The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-02-02
A Candid Confession

IN NGAIh0Adi NOhltCo0IOh
h the following poem, which has just been issue
Ter onices at Salem and is supposed to be candle
q there since the two elements have warred
the face of the earth. A large number was issue
reat demand and have met ready sale:
The devil in Hell they say was chained.
And there thousand years remained
He never complained, nor did he groan,
But decided TO start Hell OF his own.
So he asked the Lord if he had any on hand,
Left over when he made this land.
Said the Lord: "I'ye place for a small plant,
Out in the district bordering Grant.
"a town by the name of Salem goes,
With nary clean spot to put your toes.
The place is an uproar from morning till night,
.sIn fact, old boy, the trucks very poor,
For me TO make out of it anything more.''
The devil examined It closely and well,
But concluded the country was too dry for He'll.
But the Lord to get it Off His hands,
Promised the devil he'd water the lands.
81 have some water that is no use,
Comes down jacobs Run and stinks like the duce.
.tAnd then If you look close you will see,
Oil and gas wells beyond the trees.
/ have the opinion it's an ideal place
To burn up souls that have lost in the race.
sThe place is SO cantankerous and mean,
In summer the water drys up in the stream.
But in winter it drives the people out,
And makes them cuss and swear and pout.
"And If you viii allow me to make a point
1t is an ideal place TO run your joint
So the trade was made and the deed was given,
And the Lord went back in peace to Heaven,
Tickled TO death with the proposition
or getting Salem out of his possession.
A Md he "a Eaf calf a aIaa
So to start small He'll he then proceeded.
He brought some cranks and dumped them down
And they undertook to run the town.
Some speakeasies, too, he introduced,
And, also some gambling dens produced.
Some sporting houses with inmates bold,
Who didn't allow the town to grow cold.
Then some Seven Days he turned loose,
And they proceeded to raise the deuce
Some dogs were imported with dismal howl
Likewise some cats, with frightful yeowl.
He got The Leader, and Express too,
To see what deylment they could do.
And they rushed into the general fray,
Each trying the other to out bray.
Some churches, too, he allowed to stay,
Which raised a rumpus from night to day.
The Salem College, on the edge OF town,
With reputation of world renown.
The devil just made 1t plain to see,
1t was not as good as 1t used to be.
And the old professor, so tried and true,
Noted the fact and felt quite blue
The devil filed the alleys with BOTTLES and cans,
On which the children might cut their hands
He made sewer out of Main street,
And twas utterly impossible to keep your feet.
Out of the yards he made mud lakes
And under the banks he hid some snakes.
He then some 'tornery'' oil men sent in,
And they contributed to the general din.
The water was bad and fever held reign,
The people could hardly take care of the slain
And finally the place got SO Internally hot
The devil himself had to leave the spot.
And he climbed the hill to look over his stun,
And made up his mind he'd quite enough.
"For,'' said he, ''it's an awful muss,
And am a badly cheated cuss.''
So drawing long sigh, he said, "well,
It's damned poor place to start even a He'll