The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-07

and find myself on good, hard roads, my
mind goes back to other winters when
ride down Fayetteville street, and into
the country was about like driving
through brick hole flooded with water.
The old time stages, and the old time
wagons that hauled the heavy groceries
from Fayetteville to Raleigh, generally
tore up the road beds, during the winters;
and the streets of Raleigh were often as
bad the country roads. Fayetteville
street, all through the winter was lob
Jolly, and could be crossed at only Gel
tain places, by pedestrians; and even al
these places travellers did not always find
IL easy to cross without getting more OF
less muddy. They used to tell wonderfui
stories, as to the depth of the mud on the
roads, one of which l will relate, no.
veuching for its truth, OF course 1t wa
told by wood hauler who managed tc
get into the city, with four horse team
bringing less than half a cord OF wood
Driver, wagon, wood and horses were all
covered with red mud presenting, as they
appeared on the street, most ludicrous
picture. How are the roads out in tbs
country" asked Raleigh man OF the
wood hauler.
How did you get here, then, with youl
load OF wood?' the Raleigh man asked
We swum; didn't try to tech the bot
tom, for there amt no bottom. Ny
horses are all good swimmers or I'd nevel
got here. The road is full of wagons
and drivers between here and Lauren.
Hinton's that are sunk clean out OF
sight. saw hat on top of the mud,
and picked 1t up. A fellow down in tht
mud, under that hat, told me he was sci
ting on top of his load of wood and kis
wagon was still sinking in the mud. No.
there amt no roads; but, If fellows
horses can swim pretty we'll they can
make the trip, provided they keep a
goin'; but if a team ever stops its good
by vain world"
did you leave that fellow down undel
the mud?" one asked
Yes said the wood hauler; but i
told him the road hands would dig him
out next spring; and he said all right
While all of that talk was story
we'll told, it, nevertheless, was true to the
extent of giving the reader an idea CT
the terrible condition of our roads, be-
fore better methods of working them
were employed. What pleasure it is
now to take driver out to Wakefield
for instance, as compared with other
days when one had to split the mud near.
~ all the way. Good roads are blessings
to man and beast, and I am glad TO
know that, in almost every section Of
our State, the road question stands next
in Importance to education.
Jonas Medlin was a character of the
ante-bellum times that figured largely az
certain times and in certain places. He
laI @hn 1E n
KATIE and in his opinion he was, i'll
his sphere, as big a man as the Governor
OF the State. He came to town nearly
every day and not unfrequently Mrs
Medlin," as he called his wife. came
with him. He was so we'll known thar
almost every body had something to say
to him, and, of course, such attention
made him feel his Importance. Jonas
claimed to be a Democrat, but he and
Mrs. Medlin were both of the opinion
that Wing barbecue was just as good as
Democratic barbecue, and to save his
life, Jonas said he couldn't tell any dit
ference between Wing whiskey and Dem.
ocratic whiskey. He said he never saw
any bad whiskey. Some was good and
some better; but none bad. During
campaign, one summer, both parties had
big barbecues, a few weeks apart AMI
Jonas, as we'll as Mrs. Medlin, attended
them. The Wing barbecue came off first
and no man ate more and carried OF
more ham and barbecue, in his basket.
than did Jonas; and no man cheered more
Justify the speeches that the Wings
made, abusing the Democrats, than die.
he.
A few weeks after the Democratic bar
becue was to come off, in the old Baptist
grove, and it was understood that John
Hutchings, Esq, the grandfather of our
very popular Superior Court clerk, was
to have the management Of it. Jonas
sought out Mr.. Hutchings, and lost no
time in telling him what good hand
he was at barbecues, and how handy
Mrs. Medlin' could make herself. and
how glad they'd, both be to help the
Democrats get ahead of the Wings. And
sure enough (for how could he help do
ing SOP Mr.. Hutchings asked the gov
ernor to come in, early, on the appointed
day and assist him. And great day it
was for him and his wife, and the mary
children and friends they brought with
them. Mr.. Hutchings soon found out that
provisions were getting scarce. down at
the end of the table where Jonas was
helping. A tray of barbecue was gone,
and a dish of ham and one of chicken
had disappeared; but, the matter was
soon explained. Jonas had turned his
attention to Mrs. Medlin'' and her many
friends who. squatting around the roots
of big oak, were having a good Ilme.
Enough barbecue and other meats, and
enough bread and biscuits to match,
were spread before them to feed fifty peo-
pie. Mr.. Hutchings, taking in the situa-
ton, said: Jonas, 1 left you here to
look after this end of the table, and you
have taken almost everything off ard
piled it around the root OF that tree"
Putting on an injured air, and speaking
loud enough for everybody in that vicin-
ity to hear him, he said: sDrot man
as won't wait on the ladies'" Mr.. Hutch
ings only said ssI'll see that you don't
get anything more from this table to
wait on 'em with" and took position
where he could cut Jonas off from the
table. But Jonas fanked him, for a little
while after, Mr.. Hutchings saw him
coming down from the other end of the
table with a basket full of meat and
bread going in the direction of MRS.