Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-02-23
"CoUs1N BILLIE" TALKS A FEW
Stanzas-Tells What he Would Have
Done II in Senator's Place.
Westminster, Fob. 10, 1921


My Dear Cousin Legislatures:
am little late in answering
your last letter, but have been kinder
busy one way and another, and Just
put 1t Off until now.
wish you would hand this note
to Senator Mason for me. viii you,
please? You may read it If you want
to, but don't tell any one what is in
it:
Dear Preston: I see by the paper
tCourier) that you and crowd Of
men met in the Court House recently
to discuss Taxation and Economy"
which was a big subject. Taxation
covers the entire globe, and there is
no such creation as economy. I
have heard tell Of 1t, but have never
seen any Of 1t exposed anywhere. (I
in SESSION.
] see in the same issue Of The Cou-
rter that you express desire to hear
from mel suppose on the above
subject-so I might as we'll tell you
what would have done, or said, If
I had been in your place and that
body Of economists had called on me
for report as Senator and as their
chief representative. Well, I would
have walked into the court room
not very FAST l would have just
kinder sauntered along-and shook
hands with some Of the most promi-
nent economists, until finally | had
reached the inside Of the bar, then
! would have taken a chair in my
right hand and kinder drug it across
the floor, over near where. the chair
man was seated, and at the same
time extending my left hand to the
chairman in a hearty hand-shake, as
most men Of Importance and much
worth usually shake with their left
hands; then l would probably have
looked over on the side Of the room
next to NJ. r. McDonald's office (the
retired clerk Of Ex-Superyisor e. n.
Foster), and Of course would have
recognized some friend on that side
and stepped over and passed the time
of day with him. I would very likely
have taken seat on that side Of the
room since I had had the pleasure of
walking across the room. BY that
time the meeting would have been
called to order by the chairman. Then
Major VIM. j. Stribling (the chief
economist, with j. p. Stribling a very
close second) would state the object
Of the meeting twith apnlanse> The
C|-.IM1n would ihen can you, and
OF coUrHo, you would roSp0nG go
wenid ~ | %0uld Spy ont uMI say,
"Mr Nhair;nun and ]rInw.econo,
mists,' If any Of the latter had
been presently would then step
over to the pitcher and take small
sip Of water, then l would turn round
facing the chairman, with my watch
in my left hand, and, stroking my
iron-gray kinks with my right hand,
would have asked the chairman how
much time I had, and Of course he
would say, as only jim Moss can
say, THE bride is off; go to 1t; take
in the country" I would have then
thanked him and turned to the audi
ence and started off something like
this:
Gentlemen: It affords me great
pleasure to meet this body OF mon,
on this occasion and under the odd
circumstances. / have never in all
my life had such an opportunity to
tell you people what the trouble is
and what Is the matter with the
country. Men, I am surprised at the
most OF you; others Of you I'm not
surprised at in the least"
would have said, first, You have
not been represented in the General
Assembly for years and years until
now. Now, I am glad to say that it
looks to me like there Is no ground
for complaint as to the represents
ton. I would have told them how
faithful had been to the cause, and
how earnest f. p. Bruce, with his
deep and mystifying and non-expres-
sive stare-similar to that of poet,
or deep thinker, or sometimes you
see people stand and look and stare
at you, and you can't tell what they
are thinking about.how very faith
ful he had been. | never could un-
derstand this mysterious stare. and
20 nh, nto