The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-09-21
PINEVLLE'S
CIDER DAY
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD

Ou tue lolu VI every SepleihDei' III
case the day did not fall on a Sunday
a couple of barrels of new cider were
placed on the public square and tap
ped and everybody invited to drink
their fill. 1t was a day Of rejoicing
and was known as cider day.
On a certain 18th Of September q
stranger arrived In the village by
stage 1t was not so uncommon for
strangers to arrive, but this was an
uncommon man. He had clubfoot;
he had but one eye; be had a voice
like the below of a bull; he had but
one eyebrow. His personal appear
ance was freely commented on. as is
the way Of the villager, and there was
great curiosity to know who he was
and what had brought him there.
The stranger was limping around
town next day when the cider was
brought in and the rejoicings began,
but he paid no attention until after
noon. Then the men had begun to
warm up and grin and laugh and slap
each other on the back. Firecrackers
were thrown under the strangers feet,
and when he voiced his displeasure he
was laughed and jeered at Then he
got hand on his back and was chal-
lenged to a wrestling match and
trial Of cutting off hats. He was in
vited to drink prosperity to Pineville
in a dipper Of new cider, and when he
refused to do so q quantity was poured
on his hat.
The stranger was a good swearer,
and he swore. He stood on the public
square ana swore, and he sat on the
tavern veranda and swore, and he
locked himself in his room and swore.
All day the town made merry, as per
custom, and next day some Of the lead
| ing citizens called to make excuses.
The stranger had hired a rig and de-
parted after an early breakfast.
Pineville wanted a railroad. 1t had
wanted one for years and at times
had had strong hopes. The trouble
was in the hills half surrounding it
| There must be a costly tunnel. En-
gineers had come and estimated and
reported, and the cost had been con-
sidered too high. A new and greater
effort was now on foot, and three days
after cider day a large and enthusias-
tic mass meeting was held. At this
meeting a greater sum was pledged
than ever before, and a delegate was
sent to the headquarters Of the 2. and
p. railroad to lay the matter before the
proper officials. The line to Pineville,
IL built would be q branch. The dele
gate was politely received and listened
to and then told that a larger delega-
ton had better come down. Indeed
the names Of seven Of his fellow
townsmep were given him, and they
would be received and the matter
gone into.
When the delegation reached the city
1t was informed that II Pineville go'
its branch it would be through Ger
tain capitalist. who would give then
audience half an hour later. He die
So They fled into his office and up te
his desk to find the man Of the club
foot. He had a smile on his face. bu
they did not like the smile. He spoke
honeyed words, but at the same time
he had the door locked and three stou
men brought in.
"Glad to see you, gentlemen-ver!
glad" he said to the delegation as
whole. "You may perhaps remembe
that I visited your pleasant little tow
the other day. Very nice town; yer.
nice town. Very enterprising people
Very charming custom you have NJ
there"
"Sir." replied Deacon Harrison. VIII
had been appointed spokesman for tn
delegation. IF perchance our peopl
made too merry
"Oh, no. no, no! l love merry pee
pie"
"It was our cider day, you know"
Certainly, certainly-plenty Of c
der and plenty of merriment. s.
, you came to see about a branch lin
to your town? Well. after an exh
bition of little custom of my ow
, we will proceed to talk. There's tn
pail and dipper. Help yourselves"
None Of the seven ever. knew whi
, the nature of the contents Of the pa
were. Deacon Harrison drank frs
, and he looked weary as he turne
, away. The WEAKNESS went dow
through the line.
= "Now for some merriment," said II
= clubfooted man as he nodded to b
. three stout retainers.
4 The trio moved. They cuffed o
q hats. They slapped the delegates
4 the back. They gave them the Ire
a elbow. They hustled them up al
= down and across and laughed al
jeered. After ten minutes the DO
. held up his hand and said:
1.-THE gentlemen must be thirsty. B
= fore there is further merriment 81
n them more drink"
"a When the said "merriment" ceas
"a there was no man Of the seven VI
= could stand on his legs. They h'
a been hustled for fair. As they s
breathing hard and wondering wh
"a was coming next the capitalist chuc
\. led and laughed and said:
"This is all. gentlemen. You dol
10 need a railroad to Pineville. You ha
your cider day, and that's better.
IL you probably have important engat
g. ments elsewhere will now excu