The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1907-05-08
The EARLY HISTORY OF MELVIN
WHITE.
By u. L Taylor.
CHAPTER VIII.


Melvin had close neighbor by the
name of C. B. Taylor. He was spe-
cial friend of Melvins father, and the
two families had been on the most init
mate terms for long time Melvin
and Charley's Jim were about the same
age, and very great cronies. Melvin
was frequent visitor at Mr.. Taylors,
house, and became favorite with all
the family. Charley and Melvin agreed
on everything except politics. They
were both Methodists, but they could
not agree on politics. They occupied
different sides on every political move
ment. In discussion one day as to
the effect that the Wilmot Proviso
would have had on the Monroe Doc
trine, if the Proviso had been passed.
They took Numerically opposite
grounds. Charley cOntended that it
would have been beneficial, while Mel
vim contended for the reverse. The argu-
ment became loud, then boisterous, un-
til each one of them seized a club, and
prepared for battle. Like angry men
generally do, they did not stop to con-
slider that the Wilmot Proviso had been
defeated in Congress, and that David
Wilmot, the author of the proviso was
dead, and it was long before the war,
and as it had reference to slavery, in
which neither of the belligerants had
any interest whatever, they prepared
for battle. Charley finally ordered
Melvin from his premises, and while
the youthful combatant was not afraid,
he had great respect for Mr.. Taylor's
age. He started to leave. After he
had got outside the yard Mrs. Taylor
came out of the house and told her
husband that it was a shame for two
such intimate friends to fall out over
nothing, and to call Melvin back and fix
the thing up. Charley reflected a mo-
ment, and as he was not man to har-
Dor malice, called to Melvin and said;
Melvin according to your last ex-
PLANTATION, l am satisfied to let the mat
ter drop, and just come back and let us
shake hands, and be friendly. Melvin
took him at his word, happy in the
thought of a reconciliation, and met Mr..
Taylor, and each handed the other his
left hand, while he firmly grasped his
shilalah in his right. Now Melvin said
clearly while they shook hands, l want
. it distinctly understood 1 am not doing
this because am afraid of you, the
same over here said Melvin, and they
dropped their ''weepins, and. the I'M
pleasantness was oyer. Melvin spent
the night there, and many jokes were
cracked by both that evening.
But Melvins next escapade did not
end so pleasantly. He applied for the
school at the ''gnat holler' school
house, and the trustees promised it to
him. He accordingly drew up a con-
tract, and had it signed by two of the
trustees. In the mean time Mr. Rich
ard Lee Johnson had been employed to
teach the same school, two of the trus-
tees having signed his contract, one of
them having signed both. The two
would be teachers had for some time
been mortal enemies, and each one was
as brave as Julius Cesar. Before the
day for the beginning of the school,
each one had learned of the situation,
and both men were expecting trouble
The day arrived. and both teachers
were on hand with a goodly number of
adherents in the way of scholars. The
teachers had but little to say to each
other. The house had but one door, a
broad one, and the teachers drew
chalk line from the middle of the door
in front, to the middle of the rear.
The pedagogues would not cross this
line, and the pupils were not allowed
to cross, and thus in this small room
were two distinct schools, as much so
as if they had been miles apart. The
Scholars were given their choice, and
it so happened that Lee had the largest
number, and as children preferred the
larger school, assertions were common
from Melvin to Lee, until after a few
days to prevent a clash and bloodshed
Melvin withdrew his forces, and set up
in separate house about quater of a
mile from the school house, and after
teaching there for few days he aban-
doned the enterprise, and went over
into Taylor county, and procured a
school which he taught through to sue
cess. While there ne wrote a letter to
his old friend John Ed Murrell, telling
him what might have been If bo bod