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A Matter of Pride © 1979 Robert E. Dalton
Wherever man exists so does competition, and there is no limit to the number of things which can be contested. Mark Twainians jumped bullfrogs, and Robert W. Serviceites pitted themselves against nature itself. Hillbillies are no different. If a man has a skill, he wants to know just how good he is at it, and the only way to do that is by competing with someone who is proficient in the same art.
Hillbilly activities of this type include events such as horseshoe pitching, turkey shoots, tree climbing and ax wielding. Whatever the endeavor, the contestants put body and soul into their efforts to excel. It isn't so much the desire to win, (a man can lose and still command respect) it is simply a matter of pride.
Chaw-terbacky Johnson was just as proud of his expertise in "terbacky-spittin'" as any artist is of his greatest masterpiece, and was willing to do his utmost to prove it. The fact that the outcome was somewhat less than gratifying was completely beyond his control. After all, some contests do get out of hand, and on occasion, may even lead to disaster. Such was the Brown Creek incident. You may be the judge of where the fault lay as you peruse the poem depicting the tragedy.
Now snuggle back in your goose-feathered easy chair, click here, an' get ready for a long, tall tale.
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