The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-24
JOHN BROWNS NEPHEW.
Larry Jerome in a New Character-An In
diSnant Sirginian.

Mr.. Larry Jerome has been amusing him.
self again, writes a Washington correspond
ent of the New York Star. Coming over
from New York a few days ago, he found
himself next TO young man from Virginia,
whe turned out to be as inqUisitive as he was
fresh. Seeing that his companion pined for
information with AN appetite truly omniyoI-
Gus, Jeremc squared himself for bowling
time. He lured the inquiring Vnginian into
the smoking compartment, and by the use of
various arts whereof he is master, launched
him in raging sea of interrogation. Having
discovered that the youth was from Vir-
ginia and saturated with the peculiar ideas
of his section, Jerome fired his bomb:
Pm going to Richmond"
You are. Why, Pm from"
my uncle" said Jerome, twas once quite
prominent in connection with Virginia. l
don't talk about ii much, because still feel
sore. Pm trying to get over the passions and
thing, the war, wasn't it?'
''Yes, terrible. But what--H
I'm doing it, though. I'm getting so 1
can travel through West Virginia without
wanting to kill the leading citizens. The
bloody chasm is almost bridged. If ii were
not tor my uncle l shouldn't feel so queer
about going to Richmond. Pm rather afraid
of myself, though. My uncle, you see
"WhO was your uRcie?" said the Virgian-
ian, beside himself with curiosity.
ION, dldn tell you? Why, John Brown
was my uncle"
"Join Brown! You don't mean"
81 mean the sainted martyr, John Brown,
who was hung at Charleston-hung by a set
Of bloody outlaws. Why, when / think of
that infamous butchery," shrieked Jerome,
waving his arms wildly about and making
his eyes protrude, IL want to wallow in Vir-
ginia blood. feel as though the sacrifice of
the Mayor and City Council of Richmond
wouldn't take off the edge of my fury. Yes,
sir Isl; do Q b,.,o, ,,,o v,.,,,,.,,
shot into Baltimore tunnel, Il am Vir-
ginian. You insult me. You insult my
noble State" Then the train shot into the
open, disclosing the youth flushed, excited,
ready to fight the whole veteran corps, and
trembling all over with passion.
sit down, sit down. said Larry sadly,
pulling the reluctant youth back into his
seat. That's all over with me. Can't you
tyred uncle? Pm too old for fighting. j
talk-that'S all.n
The Virginian sat down rather gingerly,
looking at Jerome with doubtful eyes, as he
went on pensively:
you ought to have seen me when i was
with my regiment in 90. l loved the battle.
If I've killed one rebel I've killed hundred.
Always with my sword, sir-always. Those
fellows all wore their hair very long, didn't
they? 1t always amused me to see their
heads lying around where had been, and
all that absurd hair tousled about. Did you
ever notice it2 No; / suppose you must
have been too young"
at wouldn't have amused me, anyhow
said the Virginian stiffiy.
Wouldn't it, indeed! How odd Now,
j always laughed consumedly at our fellows
who got killed. You know. commanded
regiment of Nermonters. George Edmunds
he's Senator now, but he was one of my
lieutenants then. Gallant fellow, George
was! Too much dash-too reckless you know
wanted to kill rebels all the time. l used to
argue with him, but it was no good. He
wouldn't take time to sleep. Just wore him
self out. j never expected to see him go
through. He was shot right through and
through once with grape, That's what gave
HIM that red nose-really disfigured the poor
fellow, declare. But, as / was saying, used
to laugh at our fellows when they got killed.
Heartless sort of Thing to do; i couldn't help
mont? No2 Then you dent know, bat you
may have heard, what big feet Vermonters
have. Well. my fellows had such big feet
they couldn't fall down. When they We're
shot they would die standing, and then we'd
have to go round after the rebels had run
away and push the boys over with poles, be-
fore We could bury EN-. Funniest thing you
ever saw. Hellol Here we are in Washln
ton. Very glad to have met you. See you
in RiChm0nd?'
And Jerome hustled out of the car, leaving
the NirginiaH speechless, and the colored
porter doubled up in commissions on the
| floor of the pantry.