San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-03
ALEX AMBER HAMILTON STEPHENS.
AFtw AHeedotes Told In the City or His Ma.
tiyliy.

suNy.
Gov. Stephens had an especial fond
ness for young folks, says the Atlanta
Constitution, and he was particularly
kind to reporters who dealt fairly with
him. One thing that he always in
sisted on was that he alone should
supply the news of the executive Of
| flee. Soon after he went into Office the
Constitutions young man noticed
things remarkably dry about the ex-
ecutive office, aud after a few queries
learned that the governor had ordered
that no news be given the press. That
night the Constitutions young man
was in the Office at the mansion. The
young man was feeling little blue,
because an important source of news
had been taken away, and in voice
that showed his anxiety, remarked:
Governor, 1 believe you have in
structed the secretaries and clerks in
your Office to tell me nothing?"
81 have" twas the reply. "My first
order is that no person connected with
the Office shall mention anything that
is said or done there"
"But, governor" asked the reporter,
show am L to get my department
newsw
Turning around 70 the young man,
the face of the governor lighted up
with smile as he answered almost in
O shout:
"Come to me I'm boss"
He was as GOOD as his word. After
supper the reporters would drop
around and the governor always kept
them we'll up with the news. Some
times he would throw in q good story
for their amusement as 7 o'clock was
his leisure hour. One night three OF
the "boys" were there. They were
scattered around the room, one young
fellow leaned on the mantlepiece, an
other rocked in ON easy chair, and
third sat over by .e secretary's desk.
The governor had told them the news
OF he day, ard as they fingered he be-
gan 70 talk OF tines that were before
t.le reporters knew of this land and
cline. Said Mr.. Stephens:
81 shall never forget my first trip
away from home, nor the impression
it made on me. 1 was quite a young
man. and some business fell into my
hands that carried me north. had
never been as far as Washington before,
and of course I wanted to see what
there was to be seen. I went into the
senate gallery and'took my seat. could
easily pick Out the prominent men by
the pictures that L had seen OF them
Pretty soon question came up anc
the president of the senate announced
, that Mr.. Webster was entitled to the
floor. OF course I was very much graf
, flied that [ was TO hear him. He arose
and began speaking in an ordinary con
yersational way. 1 think he took hi
snuff occasionally. He never made
; gesture from the time he opened until
be closed. I thought it was all sounl
, doctrine, but I was convinced that
| knew dozen college boys who corll'
5 have beaten him speaking. The mex
morning I picked up paper. Iher
WIS his speech, headed, Mr.. Webster
! GreaS Speech on the finances PshaW
I thought, they don't call that grea
speech, do they? 1 saw another pa
per. There I saw again headed NIL
y Webster's great speech on the finances
7 went to Baltimore. There they ha
: Mr.. Webster's great speech on tn
finances. [ reached Philadelphia an
S everybody was talking about MI
! Webster's great speech on the finances ,
I cot to New York. There everyooo
. was a in ferment over Mr.. Webster
e g gS speech on the finances. It wa
the same wayil Boston. So 1 cor
e Guided that il must be a great s2eecl
}. Il pus me to thinking, and L made u
n my mind tina. was not the way ma
r said anything, but what he sald' th'
4 made him an orator.
= II was with such stories as the aoo'
q that the governor entertained the II
y porters when they had moment
spare.
. Raid Heads.