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Show Arkansas Chivalry The other day several men when a handsomely dressed "You may not believe me," my arm around that lady." were standing on a street corner talking, lady passed. said a man named Spriggins, "but I have had sir!" exclaimed young Mr. Paperage, and "You are a vile slanderer drawing off, he struck Mr. Spriggins a heavy blow between the eyes. Both parties were instantly arrested, and when Mr. Spriggins requested that the lady be summoned, a policeman caught up with her and requested her presence in court, which had just convened in afternoon session. "Judge," said Paperage, "while several acquaintances and myself were standing on the street talking this lady passed. Then this man," pointing to Spriggins, "remarked that he had put his arm around her. The lady is nothing to me, Judgge, but my mother was a lady, and my sisters are ladies, and I have always made it a point to chastise a man to speaks ill of a lady," "Mr. Spriggins," remarked the judge, "did you say that you had put your arm around the lady?" "Yes sir." "Then the gentleman did right in striking you. Ladies are not safe in Little Rock so long as such ruffians are allowed to insult them." "Judge, allow the lady to speak," requested Spriggins. "Certainly. You will please make your statement." "I didn't hear the man when he said that he had put his arm around me, and as I passed on, I do not know what occurred." "Excuse me from being blunt, but - but -" "Do you mean to ask if the man ever put his arm around me?" "Yes." "This I must say he has." For a few moments there was a deep silence, only disturbed by a boy who picked at the plastering with a horseshoe nail. "What right had he to put his arm around you?" stammered the judge. "Because," answered the woman, he is my husband." When the court adjourned, the men took beer, and the "Court adjourned." - Little Rock Gazette |