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

young ladies of that famous semi
na'y:
Health certificate heath ceTtif
cate called the smallpox Inspector.
catering the Car as the train stopped
al So. small town in Geor
gia, lust eth of Chattanooga Tn's.
was 10 less than the twelfth tlme
since ,h@ train had left Augusta that
al the passengers had showed Their
nea,,n certificate to az inspector
smallpox was raging in Atlanta and
tie system OF inspection had to be
very rigid at every ssati y at which
the train stopped au Inspector would
come on board and ask to see each
passenger written proof that be OF
she had rot been exposed to small
pox One old gentleman who. after
showing his certificate ten OF twelve
times. became very tired of doing SO.
determined SO play a practical joke
on the next Inspector
The other passengers we're very
much interested in this old gentle
man Soon after be entered the car
at Augusta a townsman Of his } sck
Raglu) who happened to be on tn
same car, had told one of the psssep
gers that his friend was veteran o.
the Mexicao War as we'll es q Con
federate veteran, and that be was ON
his way 20 Mexican War Survivors
reunion at Nashville, Tenn He had
been one Of the finest lawyers in
-oush Carolina. bis friend continued,
bus had now almost given up the
practice of law This Information
about hin had spread ell over tie
car. hence the passengers ;uteTesi
They could scarcely believe that be
was veteran OF the Mexican HaT
for his long ha;r was only spTlnS;ed
with gray and be scarcely looked
more than 65 years old O"ce "
lacy sitting across the aisle froon him
had tried unsuccessfully to pu, ne!
window down and he very courteous
ly lowered it for her while the young
man behind her sat perfectly still
Every child in the car bad taken
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. aooct midnight
When he got to the old man be found
him apparently fast asleep.
Heath certificate" the inspector
shouted as be got up to him, but the
figure did not move at all
Heath Certificate . ne repeated
as he shook him somewba: roughly
in order to waken him
"What'd you say p asked the old
man, rousing himself up and locking
around io 10 very bewildered way
L want to see your health cer.if
cate l say" answered the inspector,
now fairly shouting at him
"Wby-ah." nodding, "what's
that ?"
"Your proof that you haven't been
exposed to smallpox. written proof
Have you ever had smallpox oil
man, or do you know what smallpox
ia ?" questioned the inspector. saak
ing him. as he looked very much as
if he were going to sleep again.
II guess / ought to know, I've
been through the smallpox hospital
three times.' he answered sieeply
"Been through the smallpox hos
pi:al three times y exclaimed the
inspector 81 am afraid turning 10
the other passengers, "yoa will have
to leave tnis car and go into another
Immediately F."
But toe old man seeing the pas
sengers and particularly the mothers
of the children becoming alarmed,
TOOK something from his pocket and
handing It to the inspector, asked,
els this what you want p
"W ell | should say it is. but how
on earth did you get health cer!if-
cate when you've been through tho
hospital three times, ia like to
know p
"The first time | was in tie hos
pitai was in lS47, in the city of Vera
Cruz, when | nursed my brother
through a severe case of smallpox
The second time was in Charleston,
S. G., about 50 years ago, when
was with another brother who had 1t
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 we're
fairly convuIsed With laughter and
tue 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
eonoars },e9 :hrae hourS uudissurbed