Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-31
Humorous Story of Early Georgia
Life.
NED BRACE GOES ON A LARK.
He Monkes of People of Savannah to Such an
Extent That People Still Laugh Every Time
They Think Of 1t.
They Think Of II


to delineate, and these will unanimous
ly bear testimony that, IL 1t be not
faithfully drawn, 1t is not overdrawn.
They cannot avouch for the truth OF
the anecdotes which am about to re-
late Of him, because Of these they know
nothing; but they will unhesitatingly
declare that there Is nothing herein
ascribed to him of which he was incap-
able, and of which he would not read
lily have been the author supposing the
scenes in which / have placed him to
be real, and the thoughts and actions
attributed to him to have actually sug-
gested themselves to him. They will
further testify that the thoughts and
actions are in perfect harmony with his
general character.
do not feel at liberty as yet to give
the name Of the person in question, and
therefore he shall be designated for the
present by the appellation Of Ned
Brace.
This man seemed to live only to
amuse himself with his fellow beings,
and he possessed the rare faculty OF
deriving some qualification Of his fav-
orite propensity from almost every
person whom he met, no matter what
his temper. standing. or disposition.
OF course he had opportunities enough
of exercising his uncommon gift, and he
rarely suffered an opportunity to pass
unimproved. The beau in the presence
- fofr hn tho rnnQnt
the purse-proud, the over-fastidious
and sensitive, were Ned's favorite
game. These never passed him unin-
jured. and against such he directed his
severest shafts. With these he COM
monty amused himself, by exciting In
them every variety Of emotion, under
circumstances peculiarly ridiculous.
He was admirably fitted to his voca-
ton. He could assume any character
which his humor required him to per-
senate, and he could sustain 1t to per-
fection. His knowledge of the charac-
ter Of others seemed to be intnitive.
II may seem remarkable, but 1t is
true, that. though he lived his own pc
culiar life for about sixteen years, after
he reached the age OF manhood he
never involved himself in a personal
rencounter with any one. This was
owing in part to his muscular frame,
which few would be willing to engage,
but more particularly to his adroitness
in the management of his projects Of
fun. He generally conducted them In
such a way as to render. 1T impossible
for any one to call him to account
without violating all the rules OF de-
cepcy. politeness, and chivalFy at once
But a few anecdotes Of him will give
the reader a much better idea of his
character than he can possibly derive
from a general description. II these
fulfill the description which have given
of my hero, all will agree that he is no
imaginary being; If they do not, 1t will
only be because l am unfortunate In
my selection. Having known him
from his earliest manhood to his grave
for he was a native Georgian-I con-
fess that am greatlyq perplexed In de-
termining what portions Of his singular
history to lay before the reader as q
proper specimen of the whole. A three
days visit which once made with him
to Savannah placed him in a greater
variety Of scenes and among a greater
diversity Of characters than perhaps
any other period Of his life embracing
no longer time; and, therefore, vii
choose this for my purpose,
We reached Savannah just at night
fall Of a cold December evening A.
we approached the tavern of Mr.. Rlanl
at which we designed to stop, Ned pro-
posed to me that we should drop oul
ACQUAINTANCE until he should choose Il
renew it. To this proposition 1 mos
cordially assented, for 1 knew that, 81
doing, 1 should be saved some NORTH
cations, and avoid a thousand ques
tions which l would not know how Il
answer. According to this understand
ing, Ned fingered behind in order tina
I might reach the tavern alone.
On alighting at the public house
was led into a large dining room, a
the entrance of which, to the right
stood the bar, opening into the dining
room. On the left and rather near t
the centre Of the room, was fireplace
surrounded by gentlemen. Upon enter
ing the room my name was demand
ed at the bar; II was given, and / tool
my seat In the circle around the fire.
had been seated just long enough TO
the company to survey me to their sat
isfaction and resume their converse
ton, when Ned's heavy footsteps at tn
door turned the eyes of the compan.
to the approaching stranger.
Your name, sir, If you please?" sal
the restless little barkeeper, as he en-
tered.
Ned stared at the questioner with ap
parent alarm, cast fearful glance a
the company, frowned, and shook hi
head in token of caution to the bar
keeper; looked confused for a mo
ment. then, as II suddenly recollectinl
himself, jefked a piece Of paper out
his pocket, turned from the company
wrote on ii with his pencil, handed
to the barkeeper, walked to the left
the fireplace, and took the most con
spicuous seat in the circle. He locke
at no one, spoke to no one, but, hxin
his eyes on the fire, lapsed into pro
found reverie.
The conversation, which had bee
pretty general before, stopped as shor
as If every man in the room had bee
shot dead. Every eye was fixed o
Ned. and every variety of expressio
was to be seen on the countenances G
the persons present. The landlor
came in; the barkeeper whispered t
him and looked at Ned. The landlor
looked at him too with astonishmen
and alarm; the barkeeper produced
niece of paper, and both OF them exam