I thought the hurrah that Georgia had stirred up over its Tennessee land (and water) grab effort had died down, but there seems to be antagonism smoldering in the minds of some area people. Last week I had two experiences which indicate this very strongly.

Trying to build up my endurance after a long hard shut-in winter, in recent weeks I have taken a daily walk, usually crossing the Market Street Bridge and retuning by way of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, then proceeding along the Tennessee River behind the Aquarium before heading home. One day last week I met a young lady dressed as a Southern Belle handing out passes for a ride on the good ship "Southern Belle." Always a Tennessee River enthusiast, I joined a boisterous group of holiday makers aboard the noon cruise, which was smooth sailing until near the western end of the cruise, some Big Mouth at the front of the boat announced loudly: "When the border gets fixed, we are going to change the name to the Georgia River!" There was a dangerous rush toward Big Mouth such as one would expect if the Georgia Bulldog mascot were attacking the Vols' Old Smoky. There followed a great hassle of words and gestures, some in jest and some not so funny. The Captain started the calliope and the feuding word-exchangers settled down to exchanging hard stares.

A day or so later I was sitting on the Walnut Street Bridge when an elderly man sat down beside me. (I can describe him as being "elderly" because he later volunteered his age which is three years beyond mine!) Shortly after he sat down, the "Southern Belle" passed under us, its calliope playing "Cruising Down the River." When it was far enough away to allow us to talk, I began to tell him about my recent experience--which had the effect of putting a burning match to a stick of dynamite. He is--it turns out--a resident of East Ridge, who--like my daughter--would be a resident of Georgia if the land grab were to be successful--and he does not view the possibility gracefully.

Trying to lower his blood pressure a bit, I told him that I'm from Polk County and we learned over a century ago to take land grabs in our stride, referring to North Carolina's several efforts to annex the Copper Basin in the 19th century. I told him the story of George Washington in the early 1790s personally instructing the surveyors of the Tennessee-North Carolina border to "follow the crest of the Mountain," which they did through the fall and into the bitter winter when they could take the cold no longer. At that point, they dropped the line straight South (which is clear on any Tennessee map) and went home. Thus the Copper Basin became a part of Tennessee, a part which North Carolina has used every legal means at its disposal to take it into its ken.

The Copper Basin is still a part of Polk County and Tennessee (though--this I did not share with him--there have been two half jokingly efforts to take Polk County out of Tennessee--not to join North Carolina or Georgia, but to establish it as an independent state!).

So I sought to assure the irate East Ridger that his worst fears were not likely to happen. Sadly he was not reassured by my story and, in fact, questioned my veracity. Having unwittingly fanned the flames of the border-issue fire, I left my bench companion still fuming over Georgia's arrogance.

I believe it was Alexander Pope in the 18th century who wrote "Whatever is, is right,' clearly an arguable statement, but regarding state boundaries that seems to have been the philosophy of the U. S. Courts.

Please remember that I write from memory--which sometimes plays tricks on us. If you--like my chance companion on the Walnut St.Bridge--ever think that I am historically (or hysterically) in error, please correct me at nowandthenbhm@msn.com or at 300 W 6th St., Apt. 4-B, Chattanooga, TN 37402. I will appreciate your in-put and be happy to give you all the credit.