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m m fTTffirTimrMffifg : s -. •- • • MBWNAN HERALD I Consolidated with Coweta Advertiser September, 1886. 1 Established 1866. ( Consolidated with Newnan News January, 1916. I NEWNAN, GA., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1921 Vol. 57—No. 4 little newnan boys of the early fifties By ROBERT H. HARRIS. Yes, t was one of thorn—one of Ihe little boys who, from the yenr 1849 to 1854, ranged in age from 7 to 8, to 12 ov 13. There was a swarm of little fellows below our age limit. I am not ed” shirt, AVo boys railed him “Mr. Cheek Apnrns," so understanding the pronunciation of “,lnkc Abrams.” But on with tho roll-call. There were Dick and Henry Brewster—the former talking about them, although there were called “Bate,” (1 never know why,) many beyond that limit—from 13 to 10. and the other called “fink” by his jenny beyond They are not my subject. Wo wore a.“gang "—or, rather, sev eral gangs, foi we did not nil go lu one “bunch.” We had never lienrd the word “clique,” and the word “coterie” would have sounded as strange to us as Choctaw. But there were two or three groups of us, resultants of •temperament, I think, rather than of family wealth and social standing’. Indeed, none of us had ever heard the latter term, and the for mer meant simply a matter of “niggers an’ nudes,” that nine out of ton of ns didn’t care a straw about. Yes, there were little girls, too—plen ty of them—in long pnntelettes and curls and “pig-tailed” hair and sun- bonnets. But we were shy tff girls; and they are not my theme anyway. By the by, speaking of headgear, I do not remember 'ever having seen a “hat” on a girl’s head in those days. .Sunbonnets were the only head-covering worn, except in winter, when warm hoods (were substituted:. Young ladies also, •and many of their elders, wore sunbon nets on most occasions. I have often seen ladies’of all, ages at church in that garb. But I am bringing out reminiscences of little 'boys. What did they wear! Our head-covering consisted in summer of the coarsest kinds of straw hats, worn to look like a hornet’s nest before the season was over, with tufts and wisps of our 'hair sticking out througli sundry holes In winter we wore warm caps, OuJC clothing in summer wa(s '* ‘ com posed” (literally) of a pair of “britches” (that’s tho way we pro nounced it) of' the thinnest material, and a buttonless cotton shirt fastened (or not) at the collar with a Btring. The “ britches ” were supported by a pair of home-knit “galluses”—frequently, if not usually, only one of them in opera tion over one shoulder. I don’t think I ever heard the word “suspenders.” There was ilo undergarment worn be neath the “britches” even in winter. The winter material was heavier, how ever—usually of wool—and a short jack et was worn (or supposed to be) over •the shirt. Ro shoes weve worn by any of us in summer. In wiiitor stont cow hide shoes with home-knit socks pro-' tected our feet, But some of us went barefoot through all the seasons. Thine was a 'bpy who never had a “full sot” of toe-nails on at one time until 10 or 12 years -old, They hail -been “stump ed” off. Our hair-cutting was done by our mothers 'it home. A little fellow, with an air of martyrdom and long hair brushed down straight all around, over eyes and all, was seated on a Btool. A porcelain howl the size of his cranium was placed inverted upon his head, and so adjusted that the rim came down as far as the operator desired. Then she took a pair of scissors 'and cut the hair off all around, following the edge of the bowl. The job was done. Such a thing as ‘ ‘ shingling ” or “ clipping ’ ’ hair I never heard of in my childhood. Our trousers were worn long, down to our heels—that is, when not rolled up, which was mostly our style—especially one leg higher than the other. Other wise a boy was sometimes “tripped up by the big toe of one foot catching in the open trousers leg flapping over the other foot while running. We never heard of “knee pants.” None of us had ever heard the words “trousers” or “pantaloons;” hence our word ““britches,”, (aiming at breeches,’ which we had heard.) And we know no distinction between “coat” and '■'jacket'’'' as garments. Each was, to us, a “coat.” I don’t remember ever hearing the other word at all except as the name of an insect. I did not, and don’t yet, know what girls’ shoes were made of. Boys’ shoes were of cow brother, (for some reason also un known.) The Argo boys—General An drew Jackson and Dandy, (not nick names.) We pronounced the name “ Ahgrmy, ’ ’ and called