The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-05-21

looked all ok, the leather has the appear
anee' OF horse skins, but the greatest in
convenience resulting from walking
abroad in dog skin foot wear is the rela-
tlonshlp you sustain TO every dog in the
settlement and their determination to make
your acquaintance, and unless YOU draw
your number ten dog tan yard under his
| fifth rib he would "eat salt" with YOU and
form canine alliance at your expense.
| We had yankee boy in our community
who could make fine boots and shoes for
US. My brother-in-law made nv sister
a fine pair of o'Dossum skin shoes, and
lined them with heavy homespun, they
were just splendid, and for summer wear
was the thing to have. The finest pair
OF shoes this scribe owned during the
war was made of coon leather, by putting
in strong "stiffinings" behind the coon
made an excellent shoe. For shoe strings,
whip crackers, the cat hides took the lead.
| It IS the strongest of alllhdeS for its thick
ness, and although traditions OF all Leg
glons say that the cat has nine lives, we
| always carried off his hide at the first
| interview with his p9sS,cuSS majesty.
| Fox squirrel hides were fine, we would
| tree them," and make them jump, to
be met with "ball cat" if he made his
escape and hit the ground the dogs would
| give him warm reception, ard if all
failed and he made another tree, we would
cut him down and repeat the dose till he
delivered his yellow cloak ''to the hunts
man." We eat his meat, tanned his hide
and went on our way rejoicing. We
made saddles, brides, halters, raw
what the older people called The Cow
L hide ~
led the grim cowhide," and was said 10 -
be a dangerous little Commodity to
fool with, they were kind of double ac-
ting, tlagelator and when properly used
would give the skin turkey Snout fin
iSh.
Two men fell out, one thought to
"cowhide" his opponent, and did to the
extent Of I27 lasheS, whereupon, the
whipped man Wrenchedi it from the hand of
the layer on of "stripes and bruises" and
hit him over 100, so both got good flog-
glng by handling this little tough leather
instrument from bullys hides Dangerous.
Why yes, like old Aunt Salley love lows
gun. She said there was danger in gun
without lock, stock or barrel for her John
gave her a Christmas curling with the
ramrod. We wore. Four homespun
red russetsp to church in winter
and ln.. summer we wore
natures slippers, now you cork-heeled,
cap-toed, tooth picked gentry, see how
you have improved on US old confederate
leather tanners, andibe glad that your lives
nave fallen toyou in pleasant places" We
sometimes tried the skin of nanny cotton
tails, but her hide is like the platform of
some of our candidates, too thin for any
practical use, and if you undertake to ex-
pand then they will bust aud the rabbit
| fur will -Selah-Now, dear young PEG.
pie am glad that your conditions are more
| highly favored, and have so much better
| time, am glad that you don't have to
wear d0g-skin boots, but see to it that
you live up.to your opportunities. The diff
erenceI see between wartime bows and
some of the 'sbaser srot,'' now is the reh
boys wore the dog out side, and Some now
wear him On the gut side. This is not the
| case however with the most of YOU. I
| feel proud of our young people who are
trying to live right, and think they do
well, considering the temptations and bad
example.planned before them. Young people
do as the great Englshman said, hitch
your chariot to the stars" Strive to be
something; don't do as Senaea said some
did in his day, Set the thief in at tbe
mouth to steal away the brains,'' Don't ont
Ilght pr yQpf head with pipe Of clgapetteS
TO show your Ignorance. Take The ad-
vice of DIR. j. c. Gum, ssBoy's if YOU
want to be men, avoid strong drink and
tobacco as you would rattle snake" let
whisky Stops sit and drink and drink and
sing, " This is the way long have sought
and mourned because | found it not.''
/ Sod bless you all, VIRGIL