The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-05-15
TENNESSEE BOY DEFENDS HIMSELF.

TENNESSEE BOY DEFENDS HIMSELF.
DEAR AUNT JENNIE Here L come
AGAIN and knock for admlttance to
the Social Chat. I think Will Ret
laws criticism in The Progressive
Farme, of April 18th, unjust. L
never have claimed to know 1T all,
but I don't think that [ am as big an
idiot, r as bad a fellow as Mr.. Ret
law tries to make me out to be. we
are all human and make mistakes.
[ neve said one word in my letter
that is not true in this section.
Two years ago I was elected Sec
rotary and Treasurer of n of the
largest and most influential Fruit
Growers Associations in the South,
and have filled that position ever
since. Last September I was cleo
ted to the same office in a large hOr-
ti~cultural society. [ am clerk and
treasurer for one of the oldest Bap-
fist churches in this county. At the
meeting of the Baptist Association
held last September, where over so
churches were represented, twelve
of the best business men that could
be found in the Association We're
chosen to constitute an Executive
Board, and [ have the honor of being
one of the twelve. We have @ meet
inc every month. Four years ago l
founded a horticultural paper and
was editor and proprietor for two
years then sold out to devote my
full time to my nursery and fruit
farm, but the paper changed mama
gers a few months ago and L was en-
p1oyed as editor again. Last year
my correspondence was so large l
purchased a typewriter and often
write 40 letters in a single night.
Last year [ mailed 1000 letters, cir
culars, and cards. IF MIR Retlaw
will come over in Tennessee, he can
find hundreds Of men all over the
State who will testify as to my char
acter and honesty or if he wishes 1
can refer him to one of the largest
and best banks in the State, who
will give him my financial standing.
I can say more than lots of young
men: I have never spent a penny for
whisky, tobacco OF coffee, and as to
acting a "dOg in the manager" [ new
er was guilty Of that. I never did
try to go to. see but n young lady
at a time and when she found some
one she liked better I always frankly
but friendly told her that it was
best for me to bring my visits to a
close. And then if [ wished [ would
lookout for another girl, but never
tried to keep company with more than
one girl. [ can't see where Mr.. Ret
law got the idea that I was trying to
''monOpolize' the whole neighbor-
hood. did say that all "my girls
had comeback on me, and when l
said that it is no more than thou
sands Of young men use when they
mean all the girls that they ever had
kept company with.
I see no reason why Mr.. Ret1aw
should come down on me like a 'hail
storm" and attack my character,
honesty and everything else, when
only a few years ago he was in the
same boat [ am now in, although he
was SO fortunate as to be living in a
place where the people known a
good thing" when they see it. If
he were here he would be in the
same position the balance Of us are
he would have to sew buttons and
patch pants a good while before he
could get some n to do it for him.
AS to me attending a reformatory
it is out of the question. I am per
fectly harmless and the girls need
not fear ME, as [ shall not give them
any more trouble. I will attend to
my business and let some other fell
low attend to the girls.
TENNESSEE Boy.
Hamilton Co., Tenn.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.