Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ THE LEDGER : GAFFNEY, S. C., FEBRUARY 4, 1897. 3 TWO OF A KIND. Man v/ith "O.io C illua” Tolls a Froah llorrjo btory. Bl* Trials anil Tril>uO\tSous “Olil Spot’'—H«*w i:o Lont IN > “Alost I^ovo- llciit (llrl In tho Pcttleincnt” —Wlilder ( nocy’n (Jruy EIulu, When Andy Lucas come by our bouse one day last v eok :ml rid up to the lionso rack on a llt- -la tie ilen-bitten pray filly my thoughts llcw backwards to one owingin et^kl winter night n lit tle better than 20 years ngo. All I had to do was to sliet my eyca and think a few stan zas, and onct more I was drivln the gainest ami fastest horse that ever liung n sb.oe or left his track in all the regions round. Quest more I was Eallin down the old stage road in a. spanlcin. new buggy with the gonc-bycst most loveliest girl that ever run a reel or jumped a jig In the old settlement I do reckon. Onest more I was niixin and minglin with a gorgeous big crowd of boys and girls at a break down dance over there in the stiimp hills. And then onest more I drlv home through a streak of weather which was cold enough to freeze the tail off of a brass monkey—the saddest and the maddest youngster in 17 states and ter ritories. ■•Old Spot,” florae. ‘The little flea-bitton gray which now belongs to your wife's husband is a granddaughter of old Spot,” nay? I to Amly—which naturally of course that brung on more talk. In my day and gem-ration I have had horses on top of horses, hut for general road work—for speed and bottom ami stnyin qualities old Spot was the gomest ami the best one of them all. Ilo wna a strawberry roan—built from the ground up—with a big white wpot in his left flank." From pure nigger luck I had got the horse in a trade with a Kentucky drover, and better and better, faster and faster every day the good Lord sent so long a-» he looked to me for his corn; and fodder. By gracious, on a smooth hard road you could hear his hoofs pop for a mile away when he hit the ground with ills feet! It is the naked truth—for I would mortally hate to toil anything else in regards to a horse—that nobody ever drlv up behind me whilst I waa drlvin old Spot. We would sometimes meet people and pass people along the road, but when 1 one--t started anywheres with that horse nobody would overtake us. And by amT by t hat winter—when the crops had turned out bully and I bought myself rich with one of these clost- X uilt buggies -then want a livin piece f horseflesh in the country that could pass us by, and there want « young Indy in the settlement but. what was mord than willin to ride in a nice now buggy behind old Sjs.t. So consequentially when the porty came off that time at old man Berry Kings!nil's, over there in the hills, I put right in. Idl'd,and made my engage ments with Miss Callie Hickman, with the general und err land in that I would drive old Spot tp my new buggy, and w r e could knock the shine off of any thing the country mought turn out. And Miss Callie—well, she traded with mo on the spot. Right then Miss Callie was another fellow’s sweetheart, and nobody didn’t know that any hotter than me. Her and Bob Travis had been gettin along powerful sweet and swimmln for two years pastand threatenln to git married all the time. But that didn’t make a blessed bit of difference with me. I was foot loose and fancy free, ns Aunt Nancy Newton culls herself, and my onlyest chance was to keep company w ith some otle-r fellow’s calico and rib bons, or turn old Spot in (he paster and stay at home. Now then. On our way to the party that night mo. and Miss Callie we soon f ot rale friendly and familllons like. tried my level blnmedcst to do come eld-fashion courtiu and earryin on, but sh£ was jest the lea.'-t hit skittish and pulled on the hit considerable. She fin ally at last, owned up to it that she al ways did think a pile of me, but she had ’ give her hand to Bob, and she must let him take her heart along with it. Come to find out, and by grdeiousthey hud al ready set the day and laid in some of the w’oddin fixmente. Man, sir, I never W’ould of thought it up to that time— hut I’ll bo hanged if it didn’t make me feel plum sick for Miss Callie to he * tellin me how clout she w as to stoppln off with Bob T’avis. The moon was shinin bright like day. T could sec her face peepin forth from the wrappins and trappins and by gatllns I did think In my soul that she was the prittiest, the neatest and t he most sweetest thing that ever woro clothes. Up to that time I never did have no rale serious thoughts In regards to Miss Collie, but somehow it was nighty hurtin on me to hear her talk so kind ami lovln like about another fellow. Well, the general cb-wum i»*te11ee of tho calamity was that I had fell heels over appetite in love with Bob Travis’ sweet heart. Ami that want all, white people. I didn’t have no better sense, and I didn’t do a blessed tiling but pitch in and tell her so. But tho Game \Va» •■BrseeA.” Naturally of course I can’t now recol lect for certain what Miss Callie said that night in rcspor.din back to my burnin words, but anyhow she made a few Ecattcrin remarks to the general extent that 1 was jeM In lime to bo too late. I tried to hold her little hand in mine, but got bu ted on the first rattle qijt of tho box. I next tried to steal a but slipped end fell before 1 got iratbose. 