The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-28
NOT A SUCCESSFUL FARMER,


farmer, but he 5 lent gu ct and apparently
a happy life on his plantation. He reared a
large family nearly all the members Of which
were re garded as handsome. A daughter
who died recently in Georgia Is SAID to have
been the most beautiful wo nan in Georgia
Anybody in Taylor can tell you about the
funny jokes which the governor played on
many of his neighbors, and his own family,
for that matter, for he was "brim full of
mischief" +" one of his former friends says.
HOW HE ENTERTAINED.
1t is said that of evenings he gave parties
and invited as many planters as would
come to spend the evening with him. when
he talked and amused them until the hour
came for them to leave. He devoted the
early evening to instructive subjects, and
toward the latter part he ulloosed his
humor. A sort of transformation then took
place and the planters dispersed in the best
humor and with the best wishes for their
host. Gov. Towns told a story on DR..
Branham Of Wilkes county. under whom
the governor studied medicine in early life.
which was not relished by the doctor but
very much enjoyed by the governor.
JOKE ON PHYSICIAN.
On one occasion DIR. Branham was
called, against his will, to attend a patient
from whom he had never been able to col
lect farthing, and he was exasperated
upon arriving at the home of the patient to
find the man only triie ailing. The ply
scian administered heavy dose Of ipecac
and charged the patient not to vomit or he
would surely die, and he fingered to see the
result
The poor man rolled and tumbled on his
bed In the deepest agony the moment he
swallowed the physic. He held back as
long as he could, and seeing that his sin
sioes had to come" he called his family
around and hurriedly bade them farewell.
He said that he would meet them in heaven
and he began to "let Ter roll,n as the gov
ernor used to say.
he got well. The next day he called
upon the doctor and paid him for the visit,
and told him he wouldn't mind paying the
doctors bills If all the other visits did him as
much good as the last.
WANTED TO BE A SOLDIER.
Gov. Towns, in his younger days, aspired
to be soldier, and he did not rest until he
was made captain of a company. That
company, he sometimes said, was the sorrow
| Of his life
1t was green squad Of boys. Their legs
were not formed, and the governor used to
say that they went stalking about all over
the cotton rows, as if they were SO many
sucking colts.
THAT PRIZE DRILL.
| drill with them, and he was anxious that
his company should win the prize.
de endeavored by all kindly means to
bring them around right, and after making
several dismal failures he threw his sword
to the ground and stormed out: "Scatter,
- you," and jumped on his horse and
rode out OK town. On another occasion, it
is said, when he was trying TO maneuver a
cavalry company, the prancing of the inn
!. patient steeds 30 confused hintAas &C make
him forget his order. He looked 10 be-
| wlldered manner down the line, which was
| trying to form, and his eye fell upon a colt
sucking its mother. A merry twinkle came
in his eye, and he shouted to the company
at the top of his voice: "All suckle," and
he galloped away.
HOW HE READ THE LAW.
He was one time arguing a case before
| Superior Court Judge Sturgis of this cir
cult and he hadn't the slightest pretext for
hearing Every attorney in the court
house knew it, until Gov. Towns had
occasion to read from the code half page
OF law, which completely made out his
case Every member in the room was
thunderstruck and the judge was amazed
| The jury became a unit ia favor of Towns
and a revelation in law was about to be
declared. Judge Sturgis, upon second
thought, looked over his spectacles and
aSheu N1r aoWns, is tnat law In tn6
| codeF Mr.. Towns replied bluntly: 81
don't know whether it is or not. haven'r
seen 1t, )" and went on arguing the case as If
nothing had taken place. When he had
concluded the judge told the jury that what
Towns had read as law was not law, and
never would be. The case went against
him.
HE REMOVED TO MACON.
Late in life Gov. Towns become enfsebled
and moved to Macon, where he died July
10, 1854, in the 54th year of his life. Before
be died he was not able to write a line and
he was almost unable to articulate word
intelligibly. He was constantly surrounded
by his old friends from this district during
his last days and he breathed out his life IN
their presence. a. d. X.