The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-27
T. CESAR STAlUCUP
A Great Man who Knew How to Lool
Out for Number One


am going 10 relate bit of my own
experience. In 1876 number of print
ers, including the writer, started q
had come within one of saying esfab-
lished) the Evening Mail. in Nashville.
We started out with fair prospects
that is, the weather was clear and
bright. Our general manager, fellow
named T. Caesar Stallcup. declared
that the sunshine which greeted our
first appearance was an omen OF lnfalll-
BILE significance. 1t was not at that
time, nor is it now, exactly clear wha,
he meant by "infallible significance.
but l grasped his hand and warmly
shook 1t. He said that he had started
quite number of newspapers, one at
Bear Walow, KY, among the number.
and that he had always noticed that
those born during sunshiny weather,
needed less nursing, and. in fact, ap-
peared to live longer than those that
had been born under q cloud. Such
words of encouragement thrilled us;
and set of resolutions which we i'm
mediately adopted declared that L.
Cesar Stallcup was the ablest news
paper man in the State of Tennessee.
He swallowed a lump Of emotion, and
said that it had ever been his habit to
do his duty by his newspapers. and
that. fate helping him. we should soon
see the Mail soaring aloft like the
proud bird of freedom.
It was our duty TO set type and await
developments; it was Stallcup's duty
to await developments. When We
needed money. which we did from the
beginning, he talked to us of our strong
band Of brotherhood. When we be-
came hungry. he took us to one side
and told us that we had to make a sac
rifce, or we should never become
great.
Look at Bennett said he. That
barrel"
Some OF the boys remarked that they
would like to see flour barrel. This
Disguised him. ''DO you think that we
are simply carnal creatures?" he eX-
claimed. ''Do you think that we live
by -four alone? A tiu,e mas come when
we can all be great but, shutting your
eyes on this fact, you stand around and
talk about flour barrel"
The boys, feeling ashamed of them
selves. apolOgized. Stallcup. accept
ing their apologies. said:
Nov, you are talking like white
men. l now see that you desire to be-
come great. Go to your cases now
and set up the paper. My duties grind
me down at the desk. Would that
had time to help you. But there is
coming a time, boys, when l shall not
be ground down. | do not complain
of my overworked condition. There
are men who would squeal under this
burden, but do not murmur. Set up
that advertisement for the Stepenhead
brewery with a tlourishing display"
The man was so self-denying that
we looked upon him with ave. He
told us where we could get the cheap
est sandwiches. and advised us to eat
as few as possible. One of our men
fell heir to three dollars and eighty
cents and had invited some of the
boys to eat with him when Stallcup.
Overhearing the invitation, repri-
manded him: You can not afford"
said he. Ito throw away your fortune.
We have duty to perform. Lend me
two dollars and a half"
He took the money and sadly showed
1t down into his trousers. We congrat-
ulated the man who had let him have
1t. We said that he was hero to the
cause. The victim shook hands with
US and laughed in a sickly way He
knew that he was doing his duty; he
did not exactly know how but he felt
that he was discharging the obligations
of great trust. l envied him.
wished that had possessed money to
lend.
Election time drew near. Candi-
dates came around. Looking up from
my lease" | could see the aspirant for
the office of sheriff and our manager
sitting in close communication with q
bottle of wine. One of the boys VEN
tured to remark that he would like a
little wine, but Stallcup, hearing of the
remark, came into the cOmpOsing-roOm
and told us that if we wanted to ham
per him, all right. In the discharge OF
his duty he knew that he was subjected
to ignorant criticism and that if we
wanted him to resign his position he
would do so. After awhile he came
out as candidate for sheriff. He said
that he did this in self-defense and we
believed him. He declared that the other
candidates were unfriendly to the Mail.
We worked for him, and by this time
our paper had secured such ''pull'
that we elected him. 1t was a happy
day in our Office when the returns came
in. We shook one anOther's hands and
iu pledges of muddy water swore eter-
nal allegiance to our victorious pub
LEGATION. We knew that a dividend
would be soon declared and the boys
sat around and talked about the meals
they were going to eat after awhile.
One day. L. Caesar Stallcup. sheriff
of Davidson County. came around, and
by authority in him vested. too charge
of the office. In telling us to get Out
he said that it was our duty to obey
the law, and assured us that liz a few
months time we might secure employ.
ment down on tho steamboat landing.
7. Caesar Stallcup was undoubtedly q
sociable man. but there were some
points about him that do not admire
-Opie z. Read, in Arkansaw Traveller.