tin) boys “Gen’l” and “Dninily." In those days brown sugar was shipped in hogs heads. Whoa one had been emptied it was rolled oat back of the store. • Then we boys would gather to scrape off Hakes of sugar left Stiilking to the staves on the insiilo. Only one boy at a time would enter the hogshond, and we either drew lots or fought for our turn at the sugar. On one occasion, while “Gen’l” was on the inside, one of the boys gave the hogshead a shove on tho upper side of the steep declivity that had previously supported the big barrel. Away went the hogshead bumpetty-bump,” with “Gen’l” tum bling 1 lmnpetty-lump ” within. The instant the cavortin’ paused out popped Gen’l,” bilin’ hot, and made for us. Hold my sugar, hold my. sugar, Daindy,” he kept exclaiming as he came, ‘ ‘ hold my sugar till I wliup ’im 1 ’ ’ But Dandy hnd caught a warning glance and would not tell on us; so the culprit escaped the well-deserved “whuppln’ ” threatened. And ‘ 1 Gen T ’ ’ never lost a grain of his sugar in his niad chase after usl There were the Martin boys, Billy and Hollis.; and Joe Pinson. Joe was called ‘ Jo-per-cow-patch”—I never knew why. His mother’s backyard was covered with “tea-weed,” and ’twas in there, according to report, a turtle’s dissevered head caught in its mouth a little cliir.ken while the family were dining off the reptile within the house. You may not believe this “yarn, but ‘knowed’ some others of that day just it to be true. __ There were Geo. Burch, Len Bolton, Joe Dent, (with his long logs,) Ben Corbin, Jinnnio Heflin, two Willcoxon boys, Sam Harlan; the Words—llhett, Ike and Edward As I pass the boys in review I feel tempted to .comment upon their line qualities, but space will not permit.’ Not all of us were saints, nor do I remember seeing indications of sprouting wings on any of them; but many were tip-top boys, and some were just lovely. Had there been any “rale mean fellows” I wouldn’t tell tlieir names anyway—so lot it go at that. Am not. quite-sure, but I seem to re call a Wnlter Cole. Then there were Will Tucker and his brother, Edwin Berry; Jim Combs and his legs; Prank Simril; Jodie Welch, and Lee; John anil Jimmie Bheinlmrdt; Abner Calhoun. But I must stop to tell you something about Ben Colbert, mentioned back yon der. Ben anil I were desk-mates—anil such love as existed between us! Well, Ben “raised him a bile” on his tem ple—a whopper—big as a guinea egg! Wouldn’t allow it lanced, and it looked like an overripe tomato!. Mad.e me swap seats with bun for fear I’d hit his “bile,” which was on the side next to me. At recess he would stand around with both hands up to fend off boys who came near. At recess one morning I picked up a big oak chip and sent it sailin,’ ” as we boys called it, toward him, but without any idea of striking him. “Look out, Beni” I exclaimed as I threw the chip. He ran exnctly into the curving path of the chip, and, wlmckI—it struck the “bile” corner- wiso precisely in .the center! A mass of bloody pus gushed out and ran down his cheek, and the “core” tumblod out like a big, defunct grubworm. I “lit out,” Ben after me. Round and round we went, until Ben was winded and in a good humor. I hnd cured- the ‘ ‘ bile. But there were still other boys—Alvan Freeman and his brother, Bill, the latter nest, completely destroying it. Tho “creoters” swarmed out and covered I’nddy, l wore my brush to n frazzle beating them oil', but scores upon scores stung him; yet the game little fellow never flinched. Drew Brown performed his part well, ns did the other “brush- ers, ’ ’ but practically all on tho ground, including spectators, were set h-dnneing ami slnmbnnghig. The postoffleo was rid of the yellow jackets, but Buddy was kept in lied for several days with “big head” mid fast closed eyes. Mr- Alexander (“John Elllek”) paid us off and wo were as happ.V as “flop-lips” and bunged up eyes would porlntt. Now, speaking of our pay, what, was iv “ thrip?" It was a piece of silver hall’ the value of a “ sovoiipcneo, ” old Feil- crnl coinage, worth cents; a “111rip,” then, was fl'A touts. The “ sevonpoueo ” ” (ono word) was liy many called a “boh,” mid after the introduction of decimal coinage was called “long bit,” while a 10-cent pieco (dime) was called “short bit.” In those days, and later, a quarter 1 ,dollar piece was called “two bits.” These fractional pieces gradually disappeared from circulation, until in the course of years all were gone. Many of them found their way into the pouch of an old blnck mammy called “Aunt Sy- liie, ” who sold gingorcakes and per simmon beor at a chosen corner