1 thought! mought maybe <e my arm and gently 1 cop the wind Troth blow In lur cloak <3, but onett more I run up agin a braced game, ns It were. . • But when wo got to the p^r^.v n tre- mendluH pleasant change soon come over tho general lay i i the. land. Bob Travis had got hi back up and was fonmin mad—not mad with moto hurt, but plum pizen mad with Miss Callie. lie danced with every girl on tho floor but her, and rhe danced with all the boys exccptir. him. As for me, 1 danced around promiscus—first with one girl and then another, but Miss Callie was my maincst partner, and 1 w as tickled most to death at Bob. Finally at lust Miss Cnllio up and told me on the sly that Bob Truvla needn’t to be swell in around and mak ing sueh a tromondiuH big fool of him self—tJlioro was just as good fish in tho creek as hod ever beau caught out, and she didn’t givo the snap of her linger, nohow. Then nil of a smldent like— from pure spite ami devilment, I reckon—she promised to bo my sweet heart forever and a day, and said she would prove it to mo ae we went cm bock homo that night. In the main time tire llddlin and the dune In went on, and from general ap- I>earmont«, I reckon everybody had a felonious good time. But I was for- over glad \dhen the fiddler struck off Home, Sweet Home, suid the party broke up.. Miss Cal lie had mode me a promise, and said she would prove it truo. I was wnitin and wish!n for tho proof. As the night went by the wxxithcr had got colder and colder. When by and by wo got hooked up rt-.idy to start the ground was froze a foot deep, and thcr w as frost on the broad berom of the earth like snow on u 1 ■nu.h ]>ilo. So Uusy anil So Mr4. Ah we drlv off towards homo old Spot riz oa his hind feet two or three timeti, and then it did look to me like ho would jest naturally split the earth wide oi>en and scorch the native air. It was then nine miles home, or maybe a little l>ettcr, but old Sjsit bit off 30 or ■10 feet at every stride. Up hill atwl down hill—over the rough places as well u« smooth ground—he went dow n after his knittln like It was a race for blood and death, and all the pullln I could do but only belt him smooth and steady in his wild and furioue isice. Now, when I have got to go some- wheree in a big hurry or by my lone self, I do love a fact horse, and old Spotdidn’t shako my nerves a little bit. 1 knowed, dadiblame him, that I could ride as fast as he (could travel. Yet there was one time when I didn’t want to ride so in fernal fact. Miss Callie had told me aha would bo my own and onlyest, ami promised to give me the proof on our re turn Ixv'k home—which on that [Kirt.ic- ular night the proof of the puddin was to hug and kisa tho girl. But, dad burn the luck, I didn’t have ik) chance and no time to do a blame thing but hold that horse on the ground and keep him in the big road. I couldn’t spare so much us one hand, and by gracious I needed loth eyes or my work to keep from runnln into a sniushup. I thought maybe after goln a few miles at that furidlis lick old Kpot would slow down and give me a little chance topKiy my doublcbreaetod regards to the most loveliest girl in the eetUemcnt. But not him—narry time onest, Instid of that, | it would seem like he got fresher and ] fresher, and faster and faster with every I mile he bit off cm tho way towards ' homo. How 1 did wish from the lot- j tom of my he\rt. that somebody would ; come along with a lazy mule—or even a blind steer that would work la hur- I ness—and make a pass at me for a swap. And what was worse and st ill more ' of it. Miss Callie rhe was sheered nigh unto death. She didn’t say nothin, Imt ! I stole a look at her here and there, and bless tho heavens if she want as white as a sheet. I was too dadblnsted in fernal busy drivin that fool horse to do anything more than talk a little, and the girl was too bad rattled even to talk. She was lookin to bo throwod out and killed every minnit, and 1 don’t really think rhe caught her breath more than onest in every two miles. Consequen tially she wouldn’t even