The Washington herald., 1914-08-16

I physical and mental wreck whom we
were obliged by courtesy to refer 10 as
our esteemed contemporary. had threat
ened again to shoot US on sight-being
about the hundredth time in the last
| two years-but We were by no means
prepared for his wonderful feat on
Wednesday. He actually did stop US on
Apache avenue and pull a gun. For
| some time We were in doubt whether he
would shoot us or himself; but, finding
that he was liable to accident, we picked
him and his gun up and deposited them
head first in a barrel in front OF Skin
ner's grocery. The editor remained there,
with his heels in the air, until some one
extended a helping hand. We shall
never draw a gun on our esteemed. We
may jab at him with a toothpick, yell
at him in low bass or barrel him up,
but his life is safe with US.
The events Of the past year as affecting
US personally have kept us from feeling
homesick. On New Years Day, in 1905, We
had thirteen occupants Of our private
graveyard, which is the only editorial
cemetery in the world. During the.
year We were obliged to add two TO the
number. In both instances we hesitated
and hung back until II bacame a matter
of painful necessity. 1t is needless to
add that we were fully exonerated by
the coroner's jury, and that We paid all
funeral expenses. In the year we de-
livered twelve orations, FIVE political
speeches and seven lectures. Two at
tempts were made to assassinate u.s. and
we were twice held up and robbed. -Four
different men shot at us in our sanctum
without serious results, and We were
the direct cause Of five bad men leaving
town for good. For a small town Civ
adam Gulch is a lively one. a young
man who wishes to begin an editorial
career cannot do better than TO make
his debut here. Each and every day
brings its little incident or adventure.
and every time a bullet perforates his
hat or cuts a button from his clothes
he finds himself melted to renewed
efforts. We were laid up for few DAYS
on two or three occasions, but. on the
whole, we had a good time. and made
a gain on the struggle for fame.
Our esteemed contemporary. in his
issue OF Tuesday, says that he met us
on Cochise place Sunday evening and
fired five shots at US, but owing to the
darkness we escaped We were on Co.
chise place Sunday evening. We passed
two loving hours with a widow whom
we had long been sweet on, and after
pressing her hand for the thousandth
time got under our hat and departed. We
walked down to Cheyenne street and from
thence to Apache avenue, but did not
see even a dog prowling about Our es-
teemed may have encountered US, but
we can't recall the incident. He may
have fired upon US, but II 50 we haven't
the least remembrance. We have offered
time and again to stand up before him
by daylight, at any range he may elect,
and let him blaze away. and why he
should put himself out at night is a
hadw 1s-n
the poor old chap is his ability to lie.
If we were half as good a liar as he is,
we'd be in Congress next session.
We believe that forty-nine out OF every
fifty editors in Arizona will agree that
we are always ready to extend every
courtesy TO members OF the craft, and
that we seek 10 honor and elevate the
profession in all We do. Last week Mr..
John Baker, editor Of the Bad Hill Ga
zette, sent US a letter at the hands Of
a man named Stuart. In that letter he
called us a buffer, a coward and a
sneak. and added that IL We would be at
Ten Mile Creek Sunday noon he would
rid the earth OF an encumbrance. As we
had never had a word with Mr.. Baker.
we were surprised at his challenge, but
courtesy compelled US to say that we
would be on hand at the time named.
We were there at half-past eleven and
waited until o'clock in the afternoon.
but no Mr.. Baker showed up. He did
not even send a messenger with an ex-
cuse. We do not propose to waste fur
ther courtesy on any such critter. We
shall make II our business to ride over to |
Bad Hill some day soon and take his !
editorial nose between our thumb and |
finger and pinch 1t, and give it a twist. |
If he will ffght well and good; II not, We
will make him apologize for his letter. |
He is evidently a man who has blum |
dered into the profession and has no
sense of its honor and dignity, and the
sooner he is out Of 1t the better.