Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-28

foors back
Written by Solomon the wise, and
meaning that horse responds to the
whip. You can touch him lightly with
it and he'll pick up his feet and make
lime. The ass or donkey doesn't care
much about the whip. aud you can do
more with him by saving on the bri-
die, but when you come to fool,
here s no other Way to deal with him
but to take up a stick and wear him
ont.
Beiug an old fashioned preacher my
discourse will naturally be arranged
under three heads-1st, love a horse;
2nd, love donkey; 3rd. Under heav-
en- S bright sun / bate fool.
This sermon, however, will be no
eulogium on the country. or kaklOgium
on the town, but ''equal rights TO all,
and don t care how you share 'em, SO
you share 'em even -
Some of the incest boys l know are
town boys, and the majority of college
students are fine fellows.
| | write to you boys as representing
the common average man. It's the
voice of one crying in the wilderness
of the world where you must win your
laurels if you win them at all. A voice
| 10 which you will do well to give ear
| nest heed, not for my sake, but be.
| cause of the great throbbing heart of
humanity behind me. Believe me
| gentlemen, if you ever attain to sue
cess in any line OF life, as preacher,
| lawyer, doctor, merchant, politician,
OF what not, it will be by the help of
the common average man. If you are
wise you will soon learn that his Opin-
ions, sentiments, and even preJudiceS,
are entitled to respect.
You know that some people have
fashion of shaking hands on a level
with the nose. Don't jump to conclu-
siuns, but read on. The man writing
TO you is no old fogy opposed to every
thing new, and looking at the world
out OF jaundiced eyes that throw the
elbow sickliness of death over every
thing in sight-not by a long shot, but
you know there Is distinction and d
difference.
If you want to part your hair in the
middle, you have perfect right to do
il. It's your own hair. It's on your
own head, and I'll enlist in a war to-
morrow and she'd half of what little
blood | have to defend your right to
part your hair where you please. But
when you attempt to dictate to me
where L must part my hair, that's a
different question. You see yourselves
it g different. And when that ques.
ton comes to the test, I'll enlist in
another war, and shed not half my
blood, but all of it to defend my right
to part on the side, and to make you
MUD your own business.
For thousands of years perhaps, as
long as people have been shaking
hands at all, they have been doing it
i'll common sense way, on natural
level, about opposite the centre OF the
body, and he who forsakes the natu
raj, and adopts the unnatural should
give reason for the faith that is in
him.
True refinement and politeness is
the effort to be agreeable, and to please
in all things where no moral principle
is involved.
The trouble with the high shake is
in the fact that it necessarily involves
two people-one OF whom may be a
very unwilling party to the transac-
tion, and all European princedUm,
backed up by the self constituted lead.
ers of American society, can't make
refinement to consist in something
calculated to irritate and annoy peo-
pie, and which in Its very essence is
presumptlous dictatiOn.
You stick the tips of your rigid flu
gers in mans eyes. and leave him
the choice of coming up to you or
turning away without speaking. He
doesen'G t like to insult you by turning
Oh his heel, he takes your hand for the
moment, and afterwards possibly has
d contempt for you.
When you infllct this fad on one
who IS your equal in age, Intellect and
social standing, it may perhaps be
passed by as a mere nuisance or annoy
ance, but when you impose 1t on one
who is your supeIior-if such thing
is possible-then it ceases to be a
nuisance and becomes an insult.
The first time | ever encountered
this curious thing, was at a wedding
in one of the extreme Southern States.
| had gone to home to perform the
ceremony. The only daughter of veal
thy and refined people was to be mar
ried to young New Yorker who was
said to belong to the four hundred OF
that city. The girl had met him at
different resorts, but be had meyer been
at her home or seen her pare nts. l saw
the mother when Introduced to her
son in-laW to be. She was almost an
| invalid. and excited over the loss of
her daughter. There were tears IN her
eyes as she sat down by the young man
and said: 1T g a very unpleasant day,
| | am afraid you'll think the Sunny
South delusion.n And if you'll be-
lieve me he never said a wor1, but
screwed a glass in one eye and looked
at her for some moments with his nose
in the air as though examining some
strange insect. He wanted to show
her that in society" it was not the
proper thing to talk about the wealth
er. If he had been my prospective
son-in law, l would have taken him by
the back of the collar and the calf of
one leg. and sacrifice four panes of
window glass to him on the spot. But
it wasn't my business, aud besides l
was looking for fee from New York
soclety-and my wife was building
great castles on it, but when it came it
WAS twenty five dollars less than l once
received from a common farmer in
South Carolina.
They say the high hand shake il
dying out. Maybe SO. but something
equally silly will rise up In it's place
aud SO on world without end. And tC
study to initiate everything Of this kline
should be beneath the thought of manly
men, When you leave town or COL
lege and go out among the plain deal
old people who used to know and love
you, wish. if you please gentlemen
for gracious sake don t make fools oi
yourselves with anything of that kind
Somebody rubbed me the wrong way
with the high shake yesterday, and
hope to goodness the editor will pub
ish this and send Inc copy. Then
will feel better and at peace with al
mankind when | know that some pos
som cared dude who couldn't take i
I ia bis head has got it in the neck.
4 COUNTRY PREACHER.
Cheated Death.