The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-12-11
re KNEW MOSES HANDY.
John Allen, Of Mississippi, Tells Coed
Story to the Clover Club.

Story to the Clover Club.
Congressman John Allen, Of
Mississippi, is of the opinion that
he il one ahead of Maj. Moses L.
Handy and the Glover Club. Most
people will agree with Mr.. Allen
when they hear his experience.
Maj. Handy, now OF the Worlds
Fair, is the greatest American
diner. The Glover Club is an in
ven;lon of Philadelphia wits which
periodically has fun with ills guests.
Mr.. Allen was selected Tor a victim
not long ago. He was introduced
al the Clover Club dinner by Maj.
| Handy as man who pretended to
be a humorlst, but who wasn't.
Thereupon Mr.. Allen arose and
replied that having been unmask-
ed by Maj. Handy, he would make
no prelense 10 be funny, but would
| tell them true story.
at may not be known TO yOu5
gentlemen" said Mr.. Allen, "that
MAJ. Handy and | have been ac-
Quainted tor many years. In fact
we served together in the late un-
pleasantness. 1t occurs TO me
that | may be able to tell the men,
hers of The Glover Club some in
ieresting facts about their presi-
dent which are not known 10 them.
My acquaintance with Maj Handy
goes back 10 the time when he was
not known as Handy. That, gen.
tlemen, is not his true name. His
name is Collins, Tom Collins. The
nameoi Handy was bestowed upon
him by his comrades IN the army
because of a handy way he had of
taking things which did not belong
to him.
AT this there was a tremendous
applause from the Club. Mr. Al
leu, thus encouraged in his truth
fulness, proceeded:
COLLINS, or Handy, as you know
him, was The one member of my
company who never was III bait
lie. He was never under fire.
Just as sure as things began 10
grow warm Handy or Collins,
which ever you like, would find
some excuse to take him to the
rear. remember on one occasion,
when Collins was getting ready 10
sneak off in the usual way, the
captain of the company got behind
him and drawing his pistol, said:
"Collins, You have never been in a
battle yet. Now, give you fair
warning that the first move you
make toward the rear I'll put
ballthrough you And Collins or
Handy replied "Well, captain,
you can shoot me if you want 10,
but I'll be id if one of them
lived Yankees ever shall"
The Glover Club rosred again
and mingled cries of "Collinsn and
Handy" arose. Mr.. Allen, with
the same serious countenance, pro-
ceeded:
81 could narrate many interesting
incidents of the career of your pres
ident while IN The army, but will
close with one which seems par
ticularly appropriate, as | under
stand that since becoming a ