(Editor’s note: The following is a reproduction of historical newspaper excerpts and as such contains cultural descriptions which some may find offensive and which would not be used today.)
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A dangerous experience
RH Horne, author of Orion [Greek mythology], was a man of very strong prejudices. Among others, he cherishes one against the Reverend Robert Montgomery, the author of Satan, etc. In a book he edited, he had very pitilessly attacked the popular preacher, who was nevertheless a bit of a charlatan. Although they never saw each other, they harbored mutual hatred.
A mutual friend, determined to bring them together, organized a dinner to which the poet preacher and his savage assailant were invited. Entering the house with Montgomery, his servant told him in a low voice that Mr. Horne was in his little writing room. He therefore led the reverend rhymer very coldly into the room where Horne was alone, and introduced them to each other under the assumed names of Jones and Brown. Asking permission to be excused while he dressed for dinner, he left the two belligerents alone. When the door closed, Mr. Horne said: “Sir, as my name is not Jones, perhaps yours is not Brown.”
“Certainly not,” answered the divine smiling. “I am Reverend Robt. Montgomery.
“And I, sir, am Mr. Horne.
They looked at each other, burst out laughing, shook hands, and when their host came down he found the Kilkenny cats, instead of devouring each other down to their tails, laughing at tales that they had amused themselves. .
The [Williamstown?] Southern Methodist Traveller
January 1, 1858
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The Southern Methodist Itinerant is published the first and middle of every month, by W. Kennedy, SC Shaw and Sons, at one dollar a year, in advance. All communications and other matters involving the interests of the journal should be addressed to W. Kennedy, the editor.
Our correspondents will contact us at Parkersburg; the employees of the office with which we are in exchange will kindly do us the favor of going to the register, with this note in hand, and changing our address from Williamstown, Wood County, Virginia, to Parkersburg, Wood County, Virginia .
The [Parkersburg] Southern Methodist Traveller
February 1, 1859
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A tongue
A Hindu[sic] and a New Zealander once met on the deck of a missionary ship. They had been converted from their paganism and were brothers in Christ, but they could not talk to each other. They showed their Bibles, shook hands, smiled, but that was it. Finally a happy thought came to the Hindu. With sudden joy he exclaimed: “Alleluia!” The New Zealander, delighted, exclaimed “Amen!” These two words, not found in their own pagan languages, were for them the beginning of “one language and one discourse!”
The Southern Methodist Itinerant
June 1, 1859
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scary race
Last Tuesday morning, Mr. Stone’s two-horse team spooked outside Mr. Hopkin’s store on Market Street and raced down Market to Kanawha Bridge and then drove towards the tip, where they actually resisted. all attempts to verify them; they turned the right corner and continued their run about three miles up the river road, where they were easily stopped, having completely exhausted themselves in the run. They kept the cart with them, and nothing was broken or materially damaged, – unless the horses were hurt by the pleasure. Quite a number of children and others saved their lives, by being or standing aside.
The [Parkersburg] Southern Methodist Traveller
March 21, 1860
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have any comments or questions about Look Back articles, please contact him at: [email protected], or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.
