Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Dec. 2, 1906, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
4- CHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, DECEMBER 2, 1C0G. GOSSIP OF THE BACKWOODS BY ALVI N HORTON. - Of count the meanest boy on earth If a mountalnneer and lives at Paint . :. Gap. einoe leaders In Juvenile vice are here la plenty. It la but natural ; r that the worst also should reign here about. Ha la now almost ready, Is '- this youthful terror, to glide from the ' teana Into well established manhood, ; ' ' but bla last misdeeds are yet ringing la the ears of the astonished rnoun--talB folk. His age, however. Is about t ' t prova that the Md has reformed. .Despite the many prediction! of a ' Violent end, he has nearly reached the point where his neighbors consider It - ', safe to hope for a career of aome use ' fulness at least. Indeed the madcap ' V' ' baa aoftened wonderfully, say these . ' ' worthies, and In time may devolop ; at of a propensity to worry the set ' tlement. But If young America 1h be- ' ginning thus slowly to find favor 'V among those who once swore to keep ' .'. forever unpolluted with the utmos . phere reeking with his horrible con duct, there are titlll thosa who remain I - undeniably and Irrevocably aloof. I ' TV These assert the boy's efforts to live down his Ill-repute were not born In ! sincere wish to amount to something J but In bad Intentions which should bo t - "'" apparent to all. Perhaps this talk ' t ., Is responsible for the signs of the j".' Is repsonslble for the signs of sorrow j on the youthful face; who knows? j At any rate, the past of the meanetu I 1 V boy on earth Is recounted so often, i -. even by the few disposed to think well of him, that obviously he ran go but little good resolving In the V presence of his former self now a thing to be laughed ut, pr- ntly Something to cause life long rcgn l. i f The youth recalls that hi- pet , for five excessively emotional f I k . ,' bla. parents, uncle and aunt und grandmother. In a wonderfully short '.While he became thflr despair. Kvi-n while clad In dresses which might have been worn a long time ago hy those of opposite nd he w as torment - Ing to a degree that caused hlrn to '.'View distress thus early, responding to . bis wee efforts to laugh. Ho fought rata, but loved worthless canines. . Very soon he and a larg black dog named Bull became Inseparable rorn- f unions, and though the one was so nconvenleneed by his ample costume that he couldn't traverse much terri tory, yet the other was so willing to . obev his young master that the devll ( : try accomplished was well-nigh In- Jvlculable. Geese and chickens per shed before the two like game be , fore the pioneers. Th-e were given imposing funerals for the rouple had ong since learned that secret mischief the more enjoyable so that the alders were, kept wondering as to the , kind of vermin that Invaded the poul try yard. The Ind was really petted "loo much, even Hftcr these depreda ' lions. To please hlrn and Incident ally to prevent other meanness tho feminine portion of the few concern . d about Mm I'd him und Hull on 'chicken and pies until their appetites . Were Incapable of h.-ing satisfied hy ordinary diet. Consequently when one morning he mmh held up to view a new arrival called sister and sleep ing on mamma's arm. the mischiev ous tot was so overcome with his emotions that he called Hull and went forth after a certain yellow hen which he figured would make di lei I ; I 1 yellow gravy. An hour Inter his aunt found them, the Ud lying asleep In Pull's found i-mliraii-. I hands scratched by briars but clutch- 1 Ing triumphantly tin- said yellow hen. ' nd his tiny cheeks covered with I traces of tear. The child felt now that ha was relegated to tho truodlo bed forever I Shortly after the never-to-be-forgotten moment whan ho was . privi leged to discard for all time The hate ful feminine attire, he and Bull re newed their mischief with an Industry as fruitful as that of the Immortal Buster and Tlge. Their fondness for chicken led to an utter depopulation of the premises. Their political be liefs moreover became extremely an noying to the vicinity. Those who were antagonistic were chased with vastly greater ferocity than were chickens, and often the upstart who tried to pick a quarrel thereby was glad to take to his heels. If the meanest bo' on earth struck a com panion on the head and made It bleed ha was Immune, for Bull would have fought until he died for the young rapscallion whom he loved and who loved hi in. Even mamma was often times unablo to Indict the deserved pulxhmeut. Once and It Is so well remembered by the youth he and Bull decided to feast again on chicken. A line hen was captured and her head laid on the block. A dull axe wae raised aloft to give tho death-blow, but the hen was so given to flutter ing that the lad could only cripple her horribly before mamma's ap proach convinced him that the worst had been done. He and Bull leaped the fence. "I'ut on the hot water, mammv." I the Incorrigible yelled: "she'll soon be ) dead." Hut mamma, hickory In hand, chased him till he waa compelled to take refuge In tho big barn wherein uncle was currying his mules. Undo hid him beneath the trough. "He's, gone thai way." said uncle to the infuriated mamma, and tho chase was abandoned. Bull smd his companion got their gravy and a whipping long remember ed. But If the punishment had lltle lalutary effect upon the meanest boy on earth, there soon fell a blow which pierced like a knife his whole neing. Bull, the faithful and tender Jona than, was hlcil off by the executioner, and with a howl that echoed through the sombre woods, he left the young rapscallion whom he loved nnd who loved him so devotedly that the young heart never healed. Long before time for the beginning of school life, the lad had been taught the alphabet by his aunt, who Inter ested him with boxes, the letters on which were almost as large as him self. Mastering theso easily, he won praise as the coming man. When It was finally decided that his five yeitrs entitled him to Instruction In the cabin beside the creek, he was sent thither with grent hope; but In a week he bucked with the assertion that he was tired of the schoolmis tress and everything pertaining to school. Mamma marched him off to the tune of a hickory, which now and then made him dance. 8he stopped nl the creek ami watched hlrn enter, lie bucked no more In years. There after he could boast of mi occasion al triumph. Once a teacher this time In a cabin on a hill announced that at the end of two months he would give to the pupil wlih the greatest number of heiidniiukN ;i prize consisting of two and a half pounds of cand ; ami the meanest boy on earth got It. notwithstanding that there were four teachers In his claaa. He waa allowed at noe to read Scott and all tho rest of them with auoh assiduity that It waa alto gether unsafe to let- him taJte a book to lighten his task of ."minding the cows." . .. , , t.i .. , With bow and arrowa bo fought the battles of his heroes, much to the terror of hie people. ' Tom Browta the worry of Rugby persuaded the boy to try boarding school away off, an institution more famous tor work imposed upon the student than for instructions given them... After a week'e stay, he ran away before breakfast, and, carrying a load that would have staggered a mule, he climbed mountains, and waded streams till he got home,v the tired est. hungriest, as well as the meanest boy on earth. Thereupon he was willing to return to the cabin on the bill. After several such years had gone by, the lad suddenly found that he faced the one serious broblem of life how one can get along In kingly style within the bounds of poverty. Looking ahead, he saw grim neces sity with her lips parted to say "Work or starve." involuntarily he shudder ed; the vision answered not a single dream. Once when he had tried to see himself afar off, he described a man who, rifle In hand, walked over mountain and prairie and lived in the puerile glory which the child him self had started; later, he tsaw a youth winning laurels where none had won beforea