The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-02-18

WSO director interfered with that
design Of nature, as he has with many
another Of hers, and by the transmits
sion of an order for mountain pieces
by the dozen, together with n check
so large that ] feared there was some
mistake, he determined me to be an
illustrator and designer for railway
and like publications. 1 do not like
these people ordering "by the Dozen"
Why should they not consider an art
lists finer feelingsf Perhaps they can
not understand them, but they under
stand ny pictures, and / understand
their checks, and there we are quits.
Rat so 1t came that I remained in
Black Rock long enough to witness the
breaking Of the league.
Looking back upon the events of that
night from the midst of gentle and de-
cent surroundings, they now seem
strangely unreal, but to me then they
| appeared only natural.
1t was the Good Friday ball that
wrecked the league, for the fact that
the promoters OF the ball determined
that 1t should be a ball rather than n
dance was taken by the league men as
n concession to the new public opinion
In favor Of responsibility created by
the league. And when the managers
patronage had been secured-they fail
ed to get Mrs. Mavor's-and it was
further announced that, though held in
the Black Rock hotel ballroom-indeed
there vas no other Overwhelmingly
suited TO the peculiar tastes OF league
men would be provided, 1t was felt to
be almost n necessity that the league
should approve. should indeed well
come, this concession to the public
opinion In favor OF responsibility Great
ed by the league.
There were extreme men on both
sides, of course. idaho Jack" profess.
sional gambler, for instance, frankly
considered that the whole town was
going to uncomfortable depths Of pro-
priety. The organization of the league
was regarded by him and by many 9th
ers as a sad ~retrograde toward the
bondage Of the ancient and dying east,
and that he could not get drunk when
and where he pleased "Idaho," as he
was called, regarded as n personal
grievance.
But Idaho vas never enamored Of
the social ways of Black Rock. He
was shocked and disgusted when he
discovered that n "gun" was decreed
by British law to be an unnecessary
adornment of a card table. The man
ner of his discovery must have been
interesting to behold.
1t is said that Idaho was Industrious
ly pursuing his avocation in Slavin's,
with his gun lying upon the card table
convenient to his hand, when In walk
ed Policeman Jackson, her majesty's
sole representative in the Black Rock
district. Jackson-"Stonewall Jackson"
or "Stonewall," as he was called for
| obvious reasons-after watching the
game for n few moments gently tapped
the pistol and asked what he used this
for.
"Ill show you In two holy minutes if
you don't light out" said Idaho, hard
~ looking NJ, but very angrily, for the
lack was against him Blu Jackson
tapped upon the table and said sweet
ly:
you're a stranger here. You ought
to get n guidebook and post yourself.
Now, the boys know l don't interfere
with an innocent little game, but there
is n regulation against playing 1t with
guns; So" he added, even more sweet
ly. but fastening Idaho with n look
from his steel gray eyes,, 'I1! Just take
charge of this" picking up the revolv-
er. ut might go off,"
Idaho's rage, great as it was, was
| 1.ftn Cx-aIfnUpni in In lilo amazed die
gust at the state of society that would
permit such an outrage upon personal
liberty. He was quite unable to play
any more that evening, and 1t took sew
eral drinks all round to restore him to
a%rticulate speech. The rest Of the night
was spent in retailing for his instruc-
ton stories of the ways OF stonewall
Jackson.
Idaho bought n new gun, but he wore
1T "1n his clothes" and used it chiefly in
the pastime of shooting out the lights
or in picking Off the heels from the
boys boots while n stag dance was in
progress In Slavin's. But In Stone
wallis presence Idaho was q most cor
rect citizen. Stonewall he could under
stand and appreciate. He was @ feet 8
and had an eye of unpleasant penetra-
ton. But this new feeling in the COM
munity for responsibility he could nei-
ther understand nor endure. The league
became the object of his indignant
aversion and the league men of his
contempt. He had many sympathizers,
and frequent were the assaults upon
the newly born so!ntety Of Billy Breen
and others Of the league, but Geogdie's
watchful care and Mrs. MAYORS steady
influence, together with the loyal CO.
operation of the league men, kept Billy
safe 30 far. Nixon, too, was a marked
man. 1t may, be hat he carried him
self with unnecessary jauntiness to-
ward Slavin and Idaho, saluting the
former with, lawful dry weather, eh,
Slavln" and the latter with, "Hello,
old sport! How's timesT" causing them
to swear deeply and, as 1t turned out,
to do more than swear.
But, on the whole, the antileague
men were in favor Of a respectable
ball, and most of the league men deter
mined to chow their appreciation Of
the concession of the committee to the
principles Of the league In the impor-
tant matter of refreshments by attend
Ing In force.
Nixon would not 60. However jaun-
tily he might talk, he could not trust
himself, as he said, where whisky was
flowing, for 1t got into his nose like q
| nshhOok into q salmOn.u He was from