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VEGETINE
Purifies the Blood, Renovates
and Invigorates the
, Whole System,
rrß MEDICAL PROPERTIES ABE
'Alterative, Tonic, Solvent,
and Diuretic.
vegctitio RELIABLE EVIDENCE,
fegotine
Mr. H. R. Stevens
VpffPtiflO /><’ar Sir,— l will most cheerfully
f /idd my testimony to the prreat num
ber you have already received in fa-
V/ftpnf j 110 vor of your great and good medicine,
f Vegetine,for Ido not think enough
can be said in its praise; for I was
Ypppf 1 !10 troubled oyer thirty years with that
f v dreadful disease, Catarrh, and had
such had coughing-spells that it
lTairpt 1110 would seem as though I never could
f CgCMww breath any more, and Vegetine
I has cured me; and I do feel to thank
VorrptinP Cod all the time that there is so
I tgv nr,*,)-! tt medicine as Vf.of.tine, and
I also think it one of the best med
"Vnrrai i i\f\ i<dnes for coughs, and weak sinking
f CgblliiU' feelings at the stomach, and advise
< everybody to take tko Vegetine.
VnrrotmP tor * c;in aaß,,re them it is one of
f t the best medicines that ever was.
Mas. L. GORE,
bin Cor. Magazine and Walnut St*.
M egeillie Cambridge, Mu,
Vegetine
Vegeline G,VES
Teectino Heal,h ’ Stron S ,h '
AND APPETITE.
Vegetine _
daughter has rece'ved great
f CnGblllC benefit from the use of Vegetine.
Her declining health was a source
v 1 Of great anxiety to all her friends.
f A few bottles of Vegetine restored
I her health, strength, and appetite.
- N. H TILDKN,
lOXullilC Insurance and Real Estate Agent.
No. 49 Sears Building?
Vegetine _ Bo3ton ’ W
Vegetine cannot be
Vegetine EXCELLED.
Vegetine
Charlestown, Mass.
i egetino h. r. stevenb.
: Dear Sir,— This is to certify that I
VncrnfftlA h;ive used your “Blood Preparation”
in my family for several years, and
: think that for Scrofula or Canker-
Vacrciiinn °. us £ (“ nwn or Rheumatic Affec
fCgUtlUC7 tions, it cannot be excelled ; and,as
a blood nurilier or spring medicine,
FflrmHna *•? the best thing 1 have overused,
i and I havo used almost everything.
I can cheerfully recommend it to
*r any one in need of such a medicine,
f egCllllO Yours respectfully,
Mrs. A. A. DTNBMORE,
Vegetine No ' l9 Eussell street -
Vogetino it is a
Vegetine Valuable Remedy.
Vegetine South Boston, Feb. 7, 1870.
, Mr. Stevens.
I egetlQO Dear Sir,—l have fc~ken several
j bottles of your Vegetine, aud am
convinced it is a valuable remedy
f egeimo for Dyspepsia. Kidney Complaint,
and general debility of the system.
tT MA i! nA * Cftn heartily recommend it all
f egeune suffering from the above complaints.
Yours respectfully,
tr .. Mrs. M UNKOE PARKER,
f egetlQO Athens Street.
VECETSME
Prepared by
11. R. STEVENS, Boston, Mass.
_Vot.?tine is Sold by a!! Druggists.
THE GENUINE
DR. C. HoLANE’S
Celebrated American
WORM SPECiFiC
OR
VSEMXFUGE.
SYMPTOMS OF WORMS.