sny she loved me —she wouldn’t even say she thought more of me than anylxnly else—dad- blame it, wouldn't, say nothin. When wo got to tho Hickman p'.ncw, 1 drlv up to the front gate, and . iiii it old Spot wasduncln and prnnvki and phing- in back and forth, Ml's Call it- picked her chance, jumped out of the buggy, said good-by in a hurry end rceoted in the house. I am always tremendlus glad when somethin puts Aunt Nancy in mind of somebody else, ami 1 didn't do a blessed thing but lay low and listen. “One day along in the Christmas I went over to spend the day with the wlddor, and whilst t here I couldn’t keep from taking notice of her old gray mule, which they call his name Pete. You recollect that mule, Rufus, and you recollect when old man Watts Casey bought him ns a four-year-old. That was 20 years ngo, come next fall, and at that time Pete waa a beauty, but as wild and tricky oa they ever git to lx\ "You will liken sc recollect, Rufus, that inside of thn j months from that time we hfel a sad and smldent funeral In the settlement. Old man Casey waa drivin Pete to hia buggy one day, when, bless goodnean, the mule got sheered and run away end throvved the old man out and broke hia neck. “Well, then, after that the wlddersho kept Pete, and for years and years he was n mighty good mule for general farm work. But he is now old and plum played out.—don’t scarcely yearn his salt, to say nothin nliout corn and fodder. So I irp and mb the widdrr why In the round world she didn’t sell old Pete dirt cheap on a credit, or give him away, and be shed of hirn. “And what do you reckon she said, Lufus? She lowed that whilst Pete was old and stove up and no account for work, somehow she felt like ohe waa bloedgcd to keep him and love him for the good he. had done. “At onest I rememlx-rod that Peto killed old man Casey. Now whilst I don’t reckon the viddermeant It in that way, what s.h'> said hit me In a funny place, ami it was a good t imo of year for me to laugh a little, anyhow.’* nurra banders. DOY “HOUSEMAIDS.” ARP ON THE JUDGES. Clad hoy Woro Acquitted of tho Charges Against Thom. “STvr.pin-it Rptt” »:;3 Jlxrto gp. You on;; lit not to think it, but that was the last time I over rn*.v Miss Callie Hickman In the flesh. The next time I saw her she won Miso? Bcb Travis, and as shy of me as a three-year-old not even bridlevise. You see I didn’t go over to the Hickman place to renew my acquaintance right away immediately the next morning, and first thing I knowed Bob hud Iw'en, over there and braced tho game onest more. Itv.ould R«em like he was meek and full of re pentance and no was she. Whereon they swopped a little spit, ns It were, and mode up. But I will die believiii that I missed about half of my unworthy life Jest sim ply because old Spot kept mo so everlant- In busy pullln and drivin and stuyin in the road that night. Soon as possible I pitched in and swapped that horse off. And to be blamed square and hon est, I got tho daylights swindled out of me in the trade. But the more I thought about tho. scandalous, dirty way in which old Sj>ot treated me that night, the madder I got, till I simply couldn’t abide with him any longer. For th3 Gootl He lias Done. That night I wan tellin Aunt Nancy Newton about the little flea-bitten gray w hich Andy hud rid over to our house, nml then from the best of my recollec tion, 1 told her tho story of my trials and tribulations with old Spot, “Well, Rufus, do you know that put* me in mind of the Widder Corey and her old gray mule,’’ put In the dear,delight ful old soul. Wotild rtcnnlt frr.m Thotr I^eeenoe In En«;l!sh llovseholils. Outside certain palaces in India la a wall on which are seen imprinted in red paint the hand-prints of the queens as they rode to the Suttee. Something not unlike this rite would be suro to be practiced by one’s boy housemaid, but in black rather than in red. Imagine turning down one’s bed to find two or three fine thumb-marks, or maybe a whole hand, silhouetted in coolduston one’s sh<et«. And then think of the orgy which would take place when the boy “turned out” the drawing-room. That mystic process is not unlikely to diminish one’s collection of china even when pract iced by a woman. Think of the pandemonium produced by a boy— vases destroyed and sofas overthrown —and, raging through the chaos of his own creation, his broom borne aloft like ft battle ax', the boy housemaid. The picture called up of “the stair- rod and silver day” is not less harrow ing. How a strong and willing boy would “stove” in the sides of the old Caroline drinking cups, wrench the ornamental rings off the punchbowl and make the great sugar castor stand all awry. The stoirrod i might come out, but