13 



and rude, but Which when analyzed j all sorts of boasts and banters. The 

 shows a strong sense of honor and , truth is he had coine to carry off the 

 manliness of eharneter. To settle | ))ek for manhood. The very boys in 

 minor disputes? and differences \vhet!i- j the street were roused to hot blood 

 (•)• for ima<rinfiry or veal jiersonal i in bt-half of what they regarded as 

 wrongs there were occasional fisti- the honor of their county and state, 

 cuffs. Then it sometimes occurred One of our first Board of Magistrates, 

 in affairs of this* kind that whole Edward L. Poindexler, was known to 

 neighbor!) )ods and communities took 

 an interest. I have known county 

 arravi^d against county, and state 



be a man of great physical powers. 

 Fie was a North Carolinean of the 

 old type, and no doubt, partly promjjt- 

 against stale, for the belt in cham{>i- j ed by state pride, he made up his 



onship, for manhood and skill in a 

 hand-to-hand tussel between local 

 bullies. When these contests took 

 place, the custom was for the parties 



mind to tackle the Tennessee bully. 

 The result was that after a long and 

 manly strtiggle the Tennescean went 

 away next day all bruised and sore 



to go into the ring. The ciowd of j with his game feathers fallen and 

 spectators demanded fairness and drooping all around him. This cus- 

 honor. If any one was disposed to j tom illustrates the times, and I have 

 ■s,hQ\s foul flay he was withheld or in ! introduced it more for the sake of 

 the attempt promjitly chastised by I contrast than a desire to parade it 

 some bystander. Then again, if ei-' before the public, 

 ther party in the tight resorted to any 1 How marked the difference be- 

 weapon whatever other than his I tween then and now. The custom 

 physical appendages, he was at once ; now is to tight with all kinds of dead- 

 hrande<I and denounced as a coward,^ Xy weapons, knives, razors, pistols, 

 and was avoided bv his former asso-land in fact with any and every kind 

 ciates. While this custom was hru- j of weapons that corqes to hand, 

 tal in its practice there was a bold ! From the mere stripling who js a 

 outcropping of character in it, for I novice in crime to the old offcnd^M- 

 such affairs were ccuiducted upon the: who has grown gray in iniquity, a 

 most punctilious poiiits of Aowor. i large number of men now carry pit- 

 Remember this, young man, to theliols. In defense of the habit, it is 

 day of your death. I reniv^mber thtit I usual to j)!ead personal protection 

 on one occasion, 1 think it was a | and changed conditions. Analysis 

 court week, a man by ihe name of i of the real cause for this habit, to- 

 Kean came from Tennessee to Frank- gether with a long series of observa- 

 lin. lie had quite a reputation in tions, shows that it grows out of 

 his state as a locrd bully. He parad-| about three conditions, viz; coward- 

 ed up and down the street making! ice, a thirst for blood, or a cojipcious- 