THE countenance is pale and leaden-
A colored, with occasional flushes, or
a circumscribed spot on one or both
cheeks; the eyes become dull; the pu
pils dilate; an azure semicircle runs
along the lower eye-lid; the nose is ir
ritated, swells, and sometimes bleeds;
a swelling of the upper lip; occasional
headache, with humming or throbbing
of the ears; an unusual secretion of
saliva; slimy or furred tongue; breath
very foul, particularly in the morning;
appetite variable, sometimes voracious,
tvith a gnawing sensation of the stom
ach, at others, entirely gone; fleeting
pains in the stomach; occasional
nausea and vomiting; violent pains
throughout the abdomen; bowels ir
regular, at times costive; stools slimy;
not unfrequently tinged with blood;
belly swollen and hard; urine turbid;
respiration occasionally difficult, and
accompanied by hiccough; cough
sometimes dry and convulsive; uneasy
and disturbed sleep, with grinding of
the teeth ; temper variable, but gener
ally irritable, &c.
W henever the above symptoms
are found to exist,
DR - C. McLANE’S VERMIFUGE
" ill certainly effect a cure.
IT DOES NOT CONTAIN MERCURY
in any form; it is an innocent prepara
tion, not capable of doing the slightest
injury to the most tender infant.
Ihe genuine Dr. McLane’s Ver
mifuge bears the signatures of C. Mc
'AN'E and Fleming Bros, on the
wrapper. :0;
C. McLANE’S
liver pills
*v C I?®* recommended as a remedy “for all
, e ]I s Ihat flesh is heir to,” but in affections
TANARUS,. e hy cr . and in all Bilious Complaints,
) s ;k I >Si a and Sick Headache, or diseasesof
at character, they stand without a rival.
AGUE and fever.
_ L better cathartic can be used preparatorv
> or after taking Quinine.
‘ s 2 simple purgative they are unequaled.
BEWAItE or IMITATIONS.
yy
F ,e ,E en uine are never sugar coated,
the ■ >ox .h as 2 red wax seal on the lid with
impression Du. McLane’s Liver Pills.
r 1 " rapper bears the signatures of C.
V :' L and Fleming Bros.
l , ' 'i upon having the genuine Dr. C. Mc
jL 1 lls. prepared by Fleming
full V ■ Pittsburgh, l*a., the market being
s Pellpfl ", n ‘i atio " ' of the name McLane ,
Tracts for young men.
ESS Act ed Business, Students on
j v . Change, The Business "World
n Miniature, at MOORE’S BUSINESS
i MVEKsn y. ATLANTA, GA. The
StnP f Business School iu the country.
Terms, Etc.
@Tbp ItrmrdT of the IS>th Centßry.
Barham’s Infallible
PILE BSSBE.
Manuflu’tnrod bv the
Birhan ?ue Cure Cos., Eirfcaa, N. C.
It never fell* to fort lb uorrbohh
nr . when a cure la iwwdble.
Pr!ee I.Ut an 4 bona Utlr LMuiOi*l*
fumiahed an ay pi I cation
THE DAWSON JOURNAL.
HY J. 1). HOYL & CO.
BATHED in BLOOD.
horrible tragedy in the
CAPITOL!
Colonel Alston and Ed. Cox Have a
Hostile Meeting, In Which the
Former Gets Killed and the
Latter Ssverely Wounded
—The Facts Before
and After the
Killing.
Atlanta Constitution, 1 2th Inst.
“Yesterday afternoon another bloody
tragedy was enacted in this city. It
came on suddenly and the tumble news
as i t first circulated from mouth to mouth,
was scarcely believed by those who
heard it. It had been so generally hop
ed that, days, and even years, might
pass before such another event would
startle the community that men dread
ed to learn the truth. The fact was
only too true and too awful. The ver
ification was swift, and crowds flocked
to view the scene and the participants
in one of the completest death-duels on
our records.
THE ACTORS IN THE DUEL
were two citizens well known in our
community and numbering hosts of
friends. One of them w r as Colonel
Robert A. Alston, of the adjoining
county of DeKalb, and its representa
tive in the present general assembly.
The other was Captain Ed. Cox, of De-
Kalb county, and one of the sub-lessees
of penitentiary convicts. Col. Alston
was chairman of the penitentiary com
mittee of the present house of represen
tatives and the author of the hold and
horrifying report upon our penitentiary
lease system which caused so wide a
sensation in November last.
