The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-20
Az * Union solaler to sena.or Yess.

An Elk Union soldier Senator Vest.
To thu Editor of the indianapolis Journal.
Colonel Phillips used to tell a good one on
Senator Vest of Missouri A woman was on
the witness-stand, testifyine IN a case where
one gentleman had playfully used his revolver
70 the damage of another gentleman's person.
Vest asked her, in whitening tones, 'How do
you know that it was just eleven steps from
where you stood to where that hog WAS at the
time OF the shooting9" The witness answered:
II gist supposed some fool lawyer would ask
me that question. so stepped it" The Colonel
ead that was the only time he ever knew Vest
to be bluffed. WITH wave of his hand he said,
very feebly. That's all; take the witness
In 1868 heard Senator Vest make speech
at Germantown. Henry county. Missouri. The
speakers stand was curiosity. 1t resembled
somewhat large sedan chair. It was about ten
feet square, with flor raised two feet from
the ground, was panked 10 all round some
thing ike hog-pen at a county fair, and had
cover made out of brush. which was elevated
about a foot above the Senator's head If he
had been a tall man be could not have stood
up straight. The whole thing was right out
on the open. burning prairie, as it was
q very hot day. During the speech the late
Johnnies guesrilIas, etc climbed mn around
the pen until the main audience could ONLY get
an occasional glimpse of the speaker They not
only hung on his every word, but literally hung
on him. While they we're thus spell bound
heard him say. If there are any soldiers here
of the late federal armies l viii say to Them"
Is.
away from here; get clear down, and give me
tome air, or will stop speaking; l am nearly
melted" When he had gotten into daylight
he told what ne had TO say. and / remember
how felt at tn time. / can best illustrate his
fondness for us by the following There is
picture il the Ben Franklin Primer of sunksn
sail- boat, with the mast sticking some ten feet
out OF the water; boy is clinginR the mast
for dear life and there are lot of alligators
with their heads above alter and their mouths
wide open, right under him The reading is,
'James is fond Of his pets. His pets are fond
Of him.
While we were rottibg in Anderson Vile prison
and Vest in the Confederate CONGRESS.
did not have his love and esteem; he had no af-
fecEion for as IN 1868 and he hasn't any now.
Will not say 20 him. you know where can
pc found. sah.H but believe / will say. it
isn't worth whiie-for he knows that still
doing bnsiness at the old stand II Senator
Fest feels Vindictive 1t is not OF asking or be-
cause ~e have applied rrirant 10 the old sore.
We diagnosed that sore in 1861 and il bad
one but u began 70 heal long before Lees
render AT Appomattox, at W hieh time the soldiers
OF each army had the kindest feelings for each
other and have shared bunk and bareback ever
since At the present time she symptoms are
fSForaole. IN fact any can notice decided
cnanRe Tor me better. "A short tims ago q
Der ascss IN the Arkansas Legislatures and
said. Like the gentleman who has
just taken ais seat. /. too. was a confederate
soldier. was one of the first To enlist and was
present At the dnal surrender, but unlike him.
think have sense enough to know when am
whipped What want To do now Is 70 turn nv
back npon the past and live and work for the
nTospesity Of my Stale and the glory Of q united