would they ever go buck ? But there Is no uso In pursuing the matter fur ther. Wo leave the boy housemaid be fore he attempts to lay the oioth for dinner; nor w ill we endeavor to cun- \n«s the fate of that household which should attempt to have a whole staff of bey servants. Y'et such houses there must bo if we are to adopt Mrs Hayes’ advice. One boy could “do for” a fam ily of ten, unless, indeed, by inducing suicide. The big families must have a couple of boy housemaids and a boy parlormaid, and even a boy "up-and- down girl." But think for n moment w hat would come of a servants’ hall of boys. Cun ning, speaking of the meetings of the directory, describes “the frequent ink- stand hurtling through the air.” In fnich a servants’ hall as that of which we speak it would be tho chairs and knives and forks that would hurtle. Each course would be a free light and legs of mutton would have to be Birred because of the ensi 110*73 with which a frfc-»piritod boy could use them os a club. No, we shall not help ourselves by takingtoboy housemaids. There is a great deal of nonnense In all this talk of the badness of servants. Of coun*c there nro bad servants, Just there are bad mistresses, and alw ays will be, but In spite of that the normal housemaid ami parlor maid are very efficient. They have the passions of their kind; Imt if they are not wor- rted by impertinent suggestions as to their religious views, their matrimonial intentions and tho form of headgear, coiffure snd costume affected by them out of office hours they are very efficient. 0 doubt. Indued, if the world can any where produce onj'thing more efficient In tho way of eerviee than that ren dered by the capable Britlnh maid servant. She has her feelings and her rights, but she is neither a thief nor a sloven, and knows how to respect herself and her mistress. After this are ww to decline on a boy of 10 with dlrt- begrimed hands, a smutty face and a love of mlaehlof for 11s own sake found otherwise only In the ape or tho Jack- dew?”—London Spectator. ItnllronU Lawn In Japan. It has happened in Europe that indi viduals have thrown themselves before an advancing train in the hope of re covering substantial damages from tho railroad companies. In Japan mich an attempt would lie futile. Tho Japanese argue that, since the train cannot get out of tho way, men must, and the fa ther of a child killed by an engine was fined heavily for ujlowiug his child to cross the line while a train was ap proaching. In like manner the own er of u cow was punished for allowing the bovine to commit suicide by charg ing an express.—Chicago Chronicle. Unconscious Flnlfco-y. She—ItV no use, Mr. Slimly; in my present state 0/ Ui'nd I would not ac cept the most attractive man in the world. He—No, I see you won’t; but, at any rate, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that ho has offered himself.— N. Y. Tribune. But Trlnl Will Do Good—It Will Mako tho Jndgc* More Circumspect In the Future — Lawyer* of Early Day*. A few broken remarks by Senator Carter have cost the state about $5,OCO. The senator never would have made them if lie hud been a democrat. Ilia motive waa not so patriotic as It was jHirtiwin, but maybe the investigation of the charges against tho two judges will do good In the long run. They have been acquitted, as they should have been, but still they will no doubt be more prudent and circum spect in the future. There was f-ufll- clent evidence to humiliate any sensi tive man, and no doubt these men feel it so, and will hardly claim it as a very triumphant acquittal. The judges of our courts have been generally a very high order of men, but after nil they are just human, and are subject to like passions with the restof un; but, because they are in high posi tion and Intrusted with unusual power, the ]x?ople watch them with a critical nml sometimes with an envious eye. The public requires and expects more of a judge than from a private citizen— more learning, more dignity, more pa tience, more decision of character and, besides these qualifications, he must be exemplary In his habits and eonvexsa- tion. The community must look up to him ns a man of purity and integrity— the enemy of crime and the protector of the poor and helpless. In recalling the many circuit Judges whom I have known in Georgia during tho last half century, I do not remem ber one who failed to fill his position to the satisfaction of a large majority of his constituents. Certainly none were charged with Incompetence or corrup- j tlon. Party spirit ran high between the whlgs and democrats before the war, and sometimes one party was in power and sometime* the other, but no charges were ever brought