The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-04-19
"RoVer," a Former Correspon'
dent Writes Again.
HIS FRIENDS WELCOME HIM
Pays a Compliment to The Paper and tc
"UnCle ZekC,"

come back again." we'll it's the
deg this time. The old dog "Ro-
ver'" that used TO visit tho Offices
of the Sentinel and the Journal
quite often. But that has been SO
many years ago that he will not
mention their number, for he il
still an old "batch,' aud if he was
to take notion to marry in his
old age, all tho girls might think
he was too old.
In the olden days, tho Sentinel
and the Journal occupied different
households; but now, since they
have married and become ono, a
single visit only will be necessary.
I suppose the marria = has been a
happy ona, for 10y combination
seems to be doing finely, especially
since "Uncle Ieke" has become
ono of the family. Now 1 have
never had the pleasure Of knowing,
"Uncle Zeke," but he reL,inds me
OF what I have often said Of Josh
Billings;" that hn wrote more
good hard sense, under the cover Of
nonsense, than almost any writer
in the country.
l suppose some Of your readers
will wonder why old Grover" came
back again, alter all these years, TO
have a chat with them again. Well
I've often thought of dong so, but
never made the thought q deed, u,
until I sqw tho "dispensary" qucs.
tio,l'so strongly agitated.
Now, if any Of you older readers
remember me, they remember that
was never temperance man, bnt
a red lot, straight out "teetotaler;"
Lated whiskey worse than the
devil. While it is true that can
say, and thank God that I can say
it, that not a single drink of the
accursed poison ever went down
my throat; yet it is only too sadly
trus, as some Of you may know,
that the trail of. serpent has gone
over some of my people, and left
its deadly sting behind. And
could you people have seen all I've
seen, known all I've known, they
wouldn't wonder that Pm so bitter
against IT. No words can tell how
much I abhor it, hut the Last stan-
~ of that sad, bitter little poem
called the "Druukard's Daughter -
Comes as near it AS any thing I ever
read. 1t is something like this:
"Tell me I hate the bowie
Hate is but a feeble word,
I loathe, abhor, my very soul
With strong disgust is stirred,
Whenever I SEQ, or hear, or tell
OF this dark beverage OF hell.'
When L first came West, I was
often asked where I came from.
said from South Carolina, and was
proud Of it, but Of lato years there
hive been times when have been
actually ashamed to own that
South Carolina was my mother
State. 1t is pretty hard. isn't it,
whom boy is ashamed Of his
mother? For there is nothing
sweeter, better than a good mother.
There is certainly something radi-
cally wrong with tho boy or the
mother.
Boys, men, how many Of you
that have good mothers, would liFt
: to 60 around and brag about it
and say 'my mother runs a bic
Wholesale and Getail whiskey shop
the biggest thing in the State. }
4, Yet that j. what my old mother
3. st .fS doing, and / am ashamed
Of hor. j
Wh@ I left old South Carolina
there couldn't be drink of jiouol
sold hs a beverage, legally, in
Pickehs county, and we not only
1 tllved3 but thriVed without il.
V$ters of Pickens county, how
5w2hld You like for your Legislature
80 pass an act worled something
like this:
/" Whereas, it having como to the
knowledge Of this legislature, that
there are parties IN various parts
OF the State who will, for the pur.