The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-02
FOR HIS BROTHERS SAKE.
The True History of Life Of self-sac
rifce.

Inc governor nhfuOnC1 JOnn BrlsDen, n
penitentary convict, to-day. He was sent up
from Bourbon for fifteen years for forgery,
and had ten years yet 10 serve Our readers
are familiar with the history of this case, and
the humane action Of his ENcellency will be
generally commended. Frankfort (KyJ Yeo-
man.
read this little paragraph and my
mind went back sixyears, knew John
Brisben, and | also knew his twin
brother Joseph. | wassamilar with
the details of the action that placed
John Brisben in a felon's cell, and now
when the sad affair is brought back to
mind so wildly must write it out, for
never before have | met, in prose Or
poetry, in real life or in romance, a
greater hero than plain, matter-of-fact
John Brisben.
The Brisbens came of good stock.
think the grcat-grandfather of my hero
emigrated to Kentucky when Kenton's
Station, between the present City of
Maysville and the historic old Town of
Washington, was the principal settle
ment on the dark and bloody ground. -
He came from Upper Pennsylvania and
located about five miles from the Ohio
river, on Limestone Creek. He was an
industrious, strong-limbed, lion-hearted
old fellow, and in few years his sur
roundings were OF the most comfortable
description. One of his sons, Edwin
Brisben, once represented Kentucky in
the Federal Congress. | think he was
the grandfather of John and Joseph
Brisben. Their fathers name was Sam
uel, and he died when they were little
children, leaving his widow an excellent
bluegrass farmland snug little fortune
in stocks. bonds and mortgages. The
widow remained widow until her
death. Mrs, Samuel Brisben was a
good woman, and she idolized her twin
boys. Like most twins, the brothers
resembled each other in striking man
ner, and even intimate acquaintances
could not tell them apart But although
the physical resemblance was so strong
there was great dissimilarity in the dis
positions Of the twins Joseph Brisben
was surly and morose, sometimes cum
ming and reyengeful. He was withal a
dreamer and an enthusiast; man well
learned in books, brilliant, frothy
talker when he chose to be socable
(Which was seldom), splendid horse
man, and most excellent shot John
Brisben, on the contrary, was cheerful
and bright honorable and forgiying
He was man Of high moral principle,
intensely practical and methodical,
cared little for books, and, although he
said but little, was splendid COM
panion. He was poor horseman, and
| don't think he ever shot a gun in his
life. He saw nothing of the poetry of
life. and as for sport, no enjoyed him
self only when hard at work. He loved
his brother, and when they were boys
together suffered punishment many
times, and uncomplainingly, that
"Jodie' might go scot free, His life
was therefore one constant sacrifice,
but the object Of this loving alteration
made but shabby returns for this unself
ish devotion.
They were 20 years old when thei
mother died very suddenly. JosepI
made great pretense Of grief, and wa
30 hysterical at the grave that he had Il
be led away
John, on the contrary, never demon.
stratye, took the great ailiction witt
his customary GOODNESS lie said bu
little and shed no tears.
The property left the boys was con
siderable, The day they were q year
old the trustees met and made settle
mont There was the bluegrass farm
valued at $4,000, and 100000 in wel
invested securities which could be turn
ed into money. Joseph demanded
division.
''You can take the farm, Jack" h
said ii was never cut out for farm
or. Give me $4,000 in money for IN
share"
So this sort Of u division was mad
John continued on at the homcstea
working In his plain, methodical wa
and slowly adding to his share Of Il
money what he could raise out of Il
profits Of the farm. Joseph, with h
newly-acquirod wealth. set up an e.
tablishment nj the nearest town and b.
gan life OF pleasure, pleasure Of Il
grosser sort. His brother gave him h
advice, for he knew II was uselcs
Joseph spent his money with gre,