Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-15
WHY BEERS rRoTnED OVER.

, i'll
There Is .discord among the respective
members Of the Beers family al Good
Springs. N. j.. and that. too. despite the
fact that their name is pleasantly sug-
gestive of peace and happiness, and their
place of residence recalls waters undis-i
turbed by domestic turbulence. Perhaps
the secret of the whole sad story lies in
the disparity existing between the ages
ago. and her unhappy consort, John. who
is now cavorting around in the neighbour.
hood Of CO. Certain ii is, however, that
"st1ained rela TONS exist between Susan
and John. and that the latter has borne
the greater part of the strain. The pub
lie got pretty good inklins Of the whole
affair a. day or SO ago when Mrs. Beers,
her son Elijah. and one Frank Gordon
were arrested on the cha ge of treating
the old man with extreme cruelty. And
cruelty it was. If they really did what
the charge states. The gist Of the allie
cation is that the remorseless trio. among
other offences which for the nonce sink
into Insigniflcance. chained old man Beers
In the barn and painted his face green.
Beers Of another sort have often figured
in that popular process known, 8 painting
things red. but this Is. perhaps the first:
time in history that green tint has
been associated with the name. At any
rate, the artificial verdancy OF his COM:
plexion. let alone his clanking chains and
humble environments. were q source of
great distress to the captive Beers. 1t
may be that for few moments he suf-
fered from that green and yellow mel
ancholy'' so pathetically, described by
Shakespeare, but this emotion was quickly
superseded by a sterner passion. 1t was
then that Mr.. Beers. true to his name.
frothed oyer with indignation and foamed
at his nozzle-no. mouth. we mean. What
follows has been recited. The other Beers
were jugged-no. we should say arrested.
hood when they rushed the growler."
Mistress Susan. if literal language is re-,
quired-to' the police. 7
The men mixed up In the affair. Elijah.
Beers and Gordon. declare the thing was
a joke. But they view il from their own
standpoint. While old man John moped
III solitude. with the barn alta ched to
him by substantial chain, and his face
looking like a. crop of spring oats. his
sense Of humor could not bring him to
a. just appreciation OF the fun making OF
the three Merry Andrews.
Moreover. this was not the first time the
unfortunate husband and father had been
maitreated. For some months past the
others have according to cross-road gos-
sip. been starving out the superannua,eu
Beers. Once it is asserted. they chained
eat or drink for several days. The chain
was adjusted. the neighbors say, in such
way that the victim was compelled to
get on his hands and knees to eat what
ever food his wife LEFT on the barn floor
for him. Think of It. Poor old Beers was
compelled TO spill himself. as it were. be-
fore getting even the necessaries of life.
Is 1t any wonder that his wrath ultimate
,y dubbed like hot quick lime. and that
he burst his stopper? And yet this true
story has its moral Matrinonially
speaking. there is no hope for stale Beers:
that is when they reach 50 and expect
comfort from petticoated companions 90
years their Junior.