The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-09-05
a Base SIander Refuted

y D0SO OlduuCi uOtutOu
The associate editor Of this paper
would rise to a question Of personal
privilege. We do not wish to drag the
names of DIR. strouse or Mr.. Sam. I.
Hodges into this purely personal mat
ter, otherwise than securing afidavits
from them.
So many rumors have been in circu-
lation, so much feeling in Chautauqua
matters has been manifested, that a
more serious accusation against us has
been allowed to pass unnoticed. But to
think that such men as Hon. A. Cannon
and M. Il. Shipman would be the origi-
majors of the report is too much, too
much, and we find comfort in the
Thought that J.. T.. Hickman and Eds
Brooks are not supporting them in their
unjusti6able conduct.
And so while M. L. is in Raleigh and
the honorable gentleman from the river
is gathering wheat, we grasp the oppor-
tunity firmly by both feet and indig-
nantly deny the base insinuatioD and
fling the slanderOus charge in their face.
or faces, whichever is correct.
We feel we can no longer rest under
the shameful accusation, and intend en-
gaging an attorney to defend us, if we
can find one not already hired by the
twin Chautauquas.
We haye lost sleep, appetite and for
mer striking good looks brooding ver
this matter, and have almost been
tempted to remoYe to Ashevllle or Zir-
coma and there forget the Uhautauquas
and our troubles.
But we feel it due to the people Of
H~endersonville, who have been good to
us, and to the C~hautauquas who so
kindly gave US all their printing, to set
ourselves right in the eyes of the COM
munity.
We own a 10 acre farm, On that
farm are all the appurtenanoes which
generally go with q farm-including
hard work, heaps Of it, and then some,
to drop into the expressive ~vernScular
of the street. We are blessed with
kindly neighbors, who are always will
ing to sell us what butter and eggs and
milk and vegetables our simple life n
7O-acre farm calls for. We feel CRATE
full to them for it.
We haYe received Inspiration by the
yard from the farm. With what de-
light do we arise at 400 a. m. and SILENT
ly watch the god of day fling afar those
gorgeous beams of light which herald
his approach! With what JOY do we
walk N quarter of a mile to feed two lit
tie runts of pigs for which We paid $7.19.
and which persistently refuse to grow
one inch larger than when we bought
them from another faFmert -
How beautiful is the awakening day
with the dew still on the grass. the birds
carolling their happiness, the wind
softly whispering good morning through
the giant pines Who so gracefully bow
their acknowledgements! With what
keen pleasure do we clean a couple Of
horses, cut a cord of wood, drive in the
COWS ana 90 u lew JULIET AISnI GdShS oo-
fore our frugal morning NEAL
We feel that we are naturally a farmer
and almost competent to take the edi-
torship of the Progressive Farmer or
the Southern Ruralist, but we decline
to do it, and feel weicannot too strongly
deny, with all the emphasis at our COM
mand, the unwarranted suggestion of
the above mentioned otherwise estima-
BILE gentlemen that we do not, and never
will, know the difference between a
roasting ear and a pumpkin!
We rest our case, confident that we
will be sustained by that great arbi-
traitor, public opinion.