The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-07-23
fFFrom the N. Y. Evening Postl
First Glass Society at the Arkansas
f. Springs.

The leading papers of the Southwest
contain standing advertisements descrip-
tive of the delights which await the tray
eler in search of health and pleasure at
the Hot Springs of Arkansas: After
carefully enumerating the maladies for
which their healing waters are beneficial,
the advertisement describes in glowing
terms the beauties Of nature, the mag
nifcent scenery, the excellent hunting
and fishing, and winds up by assuring
the public that the hotel offers 'sall the
comforts and elegances of refined home
combined with first-class society" If the
recent report that our worthy Vice
President, Mr.. Wilson, is about to visit
the Arkansas Springs and mingle with
this society has any Foundation, Senator
Carpenter, of Wisconsin, who is the act
ing President of the Senate of the United
States, may expect a permanent promo
ton.
Mr.. Ephraim Taggart, in an evil mo-
ment as we will see later, fell in with a
paper containing an account of this
"pays de Cocagne." He had been for
many years a martyr to acute rheuma-
tism. This malady, according to the
legend, could not exist for moment
when brought into contact with the
waters of these wonderful springs. Mr..
Taggart had lived solitary life on his
plantation upon the banks of the slug
gish Homochitto, in the state of Mississ-
ippi, entirely deprived not only of first
class society," but of society of every
kind The appeal to him was direct and
irresistible. He packed his trunk and
started for Arkansas, in search of health
and "the comforts and elegances of a
refined home" ~ ~ H
At the springs Mr.. Ephraim Taggart
made the acquaint tance of Colonel Charles
Gordon, of Galveston, Texas, a pleasant
gentleman of winning" manners, as Mr..
Taggart found out only too late. As is
the habit in ''frst-class society" at hot
springs all the world over, these votaries
of fashion killed many dull hour with
cards. One fine Thursday afternoon the
Colonel proposed quiet game of poker"
to the gentleman from Mississippi. On
this eventful occasion Mr.. Taggart was
pursued by the most astonishing ill-luck.
No matter how strong his hand, Gordon's
was always stronger. Taggart, after los
ing all his money. put up his watch
against two hundred dollars of his own
money which had been won by the
Colonel, and called his adversary on a
pair of aces..seG Gordon's luck did not de-
sert him. HeIexhibited three aces. and
pocketed the watch. There were, it
seems, five other gentlemen in the
room. Taggart jumped up from his chair
accused the Colonel of cheating, and de-
manded his money and his watch. The
Colonel was fully equal to the emergency,
and replied with great dignity of man
nern so the account says: There can be
no such thing as cheating among gentle
men, sir; but the cards have been run
ming very wildly" The unreasonable
Taggart thereupon refused to be COM
forted became very violent. forgot for
the moment all the usages of "hrst-class
society,"" and, shaking his fist in the
Coloneps face shouted OUT "You black
leg, if YOU don't settle with me right
here I'll -" But he never finished
the phrase; for Colonel Gordon, with a
step backward drew out his knife, and
deftly sheathed it in Mr. Ephraim Tag
CARTS body to the "extent of about six
inches" with the remark, II reckon that
will settle you.
The Colonel was entirely correct in his
reckoning. Mr.. Ephraim Taggart fell
dead to the floor; When Gordon, quietly
removing his knife from its temporary
sheath, wiped the blood from the blade
"with the end of a red sash he wore
round his waist" and, brandishing it in
the air, turned to the five astonished
spectators of the lively scene, and pleas
antly asked "if any gentleman had any
thing to say about it" Notwithstanding
this polite invitation to speak, nobody |
seemed disposed to continue the conver-
sation, which dropped then and there,
whereupon the gallant Colonel Withdrew.
OF Mr.. Ephraim Taggart we hear nothing |
more except that he was "decently plant
ed" to use the expressive imagery of that
country, in neighboring churchyard.
Poor fellow "first-olass society" proved |
to him more deadly foe than acute |
rheumatism.
The event., however, was .toosgTGvsSto |
pass unnoticed, even at the Hot Springs
of Arkansas The next day meeting of
the mutual friends of the two gentlemen
was held at the hotel, Gordon being
present, we are told, dressed in "a red