THE SCENE OP TIIE TRAGEDY
was in the middle room of the offices of
the state treasury in the eapitol build
ing. The state treasury is located up
on the ground floor of the building and
immediately in *he corner at the inter
section of Marietta and Forsyth streets.
The room was about twelve by fifteen
feet in dimensions and was used as a
sitting room and desk office by Colonel
Murphy, clerk to the treasury. It was
the one into which the vault opened. In
it the parties met and the affray occur
red in the presence of State Treasurer
Renfroe, Captain Nelms, the principal
keeper of the penitentiary and the tax
cr Hector of Gilmer county, Mr. P. H.
Milton, and who was present to get a
receipt for tax collections paid into the
treasury. The room is rather confined
in size, and, with its furniture added,
made an arena for conflict wonderfully
adapted to produce mortal consequen
ces.
TIIE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY.
The real facts iu all their legitimate
connections which preceded and led up
to the fatal encounter are difficult to
be ascertained in the present state of
affairs. One of the actors is dead and
the other seriously wounded and for
bidden to talk upon the subject. Other
parties acquainted with the main facts
have to be relied upon for the matter of
the present narrative, and these state
ments made during the intense excite
ment following the dreadful event may
uniutentionally be somewhat at variance
with the facts developed upon a judicial
investigation hereafter. We have en
deavored to get at the truth in the mat
ter and we give the connected account
made up from the statements of those
who would consent to speak about them.
They are to the effect as below given.
THE CONVICT LEASE ACT
passed by the general assembly in 1876
under which the convicts of the state
were leased to companies formed and
designated as “penitentiary companies.”
One of these companies was composed
of several gentlemen, among whom
were Senator Gordon, B G Lockett,
B Lowe and Colonel C B Howard.
The convicts of the state are divided in
a certain manner between these compa
nies for a fixed sum per annum for each
convict, and are employed by the les
sees in labor upon farms, in mines and
in railroad constructions, etc., as they
may be made most profitable.
Mr. Cox was a sub-lessee under Gen.
Gordon, and had about sixty of the con
victs engaged in agricultural labor up
on a farm in Taylor county. General
Gordon lias been for sometime anxious
to sell out his interest in the lease and
sever his connection with the employ
ment of convict labor under this sys
tem. He has been endeavoring to do
so for some months, and when Colonel
Alston, who has always been a warm
personal friend of General Gordon, left
Washington a few days ago, General
Gordon gave him a power of attorney
to sell his interest in Penitentiary Com
pany No. 2.
the bidding and bargaining.
It appears that Mr. Jessie Vi alters,
of Albany, who is a representative from
Dougherty county in the present legis
DAWSON, GEORGIA. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1870.
lature, had been in correspondence with
General Gordon upon the subject of
this interest acd was desirous of pur
chasing the same. When Gen. Gordon
placed the interest in the bands of Col.
Alston for sale he wrote to Mr. Wal
ters, informing him of the fact aud sug
gesting that he see Colonel Alston con
cerning the matter. Several days ago
Mr. Vi alters came to this city with the
view of meeting Colonel Alston and ne
gotiating about the interest offered for
sale. Colonel Alston reached the city
from Washington on Sunday last and
on Monday had an interview with Mr.
Walters. In the meantime Mr. Cox,
who was a neighbor of General Gordon
and Colonel Alston and an intimate
friend of many years, standing of the
latter, had decided to get out of the
lease business himself, and some arrang
ement had been made between him and
Mr. 4V alters upon that subject also.
The substance of it was, as we learn,
that in the event Mr. Walters purchas
ed the Gordon interest upon advantage
ous terms he would also take Mr. Cox’s
interest upon terms satisfactory to the
latter. Upon this account Mr. Cox
was particularly anxious that the Gor
don share should he passed over to Mr.
