Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-03
OLD DAYS in MILLEDGEvILLE.
GOV. Browns First Reception at the
Capital as Governor.
From the Atlanta tGu.) Constitution.

From the a tldata (Gu.) Constitution.
Captain" l asked, "where was the
principal hotel in the good old days of
Mllledgeville's reign as queen city of the
South?
"Yonder it is" said he, pointing to a
large two-story wooden building on the
opposite corner from the Oconee House.
"Ihere is where those choice spirits, the
great majority of whom have passed into
the great beyond, used TO congregate alter
the labor and tolls OF the day were over.
Alter the heated debate ana the confusion
of the argument We're over, and Senators
and Representatives mingled together
and laugh and jest went merrily around.
Up IN that corner room IN the second story
they gathered to discuss current topics,
exchange gossipy comments and rehearse
the latest puns. The safety-valves We're
thrown open, and those burdened souls
enjoyed that freedom OF intercourse which
was so sweet to men of their mould.
There Alex Stephens used to get of his
sharpest say ings, and the noble Ben Hill
exhibited display of wit that spaTkled
like good old wine. There the naughty
and imperiOus rOombs was at his best, as
the flash OF his eye bespoke the ready re-
partee and ready reiOinder. Herschel v.
johnson, Gov. Towns and Gov. Jenkins,
and all the others were there.
"Ah, me! Cold Is the heart of a Geor-
gian that will not warm at the mention of
such scenes. 1t was the glory and gran
deur OF the old regime ere men became so
tenderly susceptible to the influence Of
the almighty dollar. But "Ichabod'' is
written ON the walls of the old building
now, and nothing is left but the phantOms
of the past that still Turk in the dusty cor
ners OF the rambling old building"
The Captain left just at this time, and |
lOunged up to point where some veterans
were Illuminating among themselves. SAID
one: "DO you RENE Der when Joe Brown
was first elected Governor what sensa-
ton his arrival created? Well, Milledge-
vile, you know, had grown considera bly,
arIstocratic, and there was good deal OF
spirit manifested among the leaders.
"When we heard that Gov. Brown was
to arrive on certain train the old man
SAID: Look here, Gov. Brown will be at
the depot this evening, and | want you to
hitch up the four gTays to the best car
riage and 20 down and bring MIN to the
mansion in stYle.'
did my best. had those grays pol
ished up until there was never speok on
their glossy coats, and had the harness
rubbed until it snOne again, and the car
rage was as bright as a mirror. When
| all was ready, rugged up in my best
clothes, went Gathering down to the de-
pot and drew up with a grand flourish at
the platform.
''There were a number of carriages
! there, filled with the old bloods, and
fooled around awhile waiting for the Gov
ernOr's appearance. On trunk near the
door sat a meek looking country woman
VITA baby in her arms, aud | brushed
lightly by ner and went on IN search of
His Excellency. Presently the boss came
along, missing and tuning, and rippeo
out, I'D like to know what in the thun-
der has become OF the Governor ard his
affairs The meek looking country wO-
man looked up and said, these are his
trunks; am Governor Browns wife,
Tue old mans face was study. He
scratched his head, stammered out some
thing, and just then an ordinary looking
country farmer, who mad the air OF dea-
con about him, came out, and-there was
Gov. Brown! The old man was broken
up. He turned to me and muttered be-
tween mis- cienched teeth: "Get 'em inside,
for Gods sake. and drive to the mansion
by the shortest rOute!" And you may be
assured that did as directed, for [ was
as badly sold out as the boss. Joe got
there all The same, though, and he has
been governor of Georgia ever since.