against any judge. His politics left him as soon as he got on the bench, and he commanded the respect of the bar and the people. But we had better material to make judges out of those old ante-bellum times than we have now. There is no doubt about this, and nobody need take any offense at the assertion. We had a higher standard of scholarship and literary attainments. Knowledge was not so diffused to the many, but was of a higher grade to the few. We have never had a supremo court that equaled the first one—Lumpkin, Warner and Nesbitt. They were classical scholars, and could read Latin and Greek as well os English. So could alt the old-time jurists — Story, Marshall, Pickney, Taney, Wirt, Kent and many others. It required something more than politics to make a man a judge In the olden time. In tho old Athens circuit we had such great men as old Tom Harris, Charles Dougherty, Augustine Clayton and Junius Hillyer upon the bench. They were all classic scholars, and knew tbe difference between “nolens volens” and "bolusnoxious”—genuine Latin and dog Latin. They understood law as a science ami had mastered its fundamental prin ciples. Nowadays many of our judges who have been made out of scheming politicians arc nothing but ease law yers. They have to be reeducated for every trial. Books upon books have to be read to them from both sides, and at the la«t they go It blind or split the difference and are reversed by the su preme court. Judge Underwood, of the Rome circuit, was a great lawyer—a lawyer by Intuition ns well as educa tion, and nothing irritated him more than the long continued reading of cases ami authorities. He knew the law, and could have made it, and did not have to be educated. I remember when a case lawyer had a trunk full of books brought Into court and began to make an ostentatious array of them on the long table before him. I looked up at the judge and perceived his disgust. When the case was opened for argument be leaned forward and said: "Brother Jones, you can select from your library a few eases that you think are pertinent rikI read the syllabus of the decision,- but nothing more. The court under stands the law of this case ?nd rothing that you can find In those books will change it. The time of the court is too valuable to be wasted In promiscuous reading.” It never availed anything to read law books to Judge Underwood. He said it affected hia spleen. "Now, major,” Mild he, "these mod ern doctors will tell you that the spleen has nothing to do with a man’aserealty. In fact has nothing to do with any thing, and had just as well been left out of the human anatomy, but the ancients knew better. Tho spleen is the neat of melancholy and peevishness, and Is connected with the brain, just ns the heart is. If the spleen is out of order tho man is splenetic. lie is fretful and morose.” “What is the spleen?” «Rid I; "and where is it?” “Tho spleen,” mid ho, "Is a soft, spongy organ located in the left hypo- chondrlum—and that is where the word hypochondriac comes from. It is just below the diaphragm and above the colon, and lies between the tuberosity of the stomach nml tbe cartilageeof the false ribs, anterior 10 tho kidneys. Now you understand it. I have studied a pood deal of anatomy and surgical Juris prudence, ami con tell my brother Jim, the doctor, a good deal more than ho knows. In fact, a lawyer who has a o«oe of ’wlsonlng or stabbing has to study anatomy with a zeal that the aver age doctors know nothing about. I have eon fused doctors on the witness stand until I was sorry for them.” Underwood was emphatically a learned judge, and his quick percep tions always grasped tho cm-o In all Its bearings. Of course it provoked him when a young lawyer or a conceited oo« sought to tench him from the books or asked him to charge the Jury some- | thing that was not t he law*. Underwood 1 was a good school masterand could take j the conceit out of a man with a soft, de- 1 lieious sarcasm that sometimes wee mistaken for a compliment. It ia said that Justice is blind, or has a bandage around tho head t hat hides the eyes, while she holds a pair of scales In her right hand. She does not know the parties to the case, but weighs both sides with an impartial hand, but Judge Underwood said that when there was a combination of lawyers to acquit a criminal and cheat the gallows or the chain gang n patriotic judge could not help raising the bandage a little bit, and he did it. Sometimes when a defendant was acquitted his lawyers would eay with aggravating impudence: “Well, judge, you lost that case Inst night. The jury have comedown with a verdict of not guilty.” “Y’se,” said the Judge, “and you seem to glory in having turned