Walters, and naturally set himself to
the task of aiding this result. When
Sir Waiters and Colonel Alston met,
however, the former would not consent
to pay the price demanded by Colonel
Alston, which Yvas $4,000. Colonel
Alston was acting as the agent of Gen.
Gordon, and was anxious, as his friend
and agent, to realize from the sale a
sum that would free General Gordon
from the lease without loss. In other
words, that amount of money would
have just covered the expenses of Gen.
Gordon in the transaction. Colonel
Alston refused to make better figures
and Mr. Walters said he would not buy
and bade Colonel Alston adieu. This
to Colonel Alston was an understanding
that negotiations were at an end in that
direction. He looked elsewhere and
found a party who would buy in the
person of Colonel C. B. Howard, one
of the co-lessees. Colonel Howard
agreed to purchase the interest for $4,-
000, and it is said a portion of the pur
chase money was paid to make the bar
gain certain.
TRYING TO BREAK THE BOND.
When the fact was made known that
Colonel Alston had contracted with
Colonel Howard it is alleged that Mr.
Cox became greatly excited, and de
clared the matter should not take that
direction. He was so intent upon mak
ing the trade so as to give himself the
advantage he sought, that he sought out
Colonel Alston to try and effect his
purpose. Prior to finding Colonel Al
ston he visited Colonel Howard and
asked to know whether in the event the
trade was consummated, he, Howard,
would consent to trade with him, Cox,
for his interest in the matter. Colonel
Howard replied that he would not talk
about that at this time, he could not
make but one trade at a time and he
was buying the Gordon interest as it
stood, subject to the sub-lease held by
Cox. This turn cf affairs, it seems, led
Mr. Cox to a stronger determination to
upset the trade and secure the transfer
of the interest to Walters. Whether
Walters had anything to do with this
determination we know not further than
that he is understood to say he did
not.
THE FIRST ALTERCATION.
The fact appears to be that Cox first
encountered Alston in the barber-shop
of Dougherty Hutchins, on Marietta
street, about noon. He asked Alston
into the back room to talk, and Alston
afterward stated that Cox demanded of
him that he rescind the trade with"
Howard and make the one with Wal
ters, stating that Walters would pay
more than Howard for the interest at
stake.
Colonel Alston replied to him that
it was now impossible to do that thing.
He had sold to Howard and the trade
must stand. He had offered the refu
sal of the share to Walters and he had
declined to take tlie same.
Mr. Cox persisted and said if Alston
did not sell to waiters, he (Cox) would
be broken, or ruined, and lie did not in
tent to stand it. His duty to his fami
ly, he said, demanded the consumma
tion of the other transaction and it must
be done.
Alston again refused, and explained
his reasons. It is here stated that their
conversation became audible to those
in the shop at the time and that Alston
was talking in a conciliatory way while
Cox was angry and very much excited.
He denounced Alston sweepingly as not
having treated him right and demanded
that Alston do as he Cox, desired.
Alston said he could not do it and
would not if he could. He told Cox he
would not he bullied into doings tllSj
thing proposed to him.
It is stated that Cox drew, or had in
his hand, a knife with which he threat
ened to
cut arson’s throat _ ,
unless he acqueisced in the plan
sed. He seemed to have had ah idea
of frightening Alston into compliance.
Alston told Cox he was unaimiod and
desired no difficulty with him. Gk, their
told him to go and arm himselfSind
meet him there at that place in five or
ten minutes. Alston said he would do
it, and and they parted. After Alston
left it is alleged that Cox indulged in
very abusive language about Alston,
and said if Alston did not do right in
the matter he would kill him before
sun-down.
It was then seen that both the men
were excited and angry and a serious
difficulty was expected to arise between
them.
preparing foR the fight.
