The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-01-30
STORIES or THE oLDRI TINE.

Old Haj. Throckmorton and Charles
Dlekens-Col. Dick WintsrsmitA
and the Attache emmy Lind'a
Trip up the Mississippi.
lLeusville Correspondence New Ysrk tun.I
Old Major Throckmorton. ~ho KEPT
the Gait House here for years, V dead,
but the memory Of him survives. 4
Was the Major who said that thA turkey
was q very inconvenient bird-tvo large
for one and not large enough br two.
When Charles Dickens visited this
country in '46, he meant to stay day
or two in Louisville, and, OF couise, ,put
up at the Calf House. He haa beer
we'll settled in his room in the sscpnd
story. only an. hour or tEo vhetfthe
Major, bosom friend Of Henry Clay,
and on terms of moro or less intimacy
With every notable man in the South
sent in his name TO the novelist and
followed il . moment after ii person
"Mr. Dickens" he began, extending
his hand, "we are glad to welcome you
We know You and admire you. and viii
reckon it . privilege to be allowed te
extend to you the hospitalities Of the
metropolis Of Kentucky. As your es'
pecial host, beg that you will COM
mand me for any service in my powel
to render"
Mr.. Dickens received this with I
frigid stare. "When I need you, land
lord" he said, pointing to the door, 81
will ring"
Tho Major was for an instant para
lyxed. Then he rushed at his guest
caught him by ono leg and the shoul
der, and had him half way out Of th'
open window before another visitor il
the room could interfere and save th'
Englishmsu's life. Mr.. Dickens lef
town the same day. and the only men
tion that he made in his "Americal
Notes" Of Louisville was TO refer to
casual pig that he saw roofing in th'
street as he was on his way to take tn
river steamer.
Around the Major at the Gait Hous'
was collected crowd Of coneenial spir
its, most Of whom are now dead o.
scattered. Among them was Col
Richard Wintersmith. now, believe, ,
resident of Washington. He Was SEQ.
rstary Of State of Kentucky in thos'
days. but. when the war broke ont, ven
South with Breokinridge and Preston
and the rest. He Was q great friend o
Breckinridge and . warm advocate o
that gentlemsn's claims to be made
President of the Southern Oonfederacy
One day. in the Gait House. just be
lfors the Kentrcky psrty ssarred south
Breckinridgs came up to group o
which the Colonel was the center, So
down ON his knee. threw his arm abou
his neck, and said; "Dick, when I an
President I want you to ask for an,
Office you want, and it's yours"
"No Office for me. Dir. Breckinridge.''
said tho Colonel; 'but when you ars
President there is one thing I woult
like for you TO do. want you to com
to me in some public place like this. 81
down on my knee. put yonr arm aroun,
my neck. anil just call me Dick.
That's all. I'll take care of the rest.
1 heard another story of Col. Dick Il
the Galt House the other night. whsr
stories Of him are told without number
It appears that the Colonel was on hi
way down Pennsylvania Avenue 70 cal
on Mr.. and.M Hayes. Just befor
them Was . slight and undersizsd at'
tachs Of ono OF the foreign Legations
Col. Wintsrsmith 10 over six feet tall
and large in proportion. Mrs. w.
made some remark which the foreigns
overheard and considered insulting
He tnrned fercely on the Colonel.
II hold you responsible for that. sir,
he said. II hold you responsible .
this lady's husband"
"No. you don't" replied Col. Rich
ard. who Was a particularly gallant sol
der doing tie war. mo sir. She
got . father. and she's got brothers
Go to them. Tn no blood relation"
Col. Dick had his joke. and the towl
laughed the foreigner out Of his craving
for gore.
Another boon companion Of the oil
Major was Capt. st. Clair Thomassen
commander Of one Of the Great Missis
sippi steamers in the days when ther,
were no railroads to Nav Orleans, ant
when . trip down tho river was tn
thing for every rich planter and hi
family to take each winter. It was n,
uncommon occurrence for one party
especially bridal party-to secur'
every stateroom on board, and max
the six days voyage journey vortl
remembering. Among the no gro
waters there vera always half dozei
musicians or moro, and with this bant
there Was dance each evening, viii
sometimes . concert IN the ladies' cabin
when highsborn ladies' sang sentiments
songs, alternately with the plantation
melodies Of the darky walters.
met the old Captain the other even
ing in the Gait House rotundA. He i
no longer on the river, bat spends hi
summsrs in Saratoga and his vinters q
Louisville or New Orleans. He il
known to shout every body in the South
west. He dresses with scrupulous neat
ness, wears an old-fashioned collar
sround which is wound . brilliant rel
cravat, and il full Of stories Of stesun
boating days. / asked hum il ~
newspaper story was trns. said 70 hav'
|bssn told BY him several years ago
shat hs WAS With Jenny Lind at Mag
ara whom the great songstress dropped
on her knees at tho brink Of the cata
rsct. and, with streaming eyes. Thanked
ia that ~ had vnnrhsaf~d q, hav En-