Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-15
A Friendly Warning

Dear Socrates:
l want you to let my eve lamb alone. In
the Chatting Dish you have been saying things
about a famous book known as "The Balsam
Groves of Grandfather Mountain" Worse
you have given notice that you are going to
get the whole book and print bits of it.
/ do protest
When I was little boy thirty years ago,
the Linvie Improvement Company, of Lin
VILE n. c., offered $4,000 for the best book
Cromance) with the scene .laid on the Grand
father, which is the most beautiful mountain
in the world
My father was one of the judges More
than 500 books were submitted. Sheppard
c. Dugger, a schoolteacher and "singin'
leader" of the Grandfather country, sub
mtted his now famous "Balsam Groves"
lie was very much offended that II didn't win
the prize, whic!. was awarded, by the way. to
In the Afterglow," book that was never
published
Shops friends gathered'about him and con-
doled. They drank some moonsfine and made
remarks about the judges. Shep made
speeches. He: had wonderful name of
chestnut hair magnificent chestnut beard
and great yellow eyes. He was a lovely man.
Shep took it much to heart. Genius was
brushed aside; native eloquence was con-
fined to the hills and never allowed to reach
the outside" Finally he published the book,
and the Charlotte Observer and the Charles
II
sun had the time of their lives about it.
But you are mistaken about Shops ever
having awakened to the fact that his book
was humorous. He rode about the mountains
with saddlebags filled with his book and sold
large edition. The book is to be found in
every mountain home in North Carolina, 1t
is the most exquisite joke of the whole vast
neighborhood, but the mountaineers never
laugh at Shep, and he has never found out.
Just as I read Treasure Island every oc-
tober. so go to North Carolina every Nav
when can, and ride across the Grandfather
back of Boone. and join in the quiet fun of
my old-time playmates over the doin's of
Shep Dugger
So, want you to let him alone, II vol,
print anything more about him he will seII.
his mule and come up here and put his arms
around your neck and claim YOU az tho
brother who at last understands He'll SETTLE
down on You and there you will be. Tn
friendly warning from G. HC
Twilight
THERE by her window, with half dream.
ing eyes,
She watched the slow procession of the
years
Creep up the little street: Her bopes
and fears
Became vague shadowings in Times disguise
And passed as well-her bosom's fall and rise
W as ull unITOuDleu Dy Youth g long
rears,
And if at dusk she knew the sting of tears
There was solace in the evening skies.
Long since her harp had rusted and she
seemed
All but unheeding, yet her ears would 6ll
With fragment melodies that slowly crept
Out of the darkness; so she sat and dreamed
Away her life; her slender fingers still
Touching the broken strings where Love
once slept.
L, BLACKLEDGE LIPPMANN.
King Albert Breakfasts on Mountain
Headline in New York Times.
To which cur waggish client Ned Mus
champ remarks, there's nothing like that
western air to build up big appetite.
William McFee sends us the following
tale, from tho London Times: In giving
vent to his feelings on his discharge, an old
soldier wrote to his late colonel: t'Sir-
After what have suffered you can tell the
army to 20 to hell" In due course he re :
ceived the following ''Sir--Any suggestions
or inquiries as to movements of troops must
bs entered on army form t23 XYz. copy
of which I inclose."
~ SOCHAYf1S