The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-02-12
The Oldest Nan in Am.rioa.

In q low cabin at the upper end Of a
narrow alley branching of from Fourth
sise-t enst. between Hastings and Antoine
streets, there dwtlls poor negro. known
among his Kindred as "oid Father Robin.
500. 1t Is customary to apply the appel
laiion "old to those who have passed
their siStieth year. but In case Of. Robinson
the adjective requires an additional one to
qnalify 1t, Tor being now In his ia year,
he is not only very old. but he is doubile.s
best entitled to the oft repss,ed phrsse,
the oldest inhabitant." Nor Is his re.
markable longevity The sole feature Of this
aged negro Unlike many, his faculties
have, been retained ,rnimpairedi Up 10
This week his vision was undiinmed and
his hearing unusually acute. but during the
last Few days he has failed rapidly until in
his own expressive language the clock ia
almost run down." ......-.. s-
Robinson was born in August, l75s. on
the plantation Of Col. Du Chiells in East
Maryland. Through the war OF the Rcyo.
luton. Robinson followed the fortunes Of
his master, serving him In the capacity O,
BODY guard. 1t was interesting TO sit and
liT'en I" 'his Old man few months ago
before the film of death had oLscured his
mental vision, and hear him tell Of the ex.
p'oits OF the Revolutionary soldiers, and
describe the terrible battle scenes thru,,b
which he had passed. A saber cut on III.
top OF his head and the loss Of fnrefinger
are the mementocs Of his valor. With e.
peeial pleasure he wouli relate how tn.
British army surrendered at Yorktown.
and would drpict the ecenes when IN.
proud Lord Coruwallis delivered up his
sword to Con. Washington. ....
| In the battle Of New Orleanp. fought on
January s. 1918, when General Jackson
overthrow the British host under Paeksn,
ham, Robinson also participated iu the same
! capacity as in the Revolutionary war. A
century isa long period to look back upon,
yet Robinson eosld describe the events of
his youth with cearness aud vigor, which
always rendered them interesting to his
auditors. In his humble cabin many of
our respectable and wealthy citizens have
frequently assembled 10 minister to- his
ieehle wants, in return for which he would
! repeat the story Of his life, and relate Incl.
dents OF the several crises through which
the nation las passed from its struggling
infancy to IFS present grand proportions.
As the reward OF his faithful services
Robinson WAS manumittsd some forty years
ego. lie has been married several timss
but his children and his wives were sera
rated from him. His present wife, with
whom he has been living over twenty
years, is ffty-nine years old, he icing
nearly double her age. -...-
When over eighty years of age lie was
still robust man, Elk feet In height. and
| quite erect. Such is The result Of a teuper.
ate and moral life. At an early period he
became connected with the Wesleyan Meth.
| odtsts. of whish Church he Is s,ill mem
| bcr.1 Christian men. white and black fro
quenily stand beside his couch. and ,he
impression left upon them all is that Robin.
son has bull his hope an a sure foundation
| s->TSH.
SENATOR DooLITTLK's SPEEcu.-Washinp-
tim correspondents speak of Senator Doolit
| ties late speech on Reconstruction as ono of
tho most remarkable events of tho session
Inc vast crowd in the galleries, and the silent
attention of Senators on the floor of the
House, reminded old visitors at the capitol of
the afternoon when Douglas, also the cham.
pion OF the great principles hello in his time
by a minority of American citizens, command
ed and won the sympathies of all men O,
every political faith who could crowd into the
Senate chamber and listen. So uuimpoacbo.
bio were many Of the arguments employel NV
'ho SENATOR and so pointedly put forward
were inc more decisive statements of fact, that
Radical Senators often moved uucasily in
their seats, and applause in the galleries could
hardly be suppressed. At times the spook.r
whose voice and frame and dignity of manner
were moro facinating than they had ever be.
fore been, startlcd the whole Senate into man.
Host admiration, and even whom be uttered hi.
most singing ACCUSATIONS and sarcssms
against the party and the men who are irwin,
70 initiate s"mson by rszing the pillars Of
constitutional government, his bearing was
TOO manly and his accent too free from ,ny-
sh'ng more personally offensive than the hon.
est indignation of a patriot tn cause n sin,lo
Senator to protest. The Radicals VINO ono
Jear ago, whenth star of Radicalism was in
tho ascendant, would have boon conf,lon,
enough OF their power to quit the chamber
and pay no attention to whatever Senator
Dooiittle or any other Conservative might say
In 1t, exhibited a trepidation and draorali.a-
tion which they have not shown to such nn
extent NJ any time during the past memorable
fortnight. So.
fRsSpsiIIr When I see leaves drop
from their trees in the beginning of autumn