The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-12-07
Historic LAGRANGE.

1t was at LaGrange on the morn
ing after the cyclone which demOl-
ished the little town.
Judge John l.. 7. Sneed stood
viewing the ruins left in the wake
of the storm, and while thus engag-
ed dropped into "reminiscences.
''Do you see that old wrecked de-
pot?" asked the Judge. "Well, |
used to attend school on the very
spot where it stood before this
storm. LaGrange is tie scene of
my earliest and fondest recollections.
Why, sir, do you know, | have
hunted this whole country over for
the game that in that day abounded
around here, and many a spOrtive
trip | have made with my old
friends, the Choctaw and Chlcka-
saw Indians, all of whom have now
Joined their fathers sOmL where.
"Those were great days.
"And let me tell you another
thing. This little town before the
war, little as you might guess it
now, was the abode of the most cul-
tured and the most aristocratic peo-
pie in the State. The settlers from
Virginia and North Carolina all be-
longed, hardly without exception, to
the most intelligent class of that day.
They came here, and finding the
town 10 be an educational center,
built homes here Ia give their chill
dren opportunities of education, at
the same time buying farms further
down the country.
1.-The people had remarkable
religious proclivities, too. l re-
call how one old lady, Mrs. Clos
ter, rode horse back all the way to
Franklin to attend a convention of
Episcopalians.
Speaking of Indians" continued
the Judge, "there were great num-
bers of them around here. They
were very quiet and unobtrusive on
all occasions except when they were
drunk, and the settlers never had
serious trouble with them. | said
something about going on big hunt
ing expeditions with them. Well,
it is a fact; and | became so accus-
toned to their society on these trips
as to feel perfectly at home among
them. l learned to speak both the
ChOctaw and Chickasaw languages
with the fuency of a regular brave,
and the accomplishment stood me
in good stead on more than one Oc-
casiOn.
Zone point about the Indians of
that day that is not frequently com
mented upon is their appreciation of
humor. They were very witty and
had a manner of getting off pointed
remarks that was amusing. There
was always a point to what they
said aud you didn't have to look far
for the application of it.
81 recall the story of one old
christian Indian. There was JUS
tice of the peace in LaGrange by
the name of Simpson. The Indian
under consideration owed this eoun-
try squire 50. After repeated but
unsuccessful attempts to collect the
debt, Squire Simpson finally sued
the Indian. lie issued the papers
in accordance with his legal authori-
ty, had them returned before him,
and then gave judgment in his own
favor for the amount of his claim.
''The Indian was surprised at this
action, but he visited the squire one
day and paid him the money, at the
same time asking for receipt. 1t
CHANGED that Simpson had no writ
ing materials at hand he told the
Indian so, but the latter was impor-
tunate. He wanted paper showing
that he had paid the debt, and he
wanted it badly.
Simpson told him that he had
made an entry on the docket show
ing that the judgment had been sat
isfed, and declared that that would
be a sufficient receipt.
q 'What do you want with a re-
ceipt, anyway" asked the squire.
I" To take to heaven with me,
was the reply.
{" In what way will it help you
there?'
d" why, if they should deny that
| had paid this debt, and | held no
receipt from You, would have to
hunt all over hell to find you and
get one, answered the Indian, with |
a face as stolid as a sphinx.
"Did | understand you to say"
the Judge, "that you
nave heard a story something like
hat befOre?Very we'll but don't for
get that the thing happened origi-
rally right here in LAGRANGE. .
Memphis Scimitar.