The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-05
DRUGS INSTEAD OF WHISKEY
Correspondent Calls Attention to Un-
restricted Sale of Opiates as
Result of Prolibitory Law.
Columbia State.
To the Editor of The State.

Columbia State.
To the Editor of The State.
We had an idea that all those old
boys, of whom Caldwell wrote so
graphically in his MeGowan's history
and those, whom Dickert speaks of
having such fun with in his Ker-
shaw's, were all dead. But not so.
One, at least, is left; that is, if his
life was not frightened out of the old
sinner by the town authorities of
Newberry on his recent Christmas
trip to the city. He lives away down
on Broad river, where he spends his
lonely life in fishing and other like
employment, and telling war jokes to
the younger set. But he does not un-
derstand their jargon, nor they his
talk; they are too wide apart in point
of time. Having heard good deal
in an indirect way about the new
$4,000 court house, he concludes he
would investigate and see for himself
(now in his old age) this new monu-
ment to his county's greatness.
Accepting the friendly lift of a
neighboring farm wagon, he comes to
town. Luekless Chinky John, you
are not on the Shenandoah, nor the
Rapidan, nor on the shore of the tur-
bid waters of the Broad, but on the
| asphalt pavement Of an up-to-date
town. No, Chinky John should have
thought better, and stilled his curious
feeling about his county's greatness,
for he was no taxpayer, and Satan
has that same regard for idle hands,
even for Lees old guard, as he has
for the rest Of US mortals. Misfor-
tune never comes single handed, the
world over, and what was more nat
ural than the old sinner should meet
up with another old guard, on
like mission bent. Unfortunate Chin
ky! After viewing the monster pile
of pressed brick, strolling through its
lofty corridors, and looking with awe
upon the throne seat, they sat down
behind the stately structure, Chinky
John and his crony, to discuss some
unfinished business, left over at the
Wilderness, Antietam, Round Top
and other like places with ever and
anon, "you remember the time, y
etc., that had not been settled ac-
cording to their ideas of the correct
fitness of things, the bottle of boozs
passing the while. After all these
matters were satisfactorily adjusted
the old Rebels, after a mutual good
bye to the bottle, parted, Chinky
John starting out on his tour Of dis
covery. He saw much that was new.
much that was wonderful-asphal
pavement, vitrified driveways, and
Chinky should have been satisfied
and turned back. but the blood being
mp and hot in the veins Of the old
follower of Lee. he. Went too far, fa1
beyond his depth, was caught in that
great wave of the eity's progress, and
swept from his moorings. Chinky
fell. He grew tired. His feet sore.
he sits and rests, the old vagabond OF
a soldier is caught mapping on his
post, red-handed, asleep. His slender
legs had carried him far afield, over
mountain, rivers, and bloody battling
grounds, but you are not young as
you were, Chinky Old crafts should
stay near shore. You ventured toe
far. were wrecked, with all on board,
not to rise again till in the morning
within the four walls Of prison cell.
But this mishap did not break the
dreams of the old reprobate; he
fought his battles over with himself
in his cell, laughed at the jokes of
his comrades, and was having the
time Of his life when rudely awaken
ed by one Of the catchers of booze.
Let's take stroll down to the court
chamber, and take peep at the trial
Of this jolly old cuss, for jolly he
always was. "Next," calls out the
young and handsome mayor, and
Chinky John was led forth to the
centre Of the room, smiles still
wreathing over his brow, remember
ing the last joke of an imaginary old
comrade. Was that a cannon fired 2
Or, what brings the old boy up with
such jerk? He rubs his eyes, looks
| towards the paneled ceiling, then at
the tessalated floor, upon which his
tired old feet stood. He peeped out
across the street, for the dingy little