Southampton Correspondence

From the Paisley Advocate

October 16, 1865

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Sir:  our usually quiet village has been somewhat enlivened of late by a greatly increased amount of business.  At no time for the past few years, during even the busy season of winter, have our merchants been so actively employed as at present.  The amount of wheat shipped from this port already this season (has) been thrice as much as during a corresponding period of any past year.  Prices, too, have been remunerative to the farmer, but why the difference between prices current here and in Toronto should be so great, I cannot imagine.

Today would have been somewhat more like our usual state of dullness at this season, had not two of our fellow townsmen, in their desire to show that human feelings and failings are the same world o'er, see fit to give us more than our customary share of excitement.  The matter is briefly this:...

A worthy knight of the scissors and needle had obtained a judgment at the court here last Saturday, against a neighbor, a son of Vulcan, whose portly frame had been much improved by the former's  handiwork.  This morning, Vulcan calling on his creditor, handed an account early balancing the one for which judgment had been given.  During the course  of an altercation which ensued, the man of iron, in a manner most "gentlemanly", as he himself characterized it, informed the lord of the scissors that he was a "rogue", "liar', &c, &e. 

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19/03/2009 04:59 PM

This so irritated poor Snip, that forgetting his instruments of art, he had to recourse to a weapon more deadly, "usually known as a revolver." A scuffle ensued --- "nobody was hurt", --- but the tailor was seen as proceeding at a rather uncomfortable rate down the street, aided in his progress by the brawny arms of Vulcan, who at length thought it best to "restrain his feelings" and lodge a complaint before a magistrate.  The case was brought up for hearing to-night.  Our Reeve presided and well did he maintain the dignity of the court, whilst both litigants, in the politest possible manner, abused each other as "scoundrels", "purjurers", "liars" &c.  Laughable would it elsewhere have been to see the amused look of the Reeve as the defendant proposed to settle the matter by a stand-up fight, if the plaintiff, some fourteen stone, would only bring himself down to his fighting weight, perhaps eight stone.  The matter at present lies adjourned for ten days -- the weapon meanwhile remaining in the possession of the court, where we hope it will remain until both parties appear to be more amicably disposed, and less inclined to settle their grievances ve et armis

Oct 16, 1865                                                      Southampton

Editor Notes:  The combatants were 196 lbs. vs. 112.  That is a heavyweight vs. a flyweight.

The article is courtesy of The Bruce County Museum and Archives and the research of John Weichel.