youth stirring the whole world with genius 'that knew no master! Now. of course he saw only an ordinary laborer chopping for the wealthy or offering for sale balsam gathered In the Black. But suddenly he heard a voice calling from the blue distance, and, anxious to catch the words, he stood under the trees until the stars were peeping down, and the moon was throwing Its glow over a peak far away. Presnlly the lad heard what the voice was saying: No man with hope and a strong arm need despair; adversity Is made only of ambition unattended to." With bare head he stood still under the tree, as If he were upon holy groifhd. The night sped on, but he was un-J aware, for undergoing a struggle as fateful as that In which Margrave participated amid the strange con course and In still stranger lands, the lad was not concerned about so lit tle a thing as bed time. When pres ently he awoke, there was a sweet smell in his nostrils. He was a con queror; the future contained no ter rors for him! When he went Into the modest , home, he, folt that after all life Is not so great a battle If one has only equipped oneself with the neces sary weapons, and that, If a stout heart means anything, there wh yet cause for rejoicing even by the mean est boy on earth. THOUGH LOST TO RIGHT TO MEM ORY DEAR. Thomas Moors. Hwectheart. goodbye! That flut'Hng sail Is spread to wafl me far from thee; And siHin. before tho forth'rlng gale My ship shall bound upon the sea. perchance all des late and forlorn. These eyes shall miss thee many a year: But iinforgntten every charm Though lost to sight to memory dear. t-'wi etheiii t. goo bye! one last embrace! h' cruel fate. Iwo souls to srver! Yet In tills heart's most sacred place Thou, thou iilone shall dwell forever; And still sliiill recollection trace. In fancy's mirror, ever near. Km h smile, each tear, that form, thnt flee Though lost to sight, to memory dear. fit I'lles positively cured with Dr. Snoop's Valid: Ointment. It's made for piles alone, nnd It does tli" work to perfec tion Itching. painful. protruding or hlir.d piles, disappear like magic. Sold hy Hui well-Dunn Ret.ill Store. WHERE KISSING U COMPULSORY Odd Cnstoma of English -. Vldag ; ,'. u Grateful A atrtan Maidens, : London --'Answers, ' : -1 , ,, Tho T' charming . country town Hungerford. in Xerkafnlrs, has an an nual kissing day each April, - when" it celebrates Its Hocktide festival. Then certain duly appointed officials bold a court, colect the tithes and claim a kiss from the 'woman of eaob'toouse they have to visit during the ceremo ny. The two fortunate officials lus appointed are known as "tutty men," or tithe men,- and usually there is no small competition for the honor among the ellglbles of Hungerford. Tbe custom Is hundreds of years old, and neither husband nor wife, as a rule objects to foe advent of the tut ty men, with the Inevitable result. Once every five years the rood town of Newcastle on Tyne has been in the habit of holding a festival known as "barge day," on which day the mayor and corporation go down to the river In a tine state barge to claim the, rights of the town to cer tain dues at an appointed spot. Then the procession returns up fne river to a well-known stone wnere the mayor selects any woman he likes from the large crowd there and kisses her Be fore the assembled company' and let it be said, softly before fne good mayoress herself, ills worship then gives the favored woman a sovereign as a present, while the mayoress, to show that tnera Is no ill feeling, adds a gft of her own, such as a satchel, purse or other appropriate article. Not only is It the duty of the mayor to do tne kissing In this fashion, but tne appointed sheriff, not wining 10 be left out In the cold on such ca- slons. also duly fames out a similar privilege. He chonues anotner taay, and after' saluting her gravely or otherwise he also hands to her a useful present. This curious cere mony, which 4s supposed to take place iulng,uennlally, was last performed. I believe. In the year 1901. But ot course It always rests with the mayor for tne time being