We learn that Mr. Cox went into the
saloon of Mr. Pause, uoar by, and met
several parties there. lie attempted
to borrow a pistol there and said he
“wanted one d—d quick’’ and remarked
to Colonel A. L. Harris that he had had
a fuss with Bob Alston and intended to
kill him. He made no concealment of
this intention, hut he was refused the
loan of a weapon and advised not to
have a difficulty. But he persisted
and went to the gun store of Heinz &
Berkele, on Whitehall street, after a
pistol. He said lie “wanted a d—d
good one and well loaded.’’ He bought
a now nickel-plated revolver, of the
“Swamp Angel” pattern, we believe,
and it was carefully loaded for him by
the vender. lie then went back to
Marietta street and was in that vicinity
evidently upon the lookout for Alston.
Alston’s movements
When Colonel Alston left the barber
shop lie went to the state eapitol and
entered the office of the state treasurer.
He met there Col. Renfroe, Col. How
ard and others, and spoke of the entire
transaction with Cox at the barber-shop.
He detailed Cox’s demands and threats,
and of his own part in the quarrel. He
seemed ready and disposed to
return to where Cox was, as he had
promised, but his friends insisted upon
his not doing so and prevented him from
it. He had evidently armed himself
for the affray which he said he knew
was certain to he provoked. Where he
procured the pistol or from whom is at
present in mystery.
While he was thus engaged in con
versation a messenger arrived from Cox.
This person was a young man named
Sams, we learn, who lias been in the
employ of Cox. He brought word to
Alston that, Cox
was ready and waiting
for him and to come on and see it out,
or fight it out like a man ! Alston asked
Sams if Cox was drinking, and Sams re
plied that ho did not know, but that he
was very much excited.
Alston told Sams to go back and say
to Cox that lie would not come to meet
him, but for Cox to attend to his own
business, and he, Alston, would attend
to his; that he wanted no difficulty
with Cox, and it would do neither one
of them any good to shoot the other.—
The young man went away and, it is
supposed, told Cox what Alston had
said. Alston then got up and, as Gov
ernor Colquitt was at dinner, he started
out to find the governor or intercept
him upon his return. lie met the gov
ernor on Forsyth street and told him all
the facts in the matter, and remarked
that he believed, m justice to himseif
and family, and in selfdefense, lie ought
to get a double-barreled shot-gun and
KILL ED. COX ON SIGHT.
Tiie governor at once dissuaded him
from any such idea, and told him that
the matter could be arranged peaceful
ly ; that he would send word to Cox
and try to calm him and in his cooler
moments endeavor to harmonize affairs.
As the governor then went on to his of
fice Alston stopped at Peter Berron’s
restaurant, on Forsyth street, and said
as he had had no dinner he would go in
there and get something to eat
Alston went into Berron’s and
the governor reached his office and sent
Captain Nelms, the principal keeper
of the penitentiary, to find Cox, and,
if possible, persuade him to go no
further in the affair and not precipi
tate a difficulty with Alston. Captain
Nelms went down Marietta street
and found Cox, we learn, in the “Girl
of the Period” saloon, and tried to
call him out to speak with him. Cox
said : “Excuse me, captain, I am very
busy, and am waiting here for a
friend.’’ Captain Nelms replied that
he wanted to see Cox on very impor
tant business, but Cox again declined
and Captain Nelms went back to
Governor Colquitt and so reported.—
asked him to go again,
and Restarted t o do so
About this time Alston saw Cox
coming excitedly toward tlie eapitol
with his right hand conveniently
placed for a prompt resort to his pis
pistol. He called the governor’s at
tention to the fact and went out. Cox
entered the treasurer’s office to find
Alstpn. As he passed in at. the door
* e saw t hrough the glass front of the
desk a person wear mg a silk hat,
wliom |te took to be Alston but w ho
was
The wrong mAn.
