FLOGGING AN EDITOR.

Auckland Times, Volume 3, Issue 143, 4 October 1845, Page 4

FLOGGING AN EDITOR.

Some years ago a populous town, lo" cated towards the interior of Mississippi, was infested by a gang of blacklegs, who amused themselves at times when they could find nobody else to pluck, by preying upon each other. A new importation of these sporting gentry excited some alarm among the inhabitants, lest they should be overrun. They determined, therefore, upon their expulsion, A poor country editor, who was expected, by virtue of his vocation, to take upon himself all the responsibilities from which others might choose to shrink, was peremptorily called upon by his " patrons," that is, those who paid him two dollars a-year for his paper, and, therefore, presumed they owned him, soul and body, to make au effort towards the extermination ot the enemy. The unfortunate editor said at once that he would indite a " crusher;" one that would undoubtedly drive the obnoxious vermin into some more hospitable region. And when his paper appeared it was a " crusher" sure enough. In the course of his observations he gave the initials of several of the fraternity, whom he advised to leave town as speedily as possible, if they had the slightest desire to save their bacon. The next morning, when the poor scribe was comfortably seated in his office, listlessly fumbling over a meagre parcel of exchanges, he heard footsteps on the stairs, and presently an individual, having accomplished the ascent, made his appearance. His first salutation was slightly abrupt.

" Where's the editor of this dirty, lying paper ?" Now, aside fiom the rudeness of this opening interrogatory, there were other considerations that induced the editor to believe there was trouble on foot. The personage who addressed him bore a cow. hide in his hand, and, moreover, seemed to be exceedingly enraged. This was not all, he recognised in him a distinguished leader of the sporting fraternity, with whose cognomen he had taken very irreverent liberties. It was without the slightest hesitation, that he replied to the introductory query. " 1 don't know." «• Do you belong to the concern ?" " No, indeed, but I presume the editor will soon be in," *' Well," said the visitor, «« I will wait for him ;" and suiting the action to the word, he composedly took a chair, picked up a paper, and commenced reading. '* If I meet him," said the frightened knight of the scissors and quill, *« I will tell him there is a gentleman here who wishes to see him." As he reached the foot of the stairs in his hasty retreat, he was accosted by another person, who thus made himself known :

" Can you tell me where I can find the sneaking rascal who has charge of this viilanous sheet ?" producing the last number of Freedom's Echo and the Battle Axe of Liberty. " Yes," replied the editor, '« he is up there in the office now, reading, with his back to the door." «« Thank you," exclaimed the stranger as he bounced up stairs. '* I have got you, have I ?" he ejaculated, as he made a grasp at his brother in iniquity, and they came crashing to the floor together. As the combatants, notwithstanding the similarity of their vocation, happened to be unacquainted with each other,'* a very pretty quarrel" ensued. First one was at the top ; then the other f—blow followed blow, kick followed kick, and oath followed oath,—until, bruised, exhausted, and bloody, with faces and features re-

sembling a couple of pugulists after two hours' encounter, there was, by mutual consent, a cessation of hostilities. As the warriors sat on the floor contemplating each other, the first comer found breath enough to ask, " Who are you ? what did you attack me for ?" " You abused me in your paper, you scoundrel !" " Me ! I'm no! the editor, I came here to flog him myself |" Mutual explanations and apologies ensued, and the two mistaken gentlemen retired " to bind up their wounds." As the story comes to us, the distinguished individual whose vocation it was to en« lighten the world by the aid of the great engine, the public press, ultimately escaped scot free.