The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-21
A SMALLPOX VETERAN.

young ladies of that famous semi
nary:
Health certificate ! health certif
cate. called the smalip"x Inspector,
entering tho Car an the train stopped
at S.. q email town in Geor
gia, just Q nth of Chattanooga Thls
was no Iess than the twelfth time
slace the train had left Augusta tina,
all the passengers had showed their
heath certificate to az inspector
smallpox Was raging in Atlanta and
the system Of inspection had tn be
very rigid At every statin at which
she train stopped au inspector would
come on board aud ask to eee each
passenger written proof that hA or
rhe had not been exposed to small
pox One old gentleman who, after
showing his certificate ten or twelve
times, became very tired of doing 90.
determined to play practical joke
on the next Inspector
The other passengers were very
much interested in this old gentle
man Soon after he entered the car
at Augusta townsman of his (J.ck
Rsglu) who happened to be on th-
same Car, had told one of the psssen
gers that his friend was a veteran OF
the Mexican War az we'll as a Con
federate veteran, and that be was on
his way to Mexican War Survivors
reunion at Nashville, Tenu Hs had
been one of the finest lawyers in
south Carolina. his friend continued,
but had now almost given up the
practice of law This information
about him had spread oil over the
car. hence the passengerjs interest
They could scarcely believe ,ha. he
was veteran of the Mexican War
for his long hair was only eprinkled
with gray and he scarcely looked
more than 65 years old Once u
lady sitting across the aisle from him
had tried unsuccessfuIly to put her
window down and he very courteous
~ lowered it for her while the young
man behind her sat perfectly s,ilI
Every child in the car had taken a
great fancy to him and he played
"peek boo" with them from behind
his paper.
At the next station another inspec
tor entered the car. about midnight
When he got to the old man he found
him apparently fast ssleep.
Health certificate the inspector
shouted as he got up to him, but the
figure did not move at all.
Health certificate" he repeated
as he shook him somewbs: roughly
10 order to waken him
"What'd you say p asked the old
man, rousing himself up and looking
around in 10 . very bewildered way
Il want to Gee your health cer,if
cate l ssy." answered the inspector,
now fairly shouting at him
"Why--ah." nodding. "what's
that ?"
"Your proof that you hsven't been
exposed to smallpox. written proof
Have you ever bad smallpox oil
msn, or do you know what smallpox
is ?" questioned the inspector, shak
ing him. ss he looked very much AZ
If he we're going to sleep again.
II guess ought to know, I've
been through ,te smallpox hospital
three times" he answered sleepily
been through the smsllpox hos
pital three times !" excluimed the
inspector, 81 am afraid" turning 10
the other passengers, "you will have
TO leave this Car and 60 into another
Immediately
But tho old man seeing the pas.
sengers and particularly the mothers
of the children becoming alarmed,
took something from bis pocket and
handing it to the inspector. asked,
"Is this what you want 2"
"Well ! should say it is, but how
on earth did you get health certifi.
cate when you've been through tho
hospital three times, I'd like to
know p
"The first time was in the hos
pital was in l847, in the city of Vera
Cruz. when nursed my brother
through severe case of smallpox
The second time was in Charleston.
s. g about so years ago, when /
was with another brother who had it
Then again, about 45 years ago. as
mayor of the town in which live, |
had to go through the hospital
BY this time the passengers were
fairly convulsed with laughter and
the inspector. taking the joke very
good naturedly. passed on for the
next Health certificate But it
proved thoroughly practical, as no
other inspector came ia and the pas
HanUorH had fhroo hone, ,,,j;,I,.hl I