It was Professor B. F. Moore, as
Cox discovered when he had passed
around into the middle roont. to the
entrance behind the counter and half
drawn his pistol to shoot at the sup
posed enemy. The colored messen
ger in the office, Potter McMichael,
saw the movement and was prepared
to frustrate the shooting. When Cox
saw the party was not Alston he
turned and w r ent out, making his way
up stairs into the executive depart
ment in search of Alston
Alston in the meantime went back
to the treasurer’s office and sat down.
lie again spoke of the impending dif
ficulty, being told that Cox had just
been there bunting for him. He said
that it was a “terrible thing to be
forced into a difficulty with a man
who Was hunting you down, as Cox
was doing him.” Almost immediate
ly after this Cox came again into the
treasurer’s office and found Alston
there. Cox and Alston were both
considerably excited, but Cox seemed
to be exceedingly angry as well.
They began the controversy again,
Cox telling Alston that he had treat
ed him wrong and had to answer for
it. Alston gut upj and putting his
hand gently upon Coxjsuid to him:
“Mr Cox, I do not want to have
any difficulty w ith you about this
matter, and there is no need for it.—
Let us drop it now. It will do you
no good to kill me, and do me no
good to kill you—not a bit in the
world.”
Cox replied in an abusive manner
and continued to denounce Alston
and to urge him on to the affray. It
was thought his object was to goad
Alston to make the first attack. At
the time only Treasurer Renfroe and
the tax-collecter of Gilmer county
were in the office, Captain -Nelms
coming in soon alter. While the
quarrel was in progress the Gilmer
gentleman remarked that Cox was
abusing Alston beyond endurance
and that Alston ought not to let a
man talk to him in that way, but
ought to kill hirr
Treasurer Renfroe, fearing the dif
ficulty, told (hem not to have a fight
in his office. Upon this
cox Invited Alston outdoors
to settle the matter, but Alston de
clined to go, repeating that he did no:
want any difficulty. Cox replied that
he should have one. Alston said if
he could not avoid it he supposed he
would. Cox told him he could not
get out of it, and Alston asked him if
he wanted to begin right then. Cox
said that was as good a place as any,
and that a difficulty was what he had
conie for. lie went to the front door
of the room and attempted to shut it.
Treasurer Renfroe told him not to
shut that door, but Cox paid no at
tention to him, but, seeingthat it was
hooked back to the wall, he unhook
ed it and shut it. He then turned
and advanced towards Alston, who
also rose and stepped forward. Cap
tain Nelms ran between them and
catching each by the shoulder with
his hands, but as lie did so
BOTH MEN DREW TIIF.IR PISTOLS
and began to fire at each other with
great rapidity. Captain Nelms fell
back upon the table, and Treasurer
Renfroe and the other man were
standing in the room next to Mariet
etta street and near the door where
Colonel Alston was standing in front
of the stove.
Colonel Alston, when he arose from
his chair, had his coat buttoned j
across his breast, but he unbuttoned
it and drew his pistol from an inner
pocket. His was a self cocking pis
tol, and this enabled him to get the
first shot at Cox, the ball striking
Cox on the left side of the upper lip
and penetrating the mouth and jaw.
Cox then got into the corner and
fired at Alston, but missed him and
the ball went into the wall behind.
Alston then fired twice in succession,
his second ball striking Cox in the
left hand, tleshy part between the
thumb and fore-finger, and the third
shot going wild and burying in the
plastered wall about a foot from the
VOL. J5--N0 2.
floor and close to Cox—so close, it
appears, as fcflTnrgjj§gjpije through (lie
bi'cast portion of his udnt as he stoop
ed and lethal sidevvayT>to avoid the
shot. Gox then rose and fired his sec
ond shot, the ball penetrating the
right temple of Colonel Alston, about
an inch from add level with the eye
It ranged through the brain and lodg
ed under the scalp at die back of the
head on the left lower side.