w'nether It shall be performed. When the pretty Thames town of Maidenhead takes it Into its head to have a "beating of the bounds" fne steward appointed for that purpose Is always accompanied by a large crowd of curious people. These help him, or think they dt wnen he has to climb over houses which stand. In his path, or to go through window under vnlch the bounds pass. Also when the party meets any man by chance during its progress it proceeds gravely to "bump that individual; but if the person nu t should bb a lady, she Is given the molce as to whether she will be "bumped or kissed. Nor Is our own country the only one with such compulsory kissing cer emonies. Halmagen, In Austria, nas an annual fair on St. Theodore's Iiay, at which every person present has the right to claim one lady and to kiss her wittfbut n r having auy right to object. This strange cus tom is the outcome ( a raid which was once made on the town by Tur kish brigands, who c.irrled off all the women ns captives. Hut a band of men traveling in the district chanced to meet the captors and forced them to give up their victims, who were then kindly escoited to their nonies and friends. In pr.iteful rcmember ance of the day the maidens of HaK inagen annually offer their lips mod estly and freely to the strangers who freouent Ihe town during tno fair of Rt. Theodore, Turn ctirnnn Tom Tangier's Co&n of Odd and Curious Quizzes - -rrtAj$po6rnox, - ; - ' - ' n When the great drowsy bears lie asleep in their lairs, - There Is plenty of frolic and tun for the In the clear frosty glow of the moon on tbe snow. Frisk these wide-awake chaps, "seeing uon you xnow. With their srsat- ahinln nvam And their Innocent look of surprise. When Insomnlous owls; the most watch ful of fowls. Speak the wlsdjra that dwells In their sapient nowla. All their hoots and their leers Bunny certainly All the gossip, and scandal, and cynical For of eara. I Amriarm He does seem to have more than his This declivity hare, where tha sheep farmers r All their Cock, at a suitable time of the year. Is a favorite olace for tha itwHh To exhibit their feats of alertness and irrace; And this aena tt'a a Was observed by a fell named i M. C. 8. 2 -A PROOF SHEET. V (, I'- , 4 uoMoxnia. ' 1 (Find the names of certain living crea tures m souna out not in spelling.) - My dear brother Nat, who knew how my.bsart Is set on nature, invited me to flee from noise-and foul air for a day n the woods. At noon we found a bare place where we spread a 'cloth and ate the luncheon Annt Mary had riven us. You know she excels In anything made with doush. end I bore OS tha nalm In the number of rolls I ate. Ws went for a row on a llttla.iaKe. ano towao back a log for the door-sill of a cabin we plan to build. I tried to bet a mermaid and sat on a roca ano eomoea nay nair, but brother said I failed to tarter off In to a fish at the right point Well, I sat ana invnea my soui, ana migm nave done worse. M. S. XK ft ANAGRAMS, v J-' v' Standing where story-tellers' ways dl- vwe, Bhe questioned which' tbe path that leads to Fame: And heard this answer: "With a trusty guide The end of all these roads mar be tbe asm, i For some as guide have ehoeen love, some sorrow; Romance for some the way to Fame has lit: Boms choose the vision of a bright to- mornw! Which guide wilt thou?" She gave HER HAND TO WIT. CATHERINE T. BUNNELL. PROVERBS. B I C 7 A ACIB ITCAB C C 1 AitllO B 1 CI A v C 620SIBB Tommy, the office boy. has not ret fully learned the printers' care, and his attempt to set up a little problem In multiplication yielded this proof. Can you correct It? BENNIES. 