doses of Secession
and cheap apple brandy. He cried out
cordially to me: ~Fessor, this yer last trip
to the College, and am really sorry for it.
too; don't have no music in ther county
except YOU all" Returning the drivers
salutation, we dashed merrily off.
Upon reaching the suburbs of the little
town, our driver drew up his horses and
reached around to the door of the coach
and handed me, with much native grace,
plump, tempting bottle and requested me
TO "try her" | tried her, to be obIiging,
and the horses moved with accelerated
vim and Vigor, while our Jehu kept up q
continuous 'staccato' movement with his
whip. Past the rolling country with the
foothills of the Blue Ridge in the distance,
we dashed up to the College and were imme-
diately surrounded by the students,-the
arrival of the stage from Farmyille being
a delightful event,-and many rapid ques-
tiols were thrown at us regarding the stu
alton in Richmond, the Ordinance of Secs
sion, etc. We gave them the latest news,
and, after shaking hands with many, were
escorted TO the hall. On the way observed
notices tackled up enjoining upon Co. A
and Co. Cthe absolute necessity of promptly
assembling st certain hours of the day.
They had formed themselves into two COM
panies, a battalion, and had offered their
military services to the Confederacy, with
President Atkins Major Commanding.
The Major was cordial in his greeting,
and added that he expected that would be
my last trip, professionally, TO the College.
And it was. | replied that, from what !
had learned from the papers, and the pres
ent indications, | foreSaw that "Othello's
occupation was gone" Proceeding to the
hall one of the students made quite a
speech, detailing the course they were
about to pursue, and further stating that
there would be no more musical instruction,
and that they had arranged for a grand
time" that night, including a serenade to
the Professors of the College and grand
and overwhelming serenade TO the villagers
Of Prince Edward Courthouse, about mile
away from the College. They further
stated that they would pay me for the lesson
that was to have been given that day. ]
demurred, but they positively asserted that
it must be so, and IL was so, they paving
me 10 the last farthing. ] was then further
informed that Mr. Murkland had been en-
gagged TO have a grand spread" prepared
for us at l O'Clock, upon our return from
Prince Edward Courthouse.
A large two-horSe wagon was engaged
to carry the band and their instruments
TO the Courthouse, where we arrived about
8 o'clock, followed, | believe, by every
student Of the College. We had tuned oul
instruments before starting, and were
grandly to have entered the village playing
the Grand March from Norma"
Alasl the best laid schemes o. mice an
men gang aft a-giey." | said, "Al
ready" as we entered the village, and VIC
commenced with the first notes and chords
of Norma" They We're country horses
not accustomed TO music and, spirit OF
Orpheus be still they fhe horses sud
denly reared upon their hind feet and lei
loose at the wagon. The vioincelio PLAYER
with his instrument, was thrown agains
the garden paiings, and dropped into Z
bed Of roses. The flute was jamIned agains
the village pump; the guitar gently alightet
in the very center OF large hoilyhocl
bushl
At the first kick from the horses, being
In the immediate rear of the wagon witt
my usual grace and promptness jumped
out on the village street; the other occu
pants Of the wagon either jumped or tum
bled out in the direction OF the varioul
points Of the compass. The horses thel
with much commendable precision anr
promptness started on the full run kickin,
as they ran; in fact one OF them seemed /,
do the running and the other did the kick
ing. The horses and the wagon now pre
captaJ anp4.3ranca nf