COLONEL ALSTON STAGGERED, REELED
and frill in the other door, athwatt the
threshold, bleeding profusely and un
conscious upon the instant. Mr. Cox
changed position fiom the corner to
the opposite side near tho table, but
seeing t'.e effect of this shot bo did
not attempt to shoot again. He was
bleeding himself copiously from the
wounds in die mouth and in his hand
Ite said to Treasurer Ren!run; “We
are both ol' us killed, and then be
weut into the fiout room und laid
down upon the lounge. Tuoshots ha.i
been heard all around and through
tho budding, and men came running
to the scone of the tragedy. The
spectac'e at this juncturo beggirs de
ccription, and sickened all who saw
it. The floor of tho room was slip
pery with pools of blood, and yet the
faint blue smoke from the pistols was
creeping along tho sailing in search of
an outlet. One of tho /non was lying
upon the floor at full length, with the
b oo 1 streaming from the terrible sho'
in the head, at and the other was moan
ing upon the sofa four or five feet
away, with tho blood chocking him
and flowing from his moutii and hie
hand dropping as though taken from
a pool of ciimsoti life-blood. On the
floor were foond a pistol-ball and some
of the teedi knocked from Mr. Cox’s
mouth when he was hit. The picture
was one that baffl'd imagination and
nothing sc vivid in i:e silent testimony
of the dorperato affray so fatally
clos and could be put upou canvas or
in printer’s ink upon this page.”
Col. Alston and eii at 4 minutes after
6 o’clock. Mr. Cox was not seriously
wounded.
An Honest Regal Opinion.
An honest farmer once called upon
the late Roger M. Sherman, the cele
brated lawyer, and told him he wanted
an opinion. He had heard a great deal
about the value of Mr. Sherman’s opin
ions, and how a great many people
went to him to get an opinion; and
John, who never had had, nor was like
ly to have, a law suit or other difficulty
for a lawyer to help him from, thought
he would have an “opinion.”
Well, John, what can I do for you?
said Mr. S., when John, in his turn,
was shown in the room.
Why, lawyer, replied John, I hap
pened to be in town, and having noth
ing to do, I thought I would come and
get your opinion.
State your case, John, What’s the
matter ?
Oh! nothing. I ain’t got no law suit,
I only want to get one of your opinions,
they su" they’re very valuable.
Rut John—about what?
Oh! anything, sir, take your pick and
choose!
Mr. Sherman, seeing the notions of
his client on the matter in hand, took
pen, and writing a few words, folded
them up and handed them to John, who
carefully placed the paper in Ins pocket.
What's to pay, sir!
Four and sixpence, Yankee money—
-75 cents.
When John returned home the next
morning, he found his wife, who pretty
much took the lead in his business mat
ters, anxiously discussing with his chief
farm servant the propriety of getting in
a large quantity of oats on that day,
which had been cut on the one previous,
or of undertaking some other labor.
John was appealed to, to settle the
question, but he could not decide. At
length, he said: I’ll tell you what,
Polly, I’ve been to a lawyer, and got
an opinion that cost me four and six
pence. There it is—read her out: it’s
a lawyer’s writing, and I can’t make
head or tail of it!
John, by the way, could not read the
plainest print, but Polly, who was some
thing of a scholar, opened the paper,
and read as follows:
“Never put of! till to-morrow, what
can he done to-day.”
Enough said! cried John; them oats
must he got in. And they were got in,
and the same night such a storm came
on, as otherwise would have ruined them
entirely.
John often afterwards consulted this
opinion, and acted upon it, and to this
day entertains a high estimate of law
[ yer’s opinions generally, and cf the la
rneuted Mr. Sherman’s iu particular.
Letter from Dawson.
Editor Quit,nan Rejtorter ;
You were perhaps unwise in making
me promise an occasional for your pa
per ; but your readers will pardon you
and I ok kindly on me provided I write
very briefly.
With a slight accident to the train,
and a delay of one day at Smitliville,
I reached Dawson in safety. We were
kindly met by a committee of my board
of Stewards, and carried to our “own
hired house.” They told us that the
ladies had prepared us a splendid din
ner for tho day before, and had the
house well warmed and were awaitihg
our arrival in great force. You know
my great timidity, Mr. Editor. Per
haps it were well that we were delayed*
or I might have been overcome.
