The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-05-16
10 be continned.l


EAST MISSISSIPPI May Z, 1872.
MessrS. Editors Several of my neigh
bors having some business in the u. 5. Tax
Collectors Office in Columbus, Miss,
agreed to go up there and attend to it, if
they would pay my expenses. They fur
nished me with thirty dollars and | left.
Before leaving, however. Mr.. Jones gave
me letter of introduction to a prominent
gentleman. L never found the party TO
whom the letter was addressed, but having
the letter carried me into fine company.
At the Hotel (Gilmer House) | was told
that had better 90 among the lawyers for
information Oh the points which | desired.
| asked for directions and went i'm search
of the lawyers. Finally, l stepped into an
office that was open; and boy in the front
room says, you wish to see Major or Col
onel?" Being entirely a stranger to such
places, / concluded that MAJOR was as
high as 1 could go. 4 replied TO the genteel
colored individual, Il wish to see Major"
The colored gentleman retired and directly
handsomely dressed, very impressive
looking man came out and said, ''good
morning" He had an air of business and
thought about his face. 1.-THE servant tells
Major. BE seated" he continued, drawing
a chair from the wall. l did not sir, but
handed him Mr.. Jones letter. He said,
This person has been dead twenty years,
unless L am mistaken. but walk back with
me, and perhaps Col. Matthews may know
some other party by the same name" |
went back, and there sat four other gentle
men. 1 was introduced to them all and it
is great distinction to be in such company.
Mr.. Jones says, "a man is judged by the
company he keeps and, if judgment had
been passed on me then, would have gone
down to posterity a great man. There
were present Col Beverly Matthews, Col.
5. M. Meek, Maj. j. NJ. Arnold aud Capt.
w. w. HUMPHREYS, of Columbus, and Gen.
Robert Lowry of Brandon. / have never
seen collection of finer looking men.
Col. Matthews is a large man, fully six feet
high, broad shoulders and erect carriage
His forehead reminds you of Daniel Web
ster. His nostrils diIate with each breath.
like those of race horse. He has a large
mouth, full of good sound teeth. He is a
man to attract attention among thousand;
he is a man of genius-an orator. Col.
Meek is fully six feet three inches high,
and has the most magnificent person | ever
saw. He has an expressive and rather
handsome face, voice singularly well
modulated, and rather dreamy eye that
no one but poet ever has. Col. Meek is a
brother of the lamented and beloved, and
gifted son of the South. the late Hon. A. b.
Meek of Alabama. He is himself bril-
liant orator.
Maj. Arnold, my front room man, is IA
gentleman of very impressive appearance.
He is of medium stature. His eye is his
most striking feature, unless it be his broad
and capacious forehead. When he fastens
his eye upon you, you instinctively dodge,
for there seems To be an arrow behind. His
genial smile, however, dispels all fear of
anything harsh, and suggests genuine be-
nevolence.
Capt. HUMPHREYS is a gentleman that re-.
minds one of young English nobleman, at
least what imagine to be the appearance
of young baronet. He has most COM
handing appearance, but his manners are
so elegant and conciliatory that he relieves
a countryman, like myself, of all embarrass-
ment. These gentlemen are all distin-
guished lawyers. l wish l had a case-I
would employ every one OF them. Oppo-
site to Col. Matthews sat Gen. Robert Low
ry. He is of medium size, but of a face,
and demeanor so peculiar. so |
that you look at him in spite |
of yourself, | caught myself gazing at him |
several times. His complexion is clear and |
rich. He has an eye as beautifully blue as
the morning sky. His forehead is "a smooth !
as that of girl, ,ahd his hair is of rich. |
peculiar color that cannot name. In his |
talents and disposition he seems to combine |
the softness of the dove and boldness of the /
eagle.
Before 1 retired, the accomplished Prof. |
J. f. Tarrans, President of the Female Col |
lege, came in. He is emphatically man of |
appearance. After being intro |
duced and sitting down, very much ex-
hausted. Col. Matthews says; General, 1 !
repeat, sir, the man who travels in the wake
Of a tornado and scatters roses and balm |
and perfume, trapscends, in all lofty attri- 4
butes, the man who, amid the roaring of the \
tempest, basely makes sacrificial offerings |
TO the Demon of the Storm, as the heavens
surpass the earth in the grandeur and glory |
Of q Southern midnight" / began to feel |
rather like Tittlebat Titmouse did in Par
lament, and rose to leave. l ascerIained,
however, that Mr.. Jones friend was dead,
and had been for twenty years.
/ can't understand why it came to pass,
but Mai. Arnold says: William, dine with
me to-day" Gen. Lowry rose gracefully
and says; .4WilHGD is from East Mississippi,
and vouch for him. hope, sir, you will
line with Mai. Arnold. / have an engage
nent to do So" / could not refuse; but /
dreaded to undertake the job. / knew he
lived in some OF those great big houses.
Capt. Humphries kindly, and in his courtly I
lyle, rendered the hospitality Of his man
ion. ALI the rest, have no doubt, We're on
he eve of doing the same when left
According 70 appointment made my {
appearance at the elegant residence of Maj. | {
Arnold, and sat down TO one of the finest |
linners 1 ever saw. Mrs. Arnold presided
Ike queen. She was deliberately dressed {
d black silk, and had all those characteris-
les of beauty and grace that belong 70 the {
highest type Of Southern womanhood.
about four. o'clock a splendid carriage / (
rove up and Gen. Lowry Informed me that
ffs. ArneId proposed to show me some of
be pretty things OF Columbus. ] felt 50 ]
Unworthy OF such attention, that attempt
d TO excuse myself, when Mrs. Arnold {
inferred the parlor and said, ~William, '
A..