3 rREFIXIO.V. I am a beast; I harshly bray As patiently I go my way. Prefix a H; If I escape The angler's vlssge tells dismay. I urn a limb; with practiced stroke I sluipe the marble, foil the auk. I'retlx an V: across mry lands The oxen strain beneath the yoke. t um a bird: oft startlingly I hoot from out some ghostly tree. Prefix sn H; miw long and loud The wounded gray wolf utters me. I nm a dale; when I am told 1 give the years of young and old. Prefix a P; my printed words A strango udventure may unfold. I V. KICKS. My grandmother is fond of uuotlng proverbs, and she seldom falls to match any occasion with some old saw. If I am Inclined to let a tiny rip In my dress wait for a more convenient time, she remarks sententlously. "A S"" I T 8 tiV If she gets an Impor tant pieca oi wora wen under way, she says comfortably, "W B" I H D"." If she wants to reprovs my Im patience under the small but Inevitable annoyances of life, she suggests, "W" C' B C M B E"""." I got m tnree gin mends to Help me about the furnishing of my rooms, and togeth er we made a failure. Grandmother serenely remarked. "I could have told you that T M C B" T h: " If I lay aside winter clothing at the first appearance of warm weather she wsrns we, "Cr B D N M'" A Br." When I use money and ma terials extravagantly, she tells me, "W- W Yd W W." I generally run through my allowance by the middle of the month, and have to call on the more provident but rather grudging Maria to help ma out. Orand mothsr reminds me then that "T H ! 8 T T But once, when I simply bad to borrow or not get home from a visit, I retorted, 'N K N IV Bhe wakas ma promptly for my early engagements with the quotation, 'T A T W V N M" She thinks me too diffuse In my talk and letters, and tries to make me realize that "B 1 T B O WV To poor mother, always In a 'fer ment over her cares and duties, she says, W K M T If she knows of my being as foolish and un profitable company she tells me unflat- teringly. "A ! I K B T C It K" But then dear grandma, though she does thus seem to put me In rnnlne enmrany, means no harm. "H H 1 W T" H BV and she would not let me .lie bitten by any one else, you mny be sure. Still I some times feel like telling her, when she Bays unnecessary things to me nr oth ers, "l." " I M "." for he has sometimes to mend what she has aid by an acknowledgment. DOROTHEA. j v f KE3HT TOUR PLACE. " - - ' The slave of the lamp, I get writer's ' cramp, .i ...... i . ! While the 'midnight M Tm burning; Tbe slave of the ring , are . you who . spring . i--. '-, ' ... . , . n- j.i To answer the bell In the morning " But bscter than both to rust In sloth, V WFior lot what a humble station , ' e should occupy, both you and I, " " ' , If out of a situation.. , ; ' I T WILSON, eV-REVKR8AL8 fj- i My FIRST In falsehood Uke delight; ' t else heart and tongua in him unite. . ' Reverse, and And a tra'k of steel. '... Where rolls the-locomotive s, wheels ; The water-IIlv's 'FIRST will hold The ripening seed within Its - fold, r Reverse, and Italy presents A franc, or coin worth twenty cents. Into their FIRST the wild beasts creep; When natura calls for rest and alann. Reverse, an English coin of gold. The old, rose-noble, .we behold. . And elf six words, hera tat ma tall. The very asms four letters spell. TANGLER8 PRIZE. To Sdd seat tin thA ratmmnm. Tom Tan. fler expects to offer a prise now and hen, and -this time will present a fine fountain pen a handsome and ' useful prise to the beet list of the proverbs needed to fill the blanks In No. 6. - The solutions are - to be forwarded within five days to EL R. Chadboarn. kfalreaa. Mass. A tie la ooaalbla.- and if there should be any doubt, the two or more nearest complete usia win d coirrpurea, and the winner will be decided by ori ginality shown, or the neatness, attrac tiveness or .otner points ot special su periority that appear. Answers will be given next week: the name of the prise, winner, In due time. THE DREADFUL DARK. Christmas Cosmopolitan. wnen tne oonnres ourn in tne twiitgnt skies. And the clouds are all rimmed with red. The bold little hunter, with round, brave eyes, Is tucked In his trundle bed. Then the old crow. Night, from iil dusky wings. Shakes the shadowy gloom, and hark! To the etealthy steps of the wolvee end things That prowl through the dreadful dark. Tbe wolves that the little boy meant to stay . Whin next he should take the trail. The slippery snakes that would slink away. And the bears that would erlnge and auaiL Are back of the bureau, and under the rea, 1.1 .miimIiIh. k.kl.il Ik. ..1i.l.l Thought