I like Dawson and the contiguous
Country much. The lands here are of
a different grade from yours. When
it rains—mud, mud; oh, how it sticks!
When it is dry—dust, dust; oh, how it
flies! My good wife has a mania for
scouring. I have begun seriously to
think of a lecture on the subject. If
that does not suffice, I may secede. I
should think, however, that the lands
here are better for farming purposes
than with you. Whatever is put ia
them in the way of fertilizers will re
main. The percolations that remove
so much of the manure from your landa
cannot occur here, as there is a great
deal of thick clay. I am gardening
with a fine prospect of suceess.
There are advantages here over most
towns of its size in Southern Georgia-*-
we have two very fine schools. The
male institute is in charge of two as fine
teaches as there are in Georgia. Pro- 1
lessors Allen andLowrey are thorough- 1
ly competent with extensive experience.
They fulfill all their promises. If yoii
have any boys in your county who
would like to find a high school, where
board is cheap, the country healthy, so*
ciety moral and refining, and instruc*
tion thorough, in a word, where they
can he well qualified to enter college*
send them to Dawson. I can vouch
for all I have said. Our cotton ship*
moots arc a little more than yours*
most up with Valdosta. The merchants
are solvent, thrifty and obliging. They
do a good business. We have two large
church buildings The
large and attentive! The worthy pas-
tor of the Baptist church is well spoken
of. lie is a young man, but working
well. My charge is as good as there is
in Georgia. Of the pastor I can sajf
nothing, for he is too well known down
your way, he might be caught. The
Dawson Journal visits your sanctum
every week, you know of its worth; but
its clever bachelor editor must be mot
with often to know tho full measure of
his good qualities. V\ hat a pity that
so many of our clever journalists, such
as Triplett, Pendleton and Iloyle, will
persist in trying to meet life’s obliga
tions without “help mates ? ’ Such ob*
stinaey is inexcusable. A committee
of the “press gong,” (of the “other
side,” you arc in the majority, I be- 1
lieve,) ought to wait on them at your
next gathering, give them six months,
or expatriation ; send them to Alaska
to hunt furs for those of us who have
wives and babies to he protected against
winter’s storms, or to Dry Tortugas to
labor on the government works. Such
conduct in them is too reprehensible to
be longer tolerated. Tell them the
girls are numerous, and—well most any
preacher is willing to take a XX. I
sympathise with Capt. Cobb in his lossj
especially iu his feeble health. I would
like to have a day or two to walk
around your town. My stay in Quit
man was pleasant; I hope to be with
you at the District meeting to be held
in your town. Drop this in the “waste
basket” if you like. W. M. 11.
P. S.—My kindest regards to your
clever people.
N. R.—You cannot get along with
out 11 11 R., attorney at law, at your
next meeting.
The Ratcst Dog Story.
There is a dog at Taupo, New
land, and also a young pig, and these
two afford a curious example of animal
instinct and confidence in the bona fide
of each other. These animals live at
the native path on the opposite side of
Tapuacharura, and the dog discovered
some happy hunting grounds on the
other side, and informed the pig, being
only two months old, he informed the
dog that he could not swim across the
river, which at that spot debouches
from the lake. Rut that- iu time he
hoped to accompany his canine friend.
The dog settled the difficulty.
lie went iuto the river, standing up
to his neck iu the water, and crouched
down ; the pig got on his back, clasp*
ing his neck with his forelegs. The
dog then swam across, thus carrying his
chum over.
Regularly every morning the two
would in this way go across and forage
around Tapuacharura, returning to the
path at night; and if the dog was ready
to go home before the pig, he Would
wait till his friend eauie down to be fer
ried over. The truth of this story is
vouched for by several who have watch
j ed the movements of the pair.