The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22

prone to disputstion, and yet no two men
ever had warmer OF more exalted admiration
for each other. II will be remembered how
Toombs interrupted with questions Mr.
Stephens great Union speech to which 1
have referred, and how deferential the
speaker was to the questioner, terming him
siNays as bis friend.
But Mr.. Stephens admirers aud friends
were rot confined to the distinguished and
honored. Ia no year of his last twenty-five
was there not )me poor young man acquir-
ing education By assistance from him. When
he wss himself poor boy a generous old
man forced upon hiol the requisite a d for
collegiate conrse. The worthy example was
followed by Mr.. Stephens, and it is known,
though never from his own lips, that more
than forty youths were recipients OF this
benefaction from him, some of whom turned
out admirably aud repaid him his advances.
The only instance which provoked him is
said to have been when one whom be aided
to legal education abandoned his profess
sion Immediately after entering it to become
g very indifferent negro minstrel. y 1t it
was his kind interest IN bis former slaves,
continuously sfter their emanc ration,
which commanded roy warmest admiration
for him as a phiisnthropist. To heads
of families he extended tina necessary
aid to bCcoue farm 5 on their own account.
To the more thrifty be sold land. giving
them all the time needed for paying the pur-
chase money. and such wns the deere CO
in w ch these held his judgment that bis
advice vas sought By them upon every c,n-
emplated undertaking. from the Buying or
selling of pig to the pitching Of crop.
Never an evening came when he was at
home that there was not q number OF sable
callers at his sitting room &c inquire after
his health or solicit his advice, and it mat
tered not how distinguished the company
present these callers were given audience.
Mas Aleck, DAT Jim boy er mine is givin'
me er powerful sight er tcubbul. He done
got SO triflin' he won't work, an las Satur
day he wuz dead drunk"
What can do 10 help you about it?''
asked Mr.. Stephens.
''Jes give i'm a talkin' to. sab; dat Will
straighten 'im."
"All right-tell him to come to me.'
A little later "Jim boy" with q very
sheepish air, was ushered in. Not to a son
could Mr.. Ste phens have spoken more per-
sussively. The boy did not deny his shsrt.
cornings. but pro missed to faithfully observe
the counsel given him. | had the curiosity
to inquire a few months later what effectthe
talk lad had upon him, and learned that he
had acted we'll ever after it.
Tho dow If Mr. Ctanhauc, rofurp from,
Washington after adjournment of Congress
was always a notable one at Crawfords-
VILE. The people of the village and of
tie country for miles around, white
and colored, would gather at the station.
TIE train arrived and the wheel chair rolled
upon the depot platform; the attenuated
hands were kept busy shaking to the right
and left as be was pushed through the
crowd. The dowdy colored dame with in
FAINT in arms was spoken to, and by name,
too, with equal cordislity as the county Of
fetal. Nor was this demonstration of the
shallow, polite character sometimes drum
med up for effect but the spontaneous man.
ifestations of the affection OF the people
about him. Among them he was no longer
| the Congressman, but neighbor and friend.
Mr.. Stephens was remarkable for his recol
lection of faces and names. Through wears
of acquaintance and considerable association
with him, never knew him to fail to call
the name CT person whom he had ever
known. A signal illustration Of this faculty
occurred in January, 1873. when he, Bea-
| jsmin II. Hill and General John b. Gordon
were candidates before the Legislature for the
United States Ssnatorship. Mr.. Stephens
wss at the Kimhall House at Atlanta. One
day gentleman, a stranger to me, calling at
my office on business found me just lesvi ug
it to fill an engagement. l had to see Mr..
Stephens at that hour. Upon my stating my
engagement, he asked me if he might accom-
papy me just 10 shake hands with him.
al met him or ce when 1 was q ute young
man," be laid, land have never seen him
since"
"If be ever net you he Will remember
you," 1 answered.
THAT is i'm possible" he replied, 'for at
that time was about twenty-ope years OF
age and clean shaven, whereas now 1 have
full heard"
a few minutes later we entered Mr..
Stephens room, where there were several
callers, TO one OF whom turned to speak.
was about moving to introduce the gentle.
man when Mr.. Stephens extending his hand
to him, said: why, how do you do, Mr.
=? met you at Greensboro, n. c., in
1S44, when was stumping that State fol
Henry Clay"
The excellence of mis- memory was notice
able at whist, to which he was q devotee.
have more than once known him to name
the last four cards before they were exposed
His fondness for this game and his skill
in play ing it have often been referred to in
the prints. He is the author of the treatIst
on whist in Johnson's Encyclopedias, and
by the way, The mott complete condensation
of the more important rules OF the game
have ever seen published. From the mo