loose a-nother scoundrel upon the community'.” He could not altogether suppress his zeal for the state and good morals and his last speech when charging the Jury on a criminal ease was convincing and convicting if he believed the defendant guilty. The hist court he ever held was nt Dallas, and the entire week was spent in the trials of eight defendants who were charged with a most outrageous riot and much violence done the good people of the town. The entire commu nity demanded their conviction and punishment. But these fellows had some property, and they combined and employed every' lawyer in the tow-n, end also Col. Winn and Judge Leeter, of Marietta, and Judge William Wright, of Atlanta. These lawyers combined, and with the help of one of the court of ficials, stocked the jury on the solicitor, j and one by one the rioters were acquit- ted. On Friday the ringleader was put on trial. The judge and the solicitor felt absolutely' sure of convicting him. It was candle-light when the judge closed his charge to the jury' and an expressed pity for the people of Dallas, upon whom seven of these law less riot ers hod already been turned loose. Finally he told the jury he was not w’ell, and If they' found a speedy verdict tho foreman could bring it to his room at the hotel. When the court adjourned the lawyers got together and chuckled. It was not the same jury, but the cards were still stocked, and so about nine o’clock tho foreman came to the hotel and knocked nt the judge’s door. “What is it?” said the judge. “Fore man of the jury, sir,” was the reply. "Well, sir, what is your verdict, Mr. Foreman?” “Well, judge, under the law and the evidence we was oblceged to find the defendant not guilty.” Tho judge turned over in his bed and groaned. “May the Lord help us and save the country. Mr. Foremau, you can keep that verdict in your pocket, sir, until morning. I do not wish to sleep with it in this room. From nil such verdicts may the good Lord de liver us.” Tho judge was an early riser, and at the first sound of the breakfast bell took his seat at the head of the table. He was alone. He ordered his eggs soft boiled and was preparing them when Col. Winn came in, and with soft, sweet voice suid: “Good morning, Judge Un derwood.” “Good morning, Col. Winn,” said the judge. “How did you rest last night. Judge?” "I did not rest well, sir; not at all well.” Winn took a seat and after a pause sold: “Well, judge, I understand you lost, another case last night,” The judge looked at him with undie- guised contempt, “I was not aware, sir, that I hod any case in court. I do not understand nor appreciate your ef fort. to be witty at my expense, and—” “Oh, Judge,” sold Winn, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I heartily beg your pardon. Y'ou know you have been ogainst us in ail these eases, and—" Just then, Judge Lester came in, and with his rough, honest voice and his empty sleeve slinging along, said: "Gootl morning, J udge Underwood. How did you rest last night?” “Not well, sir; not well at nil.” “Well, judge, I understand that you lost another ease last night.” The judge laid down his knif« and fork. “Well, sir, this seems to be a combin ation to Insult me. What case have I got, sir, or am presumed to hava, that you and Col. Winn seem to take such an intemst in? It is the state—the state and t ho people of this community that have a ease, and you gentlemen have resorted to questionable means and methods to—“ Jusi then big Bill Wright came In. He was six feet six and weighed 2G0 pounds, and had a voice like a bass drum. “Good morning. Judge Underwood.” "Good morning, Judge Wright.” "Well, Judge, I understand you io»t another ease last night,” This was tho feather that broke the camel’s back. Judge Underwood rose from his scut and said: “Gejitlemen, I have been accustomed all my official and professional life to the respectful consideration of the members of tho Ixir. This I have al ways received la my own circuit. Neither of you belong to it. All I cun do is to sympathize with the judges who have to endure your insolence all tho year round. You have only afflicted me for a week, and I am pleased to say will never have the opportunity again.” But that was. not the last of It. Winn and Lester and Wright saw that they had gone too fur. They all loved Under- wood and admired him. They hurried to the door and stopped his exit and begged his pardon and apologized and explained and before It was over they were all friends again, and the Judge was constrained to take his seat at the tabic and more soft-boiled eggs were ordered, and there was peace—delight ful peace. Alas! these good xneu are all dead.