Year: 1876

not heard it, or forgotten it, we will
give the story of backwoods edit
or, m


Years ago when certain Western
State (Which we shall not name) was a
territory, and with few inhabitants,
young lawyer from one of the old States
emigrated thither aud settled in the town
of K. He succeeded admirably in
his profession, and rose rapidly in popu-
lar favor He had been there nearly
two years, when he induced printer to
print a weekly paper, ofwhich he was ed
itor and poprietor. Squire S. was much
pleased for while with editing paper.
He was man of very low stature, but
he used the editorial "wE," as frequent
ly as if there was dozen of him and
each as big as Daniel Lambert.


Strange to say, there were at that
time men in office who were not parti-
Gle more honest than they should be; a
thing which probably never happened
before and never will again. Squire s.
felt all the patriotism of son of '76,
and poured out grape and canister against
public abuses. This soon stirred a hor-
nets nest about his ears ; but as there
was no other paper in the territory there
was no reply, and he enjoyed his war
like propensities in security.


AT length he published an article
more severe and cutting, against malfea-
sance in office, than any that had pre-
ceded it. In fact though pointed at no
one individual in particular it was
"scorcher."


Some three or four days afterwards he
was sitting alone in his editorial office,
which was about quarter of mile
from the printing establishment his
pen was busy with paragraph, when
his door opened without much ceremony
and in stalked man about six feet in
his stockings. He asked, "Are you 5.
the proprietor of this paper ?" Thinking
he had found new patron, the little
man with one of his blandest smiles,
answered in the affirmative. The stran-
ger deliberately drew the last number
of the paper from his pocket, and point
ing to the article against rogues in Of
fee told the affrightened editor that it
was intended for 'him." 1t was in vain
that S. protested he never heard of him
before. The wrath of the visitor rose to
fever heat, and from being so restrained
boiled over with double fury. He gave
the editor his choice, either to publish a
humble uery humble recantation, or
take fogg5ng on the spot. Either alter
native was wormwood but what could
he do? The enraged office-holder was
a man twice bis size, and at one blow
would qualify him for an obituary notice.
S agreed to retract And as the visitor
insisted upon writing the retraction him.
self, he sat down to his task. Squire S.
made an excuse to walk to the printing
office with a promise that he would be
back in season to sign it as soon as it was
finished.


S. had hardly gone fifty rods before
he encountered man who inquired
where Squire SIS Office was, and if he
was at home. Suspecting he too was on
the same errand as the other visitor, he
pointed to the office and told him he
would find the editor within writing
most abusive article agrinst office-hold-
ers. This was enough. The eyes Of the
new conner flashed fire, he rushed into
the office, and assailed the stranger with
the epithets "liar, scoundrel, coward !"
and told him he would teach him how
to write. The gentleman, supposing it
was some bully sent there by the editor
sprang to his feet and a fight ensued.
The table was upset and smashed into
/ fire wood, the contents OF large jug of
ink stood in puddles on the floor, the
chairs had their legs and backs broken
beyond the the skill of surgery to cure
them. This only seemed to inspire the
the combatants with still greater fury.
Blow followed blow with the rapidity of
lightning. First one was kicking ON the
floor then the other, each taking it in
turn pretty equally. The ink ON the
floor found its way to their faces till both
of them cut the most ludicrous figure
imaginable. The noise and uproar were
tremendous. The neighbors ran to the
door, and exclaimed with astonishment
that two negroes were fighting in Squire
SIS office. None dared to separate
them. At length completely exhausted
they ceased fighting. The circumstances
of the case became known, and the next
day hardly able to sit ON horseback, their
heads bound up, they started homeward,
convinced that they had attained very
little satisfaction from the attempt.