Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-11
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TheHome ofAIexanderBnbhehs
Left for the Georgia Gov
ernOr's Mansion

at $50 sharp, the committee entered
the spacious grounds Of the Liberty
Hall estate, passed tho church in the
corner, the lawn of Bermuda grass.
the old fashioned, spacious piazza,
into the parlOr of perhaps the most
interesting statesman OF the last thirty
years. 1t was a plain parlor, plainly
furnished, but suggestive OF ease and
comfort. On the wall the best pic
ture of General Toombs l ever saw,
taken at his prime, and looking. as a
bystander said, as that king OF men
looked when he demanded of the
North, Ia the name OF the South,
indemnity for the past and security
for the future" A fine portrait of
Linton Stephens hung vis-a-vis to an
equally fine portrait OF his wife. A
portrait Of General Lee hung over the
mantel, hanked by a portrait Of How.
ell Cobb, and trOnted by the we'll
known print of"Webster Addressing
the Senate" The space between these
pictures was pretty we'll filed with
smaller portraits, testimonials, bas-
reliefs, many Of them very old. There
were but two portrait Ofladies, besides
the two we mentioned, and one OF
these was a fee picture of Mrs. W. H..
FELTON,. On the table, among other
books, was an album, bearing on the
first page the autographs of Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, Lucy W. Hayes and
James A. Garfield.
While we were examining these,
Mr.. Stephens rolled into the room,
managing his chair with singular grace
aud ease. Captain Henry Jackson,
the chairman OF the State Democratic
Executive Committee, made a short
and happy talk, and introduced the
committee. Mr.. Stephens replied in
a few appreoiative words, and after
the usual handshaking the party ad
iourned to breakfast in the dining
room. A more characteristic room
than this woald be hard to find
Roomy, spacious, without display, it
was homelike in every sense. Two
tables we're set. Mr.. Stephens rolling
his chair to the head of one of them,
lifted his hat and with bowed head
re verently asked the blessing Of God
on his home and guests. The break.
fast was a bountiful one of fried chick
en-, steak, scrambled eggs, biscuit, rolls,
homemade butter, syrup, etc. No less
than eight servants clustered about
the table and helped the guests, while
a msjordomo Of unyielding dignity
directed their movements, and three
piccaninnies stood by the open fire.
place and watched the proceedings
with u~ndisguised interest. A family
of FIVE kittens tumbled about the
floor, while two dogs, occupying the
rounds OF staircase that led from the
dining room into the second story,
overlooked the scene.
Mr.. Stephens presided with charm
ing cordiality and grace. Every guest
was made to feel at home and a
nerrier OF amore enjoyable breakfast
vas never known, Ny vis-s-vis at the
table said: i think Sir. Stephens has
entertained more guests in this room
than any American has ever enter
tEilsd in D room. For forty years,
lacking only two, he has presided in
this very place, and every day this
tsbls has been free to all who came.
Gov. Howell Cobb entertained perhaps
more lsvishly than any other Georgian
in public life, but Mr.. Stephens has
Lived so much longer. No man ever
welcomed so many guests in one room
rs Mr.. Stephens has welcomed in
this"
Il bought this house." said Mr..
Stephens, in 1872 from Mr.. Bird
and to-day for the first time it is to
be closed up. We are packing up
everything, and the house will be
closed to-day, except for Mr.. 0'Neill
aud az old friend OF mine, who is now
approaching his ninetieth year, and
who will continue to live here"
This is my library" said Mr..
Stephens, "in which l have spent
many a day and night of work, and
which leave with great reluctance"
Ii was not a pretentious room, but
well filed. An immense basket Of
seed for distribution sat on the floor.
In a corner was a pile Of sweet pota-
toes. The entire wall space was Gov
cred with books. These were on
topics mostly relating to the war and
constitutional questions. Every con.
ceivable history Of the war, and every
treatise on government ever published
it appeared, we're here, and the most
Of them we'll thumbed.
You will notice, said Mr.. Stephens
that | have my house lighted With
gas. Ii is a curious fact, but my gas
costs me less than my matches"
You must have unskilled scratch.
ers, then?"
No. But a great many Of my
visitors smoke pipes, as | do, aud il
takes four or five matches 10 light q
pipe, especially in the hands Of those
who are used to Goals. 1t costs me
fifty cents a week for matches, and
only $l9 a year for gas. There is nc
investment a country gentleman can
make that pays so we'll as to have hi.
own gas machine"
This room" said Mr.. Stephens
whirling lnso a bedroom adjoining the
library, was occupied the night Il
was finished by Smith O'Brien. The
last OF the line Of the Irish Kings Of
Munster. He spent a week with me
and was the grandest man, 10 some
respects, | ever knew. His book on
representative government is the pro,
toundest work | ever read, except Mr.
Calhoun's, and is much more elabo.
rate He was the foremost of the
Irish patriots in dignity and power
l had Toombs here to meet him fire..
quently, and it was interesting to Sc,
them together. Mr.. Toombs was ther
very extreme. 1t was il 1859, and j
had resigned in view Of the comipr
storm, and was fond of painting d
v Brien what a magnificent republi,
we could make Of the South if ",
were only cut of from the body o
death, as he called the North II
his quiet, but positive way. O'BrieI
would insist that the perpetuity Of tn,
American Union was the only hon,
for true representative government Of
the earth. | never entertained F.,
greater mar than this brave and sad
dened Irishmah."