the counterpane covers his cur ly neaa. The hunter can feel them there. Nearer and nearer the creatures creep Through the shadows along the floor. Till they vanish at last In a mist of sleep .And lo! It Is day once more. Oh! little boy hunter, to share those rears And their shudderv lovs wilh von. I'd glvo but who -can turn back the years And drink their delights anew? If all dyspepsia sufferers Knew what Dr. Shoop's Restorative would do for them. Dispenela would practically be a disease of the past. Dr, Snoop's Restora tive reaches stomach troubles by Its direct tonlo action upon the inside nerves the true stomach nerves. Stomach distress or weakness, fullness, bloating, belching. We recommend and sell Dr. Shoop's Restorative. Burwell- Dunn Retail Store. II ICS Fop a- VeV (0) Ctanott z w& Mm Every Day in the Year For shoppers living a distnncp of FIFTY MILKS or loss, on any railroad loading into Charlotte. 'ftii- Charlotto merchants who arc members of the Retail Merchants' Association represent the largest dealers in the State and carry tho most complete assort ment of all grades of goods to be found in the South. COME TO CHARLOTTE AT OUR EXPENSE. Ask the first merchant you visit whose name appears below for a rebate book. AITOMOIIILKS Osmond L. Barrlngcr. ART KTOHE ANI IMItrit) Kl'I'IMJKS W. I. Van Neaa Co. nM)K., HTATIONKRY AND OF- nrr. hiitmk. Siono A llaninger t'o. lArTllINO AND MCN'N KV'RNISII- I xiiig Tatn 1Hlilng Co. IjI Mellon . orke llros. A Hogera. OAI. Stamlnrd lr.. A ttel Co. "i arbmugli A Uclllngrr t o, DKI'AHTMKNT STORES IW-lk Bros. I.ltlle-lng Co. DRV fiOODS AND l,OTIUN(l Ml Hit Dry (; I Co. ici.rX'riiK ai, ri ppuks Smith i:i trlc A Mfg. Co. J-'CNEItAli DIRFXTOItS J. M Hurry A Co. ITHMTIIIK Herring A- Denton. Iiswlng-ltohlilnt lurnllure Co. I.liMn l uriillure Co. U. I' I.C.i, I'arker-I.urtlner Co. GROCERS F.. W. Berrylilll. h.Aw. Campliell. J. K. Darvey. 4. II. Kniery. .1. V. Jamison Co. W. A. Jamison A Co. N. R. Ix-nU. W. J. Malone. Miller-Van Nm Co. barmtt A Itlakely.' Usher llros. M. M. Wallae. HIDES AND JCNK Varbrough A Bellinger. ICE AND Fl'KI, Standard Ice M Fuol Co. HARDWARE Charlotte Hardware Co. Southern Hardware Co. Wetfdlngton Hardware Co. MI I.LI NO AND FEED W. M. Oowell. JEWELERS Falamountaln Co. J. E. Steere. LADIES' OCTFTTTEIl Frank Purcelt LAUNDRIES Charlotte Steam Laandry. alodel Steam Laondry. LIVERY, CARRIAGES, WAGOXS AND HARNESS J. TV. Wadsworth's Sons' Co. MERCHANT TAILORS Cablnlss A Co. MANTELS, TILES AND GRATES Carolina Mfg. Co. J. If. MoCansland A Oo. J. HWearn A Co. PIANOS AND ORGANS Tbe Charlotto Piano Co. Parker-Gardner Co, Chaa. M. Stleff. I PLCMBERS AND GAS FITTERS J. 'J, Breon. Carolina Plumbing A Treating Co. Hackney Bros. PAINTS, OILS AND GLASS Escll-Myers Co. PRINTING AND BLANK BOOK MANUFACTURERS Qoeen City Printing Co. Ray Prlatlng Co. SHOES. Foreman A Miller. SASH, DOORS AND BLTND3 . Carolina Mfg. Co. ' J. W. Lewis A Co. J. H. Weirn A Co. ' TINNERS AND STOVE DEALERS J. N. McCansland A Co. ' Free Trip Based on the Following Plan: On a purchase of $40.00 or more, we refund round-trip fare up to Fifty Miles. On a purchase of $20.00 to $35.00, we refund one way fare up to Fifty Miles. " The purchaser is not required to spend the entire amount with one merchant, but has the privilege of dividing purchases among the different firms named above. For example, an out-of-town buyer ean spend $10.00 at one store, $20.00 at another, $7.50 at another, and $2.50 at another. There are $40.00 expended, for which your round-trip fare will he refunded. As you make your purchases at the different stores, have amount recorded in your, rebate book. When you, have completed your purchases, present book to J. Y. PORTER, at 24-20 E. Trade Street, and he will refund railroad faro according to above plan. Charlotte fetal If you live over Fifty Miles, you only pay the additional mileage to your homo. teilfiO ' 1 Aa'daa'a,iaaay f ,1 I t ,iJMe, .;.i.i I. 1 ',(, ft , ' ' ' ' ' ' , ( i , 4
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 2, 1906, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75