on the Btreet. Don’t know whether she was a slave or not; never inquired. Iu fact, wo little boyB know nothing abou “slavery,” and cared less. We played with little “niggers” of our Bizo, wrastlcd” with them, went “n-fish- in’ ” with them—and that was the. end of tlie matter with us. A very important boy has been over looked in this rumbling sketch. His name was Charlie Sanders. His father was a physician and kept a “doctor shop.” Within tlmt building were stored many medicinal supplies—among thorn, in glass jars, sticks of licorice. The Doctor allowed his son free range of the “shop.” Some of us traded “aggits," fishhooks and other things to Charlie for licorice. He sported cornelian ‘(taws,” angled with us on Wnhoo .creek, and we—ate licorice. By the way, there wns a -‘.‘ tag-on.” nuisance of a boy named Jinnnie KERSEY «& PRATHER ME PRICES LOWER? COMPARE! And just what benefit does the shopping pub lic derive from a cut in wholesale prices ? THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON THE STORE leather, calf-skin not being worn until a little over our “ago limit;” a Ligon lads were well up in thoir “teens,” boy; two Gwins; one_ or two Luckies; when they, put on ‘.‘pump-soled” boots with long, soft legs. Tom Calhoun is tho only, boy I remember as wearing boots, and he was rather too large for our class. I now recall the names of those boys. There were Phil and “Shack” Simms; Ben and Morgan Colbert; Joe Keller, a native wit; Joe Nat Beadles, his brother Billy, a little older than our sot, and Ed, among the younger boys; Geo. and Bill Ramey, a little older; the Orr boys-; Davis Owen; long-legged Tom Walker; Andrew Boyd; Tom Brown. But let me tell you about Tom Brown. His father was a merchant and kept “playin’ marbles”—among them gen nine “aggits,” and they were costly. As a rule we had no money, but learned how to trade other things to Tom for “aggits,’’. and thus numbers of us soon became possesors of ‘ ‘ caruelian taws —beauties, too. -Now, Tom was no thief. He felt that what was his fath er’s was his, and his father seemed to recognize this right. But to proceed with the names of the hoys of those days: There were Charlie Arrington; Bill Kennedy, another long- legged fellow, whom we called ‘Canna dy; ’ ’ Ab Culberson; Jep Davis, his youager brothers, Dawson anil Posey, and Minor, a little older; Rhode Hack ney; “Doc” Thomas; Charlie McKin ley, and a brother whose name I do not now recall, sons of Ebenezer, Mc Kinley. Speaking- of odd names, there was “Bugg” Leigh; (that boy was no hum-“ bug, ” either.) Then there was an old chair-maker named Bradley, whose weight was, I think, in excess of 400 lbs,, whom we called Mister “Chur” (chair) Bradley. Mr. Potts Nimrnons was, to us, Mr. “Pot Simmons.” An eccentric old man, with long, gray, un trimmed hair and beard, lived a hermit life in the forest near town. His name was Jake Abrams. He always appeared *n town -costless and wearing a • ‘T-.heck- a Bowen or two; the Leigh boys; and a gentle young Geo. Potts, in age below long Bill Potts. Some of these names are only vaguely remembered; but here are two about which there is not a shadow of a doubt-—John and Lavender Ray. Being asked by his teacher how the earth is supported in space, John forgot what the book said, (if lie had ever known it,) and answered promptly,- ‘ ‘ De.v holds it up wid a dreut big rope. ’ ’ We all laughed; but why was not John right? What better name for “gravi ty” could he given? What better de finitive figure of the combined strands of the centripetal, centrifugal and other forces of gravity, ami what not else yet undiscovered? We had not at that time, any of us, ever heard any of tliose terms; but ideas are ideas, and John lmd one. On being asked liis name by the teachey at the opening of the term John’s brother, Lavender, replied: “Yal- emler Yobinson Yay,” hut everybody called him “ Paddy ’’—because his fath er was irish, I suppose. And he ivas as game as any Paddy that ever “shin ned up a mast” in a storm or charged a battery. I give an illustration: The postmaster (“John Ellick,” everybody called him,) contracted with a hunch of little boys at a “thrip” apiece to destroy a yellow jackets’ nest in a rot ten sill at ono of the corners of the postoffice building. Wo organized and drew for places in the assaulting col umn. Paddy drew No. 1, and his part the attack was to rip off the plank whom none of our crowd Wanted ' witli us, but who would follow us about. One | day that boy discovered that I was fish ing in tho branch below his home, and, I despite my objurgntive protests, inflict