—Bill Arp, In Atlanta Consti tution. CS3A- . SAM JONES’ INITIATION. Tho Famous Georgia Evangelist Booomos a Knight Templar. After Having Gained Admlttunoo to tho lllnatrlon. Order of the Hod (’ro*. 11. Tell* » Illble Story with Vnrlations. Aocoring to thoNew York Sun’s Rome (Ga,) correspondent, a few nights ago Rev. Snm P. Jones was initiated into tho mysteries of a knight templar. A special train wa« sent to Cartereville to convey him to Romo, Go. Of course, what transpired within tho closed doors was not revealed to the un initiated, but many remarks were mode by the outsiders concerning tho hand ling of tho great exhorter by th© knights who had been excoriated so frequently by tho sarcastic tongue of the most picturesque pulpit orator that Georgia has produced. About an hour and a half elapsed and then the knights trooped into tho banquet hall, their swords Jingling and epaulets flashing in the electric lights, Rev. Cam Jone*s In charge of Eminent Commander John J. Seay, leading the van. The assem bled knights addressed him as “Zerub- babcl.” As plain Sam Jones, he had en- ' "red the mystic portals with a defiant air and a smile of mild sarcasm on his lips. He emerged from the ceremonial chamber with a bedraggled look, his hair disheveled, a sword dangling at his heels, and a quizzical monkey and parrot smile playing about his features. Most Eminent Grand Commander Bill Fleming, of Augusta, who succeeded Judge Black jis congressman from Toon Watson’s populistic domain, was on hand, and the grand generalissimo, A1 Walton, who has received the honorary brevet of colonel since he left the west and settled in Georgia, sat on the left of Zerubbabel Jones, his expansive faco beaming with delight from tho last notch of his double chin around to tho nape of his neck. The banquet proceeded, and for half an hour tho jingle of tho knives and forks kept time to the desultory conver sation carried on among the assembled knights, all of whom cast furtive glancee from time to time In the direction of! Zerubbabel, os if to assure themselves that he had not made his escape. At i/s Ill SAM JONES TELLING III3 STORY, lost the eminent commander arose, and in tho most approved style called “a short talk from our newly-obligated f rater." Zerubbabel arose very deliberately, straightened himself, cast a reproach ful glance over the assemblage, and, setting his jaws firmly, began to ad dress them. After a few general re marks on the beautiful tenets of the great order of which he had been made a member he proceeded to tell a story, suggested by his recent experiences. He said: “When old Daniel refused to comply with the demands of his enemies they began to threaten him with dire punishment. ‘Look here, old feller, if you don’t obey the orders of the king we’ll fire you into the lion’s den,’ they said, but they couldn’t scare old Daniel. He realized that he had to choose between going* to hell if ho didn’t do right and being flung into a lion’s den if he did. lie was in a pretty bad predicament, I can tell you, but he didn’t hesitate long. He told them that lie was going to do just as he bad been doing, and that he didn’t care a cent whether their old king liked it or not. So they yanked old Daniel up and they took him to the lion’s den, and they pitched him Into it heels over head, and they said: ‘Now, old feller, we’vo settled with you.’ “But Daniel was not dismayed, and soon made himself at home among the lions. He gave them to understand that he was some lion himself. The lions finished gnawing their bones and began to streteh themselves out for u nap. The old he lion lay down in a nice clean place and looked at Daniel, ns much as to say: ‘Here, Daniel, you come Ho down here and put your head on my shaggy mane for a pillow.’ Dan iel did so, and tbe lions soon fell asleep, and all was quiet and peaceable as Dan iel lay there with lus head pillowed on the lion’s mane.” The audience sat breathless, while the speaker’s face assumed a quizzical look, as If he was recalling his recent experiences. “As he lay there looking up toward the mouth of tho den old Daniel no doubt thought of the choice he had made, and how lucky he had been in fol lowing the dictates of his QiiLD con science, and with a sigh ofj he exclaimed: “ ‘Well, this beats hell.’ *• 'yM - The roar of applause thaV/fy from the assembled Knights sY y temple. Tha banquet oontlnm the eminent commander remindl revelers that It was time to put finishing touches on Zerubbabel, at they retired to the inner chnmbef Whether Rev. Samuel Jones found in the rest of the exercises some other things or not, nobody knows except possibly* those who are bound under those blood-curdling oaths to eternal '.secrecy. - . • . 1 I . ■s