Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-01
JOHN GILLIS.

In 1926, resided in st. Paul's Parish.
My plantation was situated about thirty
miles on the other side of the Ashley Riv-
er, not far from the small hamlet of Will
toun's Bluff The parish at that period
was thickly settled by opulent, educated,
and decidedly exclusive gentlemen. The
society among ourselves was charming.
Every person occupying a certain social
position was intimate with his neighbor !;
and what with club-dinners, whist gather
ings, balls, and hunting matches, the win
tiers passed merrily enough. But, as 1
have said, we were aristOcrats in both feel
ing and practice. Amy newcomer, de-
sirous of''pitching his tent" in st. Paul's,
was well aware-if he knew anything
whatever of us-that admission to our no.
tice and friendship was not to be dreamed
of, unless his credentials in regard to birth
and breeding were of an unexceptionahle
character. No French noble, under the
reign OF the Fourteenth Louis, could have
been charter on these points than we
were, or more disposed to look de haul en-
bas upon those we had reason to consider
our social interiors. This principle of ex-
clusvieness, however, was destined to re-
ceive a shock. A fellow named John Gil
lis, who for years had acted as Overseer
upon different plantations near the Eds
to, az d whose wealth-by no means scru-
pulously acquired-was reported as enor-
nous, came to reside i'm st. Paul's, some
time, during the winter of ;26. He came
under the worst possible auspices; for. in
addition to the general bad opinion of his
character, he forced the sale of the finest
plantation in the parish (after having
bought up the floating notes of its own
er, one of our favorite friends and, final
ly, so maneuverd as to possess himself of
the entire estate. Ell
"He had scarcely been settled therein a
month, before, with unparalleled audaci-
ty, he sent his name in as candidate for
admission to our club. The magnates of
that association stood aghast. For nv
part, 1 couldn't help laughing at the
mans impudence, but, of course, Joined
the others In blackballing him.
This rejection, instead of abashing,
merely inturiated Gillis. He took advan-
tage of the circumstance that nothing had
been absolutely proceed against his charac-
ter for honesty and upright dealing, to
assert his claims to be received upon an
equal footing socially, in the most aggra-
waiting and offensive manner.
Perseverance, backed by unlimited
cheek to borrow a slang phrase), are
capable Of accomplishing a great deal.
1t so happened that one of our young
men-the 'bluest'-blooded perhaps Of
them all-got into a personal difficulty
with Gillis, who, being combative as q
game-chicken, and brave as Julius Cesar.
Immediately challenged him to the field
OF honor. The youth, in his anger, &C
ccepted the challenge, and was shot
through the lungs for his condescension.
de did not die, but his health was perma-
nently injured. .f--' =
The consequence of such a meeting
was necessarily to weaken, If not DESTROY.
lhe einciency of our taboo. A man when
one OF our comrades had fought. we nj
was maintainedD could not continue utter-
" 10 ignore. True, our club-doors were
ciosed against his admission as STRINGENT
iy as ever, and in both our Individual and
couective capacity we refused tn as-
sociate with him. Nevertheless tho
shrewd rascal comprehended that nn
one essential point, he had us.; as Rss.
sanlo says, upon the hip A fastidious
number OF our circle had established =
precedent it would scarcely be en- rsols n
violate. In extreme cases, therefors. M
!ohn Gillis was to enjoy the privilege of
popping away at our honorable carcssses
"a concession which 1 alone vainly on
posed as foolish and demoralizing =
Ihus the resolute ,pa,penn endeavored
10 lorce his way upward, pistol i'm hand.
Every year, for the three years following,
ne was ont with some member of our
clu6. and on every occasion he had sue
ceeded in 'winging' his adversary. We