The Penn's Grove record., 1900-05-18
SOME "REMINISCENCES
OfPenn's Grove So Years Ago
nv DAVID G. CANN.
IContinued from last week ]

CONTINUED from last week.
The next week Mr.. Tom Humphreys
who boarded at the old brick tavern,
figured in an adventure in the next
room to Ned's. Tom was a very large
man, as some of you may remember
him. He was a noted violinist and a
jolly fellow all around. It SO happened
that amongst the arrivals from the old
steamboat Express which ran with the
old Clifton to PENIS Grove and Salem
were two sturdy settlers belonging near
Swedesboro. One of them was q true
son of Mother Church and the other
was a true blue Orangeman, neighbors
and well known to each other. It SO
happened that they were both room
mates of our friend big Tom, each oc-
cupying one Of the two vacant beds in
the three bedded room.
Now it had better be known that
Tom was a bit of an amateur vantrilo-
quist and was in the habit of practising
the gift. The landlord had shown both
the strangers each to his own bed. and
they had retired and silence reigned.
Now was Toms opportunity for a bit
of fun, which he dearly loved. He
took advantage Of the stiffness, and
throwing his voice to the Orangeman's
bed, consigned the Pope of Rome to q
warm place. Without a moments
pause a voice came from the other bed,
is that you say?" and as a re-
tort consigned King William to the
same latitude. This was more than
the two sturdy champions could stand,
and in the dark they both with n
mind leaped out of bed and clenched In
full fighting costume. The landlord
heard the racket and hurried upstairs
and after a deal of coaxing restored
friendship between the two combatants
and got them back to bed. Two more
visits of the landlord, however were re-
quired before Tom was satisfied that he
had fun enough for Ii night. could
give you the names of these two cham
pions, but think it better not to do SO
as their sons now occupy the home
steads, and are well known men in our
neighboring township.
/ attended school at the old Harmony
So years ago. BENZ. F. McCollister
taught school that first year, and l
made progress rapidly under him. John
K. Louderback, who followed him at
the old Harmony, was another good
teacher and fine penman. Some of my
old school mates are still living In
Penn's Grove. Some are dead. Will
liam A. Sack, my brother-in.law, and
the Hewitt boys, John Price and his
sisters. Rev. Chas. r. H~artranft and
sister both are dead, and many others
have crossed the river since those days.
We used to have debating school in
the old frame house. | remember one
week we had for our subject, (which
are the most wonderful, the works of
Nature or the works of Art" Those
on the side of Art was Mr.. S. r. Leap,
A. Cam, j. X. Louderback, James
Simkins, Gerard Sparks and several
others; on the side of Nature were Will
liam d. Torton. old Jerry Strimple, B.
Sparks and many others. I have not
space to call them all. It was worth
listening to old Mr.. Strimple in clos
ing his debate. The ten minutes he
spoke he said Take the Garden Of
Eden for instance, look at Eve. Would
all the silks and satins and peacock
feathers you could dress her in make
her more wonderful or more beautiful.
No sir, Mr.. President, give her natures
garb for me-" The old Harmony shook
with the applause that followed old
Jerry's speech. and l think it was de-
cided that night for nature, but on the
next night Ait carried the day.