Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-12
A HISTORIC INCIDENT.
The True Story of Famous Interview
Between Two Governors.
From the Richmond Re5ormer.

DolMeon AWO NONoEnOrbs
From the Richmond ReTor,ner.
A great many years ago the Governor OF
North Carolina received a friendly visit
from the Governor of South Carolina. At
ter real North Carolina dinner Of bacon
and yams, the two Governors lit pipes
and sat in the shade OF the back veranda
with demijohn of real North Carolina
corn whisky, copper-distilled, within easy
reach. 'rhere was nothing stuck up
about those Governors" says a North
Carolina State historian, In the homely
but vigorous language Of his section.
''There they sot and smoked, and sot and
smoked, every once and while taking
mutual pull at the demiiohn with the aid
of the gOurd, which they used as a Demo-
cratic goblet. The conversation between
the two Governors was on the subject OF
turpentine and rice, the staples of their
respective States, and the further they got
into the subject the lower down they got
into the jug, and the lower down they got
into the jug the dryer the Governor of
South Carolina got, who was a square
drinker and warm man, with about a
million pores to every square inch OF his
hide, which enabled HIM 10 histe in a like
ly share Of corn juice or other beverage,
and keep his carcass at the same time we'll
ventilated, and generally always ready for
more, while the Governor of North Caro-
lima was a more cautious drinker, but
was mighty sure to strike bottom atabOut
the twelfth drink, like as If nature had
measured him by the gourdful. Well,
they sOt and smoked and argued, and the
Governor OF North Carolina was as hos
pltable as any real Southern gentleman
could be, for he ladled out the whisky in
the most liberal manner, being particular
TO give his distinguished guest three
drinks TO his one aud gauging his own
drinks with great care, for fear that il he
didn't he might lose the thread of his
argument and the demijohn might run
dry before the Governor Of South Carolina
should be ready TO dust out tor home, ia
which case IL would look like be had not
properly observed the laws Of hospitality.
which would have been "A self-Inncted
thorn in his side for years 70 come, and
no amount OF apology could ease his mind
or enable him to feel warranted in show
ing his countenance to his fell0w-men, es-
pecially in his home district, where for
generations IL had been main point with
every gentleman 70 keep his visitor well
supplied with creature comforts aud 90
hand him good gourdful 40 a stirrup-
cup when about To make his departure
for the bosom OF his family. Singular 10
relate, the cautiOusness manifested by
the Governor OF North Carolina was OF
no avail. for az one and the same time the
jug went dry, aud the Governor OF North
Carolina, much TO his subsequent mOrtif-
cation, when he learned the fact after
wards, dropped of into quiet sleep, while
the Governor OF South Carolina continued
10 keep on with his argument. holding the
empty gourd in his hand In close cOntigu.
BUSINESS 10 the demiiohn, and wondering at
the apparent Observation-Disclosures Of his
hitherto attentive host 10 whom. after a
minute and q half of painful silence, he
made use Of but one remark:
"GoVernOT, don't YOU think it's y long
time between drinksW
"Tbe remark was overheard by George,
body servant Of the Governor Of North
Carolina, who, knowing that there was
something wrong, took 10 the woods,
where he remained In seclusion for three
DAYS; but the Governor Of South Carolina,
receiving NO reply from the Governor OF
North Carolina, mounted his horse and
rode sadly honeward with an irrepressi-
BILE feeling at his heart that there was
coming 10 be a hOllOwness In friendship
and that human nature was In danger OF
drifting into condition of chaotic mock
cry.