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Story
September 5, 1874
Martinsburg Weekly Independent
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Newspaper exchange mocks Cumberland's morals via jail commitments, countered by a tale of a stranger claiming to scout for hell, deeming locals unfit to move. Highlights town rivalry with humor.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Eighteen persons were committed to the jail of this county on Saturday night last. If we keep on at that rate the morals of Cumberland will be on a par with Martinsburg and Piedmont.—Cumb. Times.
That is rich. When Martinsburg gets down on a par with Cumberland, it will be time to invite in missionaries. The following incident which recently came to our knowledge gives a pretty fair estimate of the status of Cumberland.
A stranger recently stopped in the place, and no one could find out his business, which so distressed some of the citizens, that they appointed McCardell a committee of one to ascertain who he was and what he was after. With true journalistic enterprise, Mac interviewed him.
He was a cool, deliberate "cuss," and in reply to McCardell's question, said he was "an agent of the devil, looking out a new location for the infernal regions, and from his observations he thought Cumberland would suit admirably, from the fact that it would be unnecessary to remove the inhabitants."
It is unnecessary to say that McCardell went off on his ear and the stranger thereafter was severely let alone.
That is rich. When Martinsburg gets down on a par with Cumberland, it will be time to invite in missionaries. The following incident which recently came to our knowledge gives a pretty fair estimate of the status of Cumberland.
A stranger recently stopped in the place, and no one could find out his business, which so distressed some of the citizens, that they appointed McCardell a committee of one to ascertain who he was and what he was after. With true journalistic enterprise, Mac interviewed him.
He was a cool, deliberate "cuss," and in reply to McCardell's question, said he was "an agent of the devil, looking out a new location for the infernal regions, and from his observations he thought Cumberland would suit admirably, from the fact that it would be unnecessary to remove the inhabitants."
It is unnecessary to say that McCardell went off on his ear and the stranger thereafter was severely let alone.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Deception Fraud
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Town Rivalry
Humorous Anecdote
Stranger Interview
Devil Agent
Morals Commentary
What entities or persons were involved?
Mccardell
Stranger
Where did it happen?
Cumberland
Story Details
Key Persons
Mccardell
Stranger
Location
Cumberland
Event Date
Recently
Story Details
A newspaper quips about Cumberland's high jail commitments equaling other towns' morals; response shares anecdote of citizens sending journalist McCardell to query mysterious stranger, who wittily claims to be devil's agent scouting Cumberland as ideal hell due to inhabitants, leaving McCardell stunned.