Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-23
LOUISVILLE GLEANINGS.
C0YLE DOUGLAS CORRESPON-
DENCE.
Flyers OF he Blue Grass-The Skies
PrOPiTIOus-Abe BufOKd's Recan-
tatiOn-Rev. DIR. Adams and His
Alleged Plagiarism A Follower
of Mary Andersen-A kentucky
FOFeFunner of Jesse James.

T.,
proverb that the weather gods are perma-
nently propitious to the Louisville races, and
the meeting Of the Jockey Club always brings
out the brag weather of the season. During
the whole month we had nothing but rain
chilly, drenching, pitiess; it seemed there
was never rain made up so largely OF water
and so bent upon making a fellow wet IL he
were caught without an umbrella Either
Vennor or Jupiter Pluvius had let things loose
in manner simply abominable; the congre-
gated turfmen were in despair, and talked of
asking the prayers of the churches for favora-
BILE sunshine. But Derby day dawned as brill
liantly clear and briskly cool as heart of man
could wish, and the sunshine has evidently
come to stay.
There has been an unwonted commotion in
turf circles recently because Of the detection
OF an old and honored member Of the frater-
nifty. Gen. Abe Buford has Joined the church
This event was quite stunning when it first
came to pass. The General has been turf
man from his cradle, Is descended from a long
line or racing gentry, and inherits the racing
instincts in his blood as decidedly as do his
thoroughbreds in theirs He has made for
tune raising stock for the course, and has
always cried out for fairness and
squareness In the principles of the
system as 1t was In the palmY days OF the
race course, O6IOr6 Clo era OF pOOl selling.
He is an avowed turf reformer. He advances
the novel theory that Christians may attend
the races, and by their presence and influence
deprive them of many Objectionable features.
The Generals change of heart has not been a
sudden thing, Years ago he expressed a de-
sire to unite with the church, but as all Pro-
testant denominations refused to receive him
unless he relinquished his position as profess
Sional turfman and as he was not prepared to
give up his lifelong employment. he remained
outside the pale. Trouble has crowded upon
him the past year or two, however. and his
cup of sorrow has been filled to
overf1owing He lost his only child, youth
OF rare promise, who died just as he was en-
tering manhood. Shortly afterward he buried
his wife, to whom he was tenderly devoted;
then his valuable racer, McWhirter, broke a
fore leg on the st. Louis course, just after win
ming a splendid race on the Louisville track,
when his owner, overcome with delight fell
upon the horses neck and kissed him amid the
shouts or the spectators: Then came the
tragedy Of his brother Toms killing Judge
Elliott and the General was almost bankrupted
trying to save him from the galIews. All his
fine stock went under the hammer, and. for
awhile. is seemed that Bosque Bonita, one of
the lovliest places In the blue grass country
and the home around which clustered so many
bright associations, must follow But IL
alone is still spared him. When Barnes
the Evangelist. held forth here last winter,
the veteran was one of those who experienced
IAN awakeniDg," and he then foreswore the
turf, though it was hard trial to do so. and
this city. Then he came forward one Sunday
night few weeks ago and delivered a sermon
on racing from the pulpit in which he plead
for reform of the race course, and expatiated
to such an extent upon his favorite theme and
grew so enthusiastic as he proceeded, that it
was not quite clear that he didn't believe that a
man was the better Christian for being the
lover of horsefesh. and that an ecclesiastical
course the old General and his re-
markable sermon have been handled all
over The country and ''chaffed" without mercy.
And the funniest part Is that he seems to
like it, and Is SO delighted with bis own efforts
that few evenings since he again mounted
the pulpit and delivered another horse lecture,
which he is having printed in pamphlet form.