ed himself upon me. I had just decided to give up my sport when I lienrd his | mother’s voice: “Jimmie 1 Jimmiet- you, Jimmie!” No answer. Then,!] with shrieks: “ You, Jimmie! ” again and again. ‘VLook n-liere, said 1,1 ‘that’s your maw n-callin’, an’ you gotta go;” nml I escorted him. Ar-| rived at the house, Jimmie’s ‘ ‘ mow ’ ’ took him into a shOil-room for an “in terview,” to. which: I. listened -with- much' satisfaction! The good woman sound ly berated her son for nllowing that | bad boj’.” (deponent) to “toll him off ’ ’ from home; and then I lienrd the rythmic ‘ ‘ swish ” of a peach-sprout ns it was being applied to that part of ilie anatomy tliut would do the most good, accompanied by wnilings and sounds of distress which indicated thnt the peach- sprout was “hitting the spot.” Than I overheard a prayer in jerky sentences, in which the Lord was asked to ‘ ‘ for give Jimmie for yielding to the wicked enticements of that ‘ ‘ bad boy, ’ ’ and so on. The “interview” ended and. Jim-1 mie out in the yard again, I “enticed’ him into the woods back of the house- I lot. There occurred another ‘ ‘ inter-1 view, ’ ’ in which no peach-sprouts fig ured, nor prayers—unless Jimmie niado I them soto voce. But there was loft ‘ ‘ some signs ” of it among the leaves | miller the big .ed oaks. I pall up hero. You’ve heard enough uhout tiie little Newnan boys of the early ’50 ’a, huvon’t you. All right. 11 wish merely to remark, in conclusion, I that so fur as I know only one other of those small boys besides myself is living today—Henry Brewster, of the distinguished legal flrhi of Dorsey, Brewster & Howell, of Atlanta Blit maybe some of those boys whose names have not recurred to me aro -still among the living. If so, may the blessings of the Almighty God attend upon every | one of them. (The author of these delightful remi niscences is a retired Baptist minister, | now nearly 80 yenrs of age, and well- known throughout the State. His pres ent residence is in Columbus, Ga. He I has emitted the names of at least two of liis boyhood chums whom wo | know to he yet living—Col. Jos. H. Dent, of Oakley, Md,, anil Mr. B. D. Brewster, I of Sunny Side, Ga. There may ho oth ers; but, alas! nearly all have answered | the Inst JO'oll-call,” us the author puts It. There ore numerous descendants of his I “compatriots” of early days, however, and they will greatly enjoy Ilia- charm ing sketches of persons and incidents now almost forgotten by the present | generation.—rjidi tor.) A year ago we made public our policy, and announced then that we would give our cus tomers immediate benefit of every drop in wholesale prices. Regardless of profit or cost our stocks were cleared of inflated values. TODAY—with every garment new "'from the maker (majority of them purchased recently) —due to unseasonable weather for manufac turers, we offer most opportune savings. 19.75 24.75 29.75 39.75 Skirts 4.95 9.75 covering the sill and dig out the nest with a sharp Stick. I drew No. 2, and mv part was to thrash the insects off Paddy with a brush. Drew Brown, one of the bigger boys, was No.. 3, and his part was to protect me in like manner, anil so on down to the end of the line. Perhaps a hundred men and boys stood around as spectators. The assault was made iu the order described. Paddy ripped off the plank ond dug out the VIM AND VIGOR Follow, If You Take This Advice Chattanooga, Tenn. — "After four years of suffering and misery untold, from a trouble that seemed to baffle the doctors, I became despondent, when somehow I came into possession of Dr. Pierce’s book, “The Medical Adviser.” After reading it 1 decided I could be benefited by Dr. Pierce’s Golden Med ical Discovery and the Anuric tablets, so 1 began their use and in three weeks I started (o improve. I only weighed 125 lbs. when I commenced the treatment and today 1 weigh 140 !bs., and am prac tically well. 1 can’t give too much praise to Dr. Pierce’s God-given remedies.”— John A. James, 1812 Citico Avc. - You can quickly put yourself in A-l condition by going to your druggist and obtaining Dr. Pierce’s Family Remedic —tablets or liquid; or write Dr. Pierce, president Invalids’ Hotel in Buffalo, N. Y., for free medical advice. Get the Medical Adviser from your neighborhood druggist or send $1.00 to Dr. Pierre. In many instances the savings will buy an other garment of equal value. In every in stance the savings are fine. SEE FOR YOURSELF- COMPARE! YOU ARE NEVER URGED TO BUY SPECIAL SPECIAL Fine, roomy “Beacon” Extra heavy Jersey BATH ROBES PETTICOATS 5.00 5.50 5.95 5.00 KERSEY & PRATHER I