Strange to say, almost every one sympathizes
with him in the hard struggle he has under
gone, even the people of the church he has
joined which is one of the strictest sects in all
such matters. The General has never been
gambler, and has never dissipated; his associa-
tion with the horse came from a pure love of
the sport. He frankly declares that he does
not believe he would be doing anything incom-
patible with his character of a Christian il he
adhered to his profession. except in so far as
his example would hurtfully influence Others
Al any rate he has taken a manly, determined
stand for the right. and every one gives him
implicit confidence that he will stick. He is in
the city through all the excitement of this
brilliant meeting of the Jockey Club sur
rounded by his old comrades and sorely tempt
ed at every point but he remains firm in with
holding himself from the course, where the
lack Of his familiar presence is as summer
without roses, if one may be allowed to lapse
into poetical smile fitting the subject
One of the prominent ministers of Louis
Vile has been secured as the shepherd of a
Georgia flock-Rev. DIR. Adams who has lust
severed his connection with the Warren Me-
mortal Church to accept a fiAttering call to
Augusta, ga. IL ever minister was to be
justified in shaking our dust from his feet and
call anywhere, that man would be
DIR. Adams. He has not had charge of his
church here very long, having been induced to
accept il by delegation from this place who
heard him preach in New York whittier he
had come from England fol the benefit of an
invalid daughters health. He came amongst
us and proved an ornament to the ministry of
the city. Last fall his beautiful church
burned to ashes, and since then the congre
CATION has been worshiping in the small
building they unwisely left. During the winter
Dr. Adams preached a fine sermon upon THE
Unreasonableness of Unbelief," which, from
its excellence. attracted marked attention By
and by some floating Tumors went about-not
amongst bis people, but confined to outsiders
and merely the veriest gossip of idle tongues
that DR.. Adams had been stealing somebody
else's thunder: that his fine lecture was a hold
plagiarism and that stenographers had been
employed to take it down, and he was to be ex-
posed. All this might have died a natural
death, had not city papers reporter think
ing to unearth delicious sensation, proceeded
to interview some of the Doctors members
There is such thing as too much enterprise
sometimes even in reporter. This one met
with indignant denials and protests: but not
to be cheated out of his sensation, he patched
and made up a column, headed with
full grown capitals, Adams Fally,
The article did not contain a positive accusa-
tlon, and was, therefore, not as satisfactory as
1t should have been, as this energetic Young
person posted away to the Doctors residence
invaded his sanctuary, and asked the gentle
man for points wherewith he might be con-
victed. The Doctor was so outraged that he
aOrr16 fa,0fc Nrrf Il
until that person vaguely felt
that he had been struck by lightning But
there is not much solid comfort under the cir
cumstances in merely flashing one eyes. 1t
Is a great pity that DIR. Adams is a man of
peace, else he might have led that visitor into
the next room and showed him the hickory
until he was perfectly disgusted. Unfortu-
nately the Doctor had already decided to dis
continue Housekeeping and had taken passage
for England for hin family, who wished to re-
visit their home this summer, and this gave
some color to the scandal.
The PreSbytery met and denied and nro-
tested and indorsed-did everything expected
Of a Presbytery. But how many read the
scandal who will never see the refutatfonY
This congregation has been peculiarly unfortu-
nate. Dr; Adams predecessor left, il not pre-
csely under cloud, at least under rather hazv
cumstapces-something the matter with his
And the reverend gentleman who
was his predecessor went so far astray that no
could ever catch up with him.
So that makes the fourth of our large Churches
left without pastor. In truth, the Louisville
clergy have been in most restless and agi-
tated condition for the past year. One would
think the whole body ecclesiastical was built
on foundation Of yeast, and in a constant |
state OF ebullition. What can be the matter |
with us?
Mr. John N Norton's new proteee. Mrs.
Virginia Murphy Dreher, who made her debut
as Julia, in the "Hunchback," recently in ST
Louis, supported by John Mccullough. and |
who received such gushing encomiums from
the dramatic fraternity, is another Louisville
Oreher graduated from Mrs. Scott Saxtonis
college of elocution and oratory in this city a |
year ago. Whatever she achieves in the wav
)f success will be accomplished by native
,alent and honest work, uninfuenced by wealth 1
or social prestige. Mrs. Dreher is the quite |
youthful WIDOW or music teacher, and the |
laughter or our most fashionable dressmaker.
Who has reigned supreme in her |
phere for many years, and who is /
Is much of an artist in her Speciality
Is her daughter promises to be in hers To /
lSve one Of Mrs. Murphv's perfect fits F." and /
% be able to pay Mrs Murphy's cloud capped /
price for it. was to be well dressed beyond ali i
or young queen that Mrs. Dreher took to /
St. Louis with her. DR. Norton says she Is the |
most beautiful woman, without doubt he ever
Jaw on the stage. But don't believe it un-
iInchingiy, for she Is not. Mr.. Norton doubt
ess thinks ne has bis hands full if he Is to
manage all the Kentucky girls who develop
listrionic proclivities. He predicts tremendous
hiDgs for Virginia Dreher.
The "reminiscences Of John U. Waring, |
'nce famous Kentuckian, which Governor Crit
enden- OF Missouri, has been scattering abroad
IS an onset to Jesse James, are recognized as
urdities from a daughter of the house Of |
NaFinC dAtailQd in the glObe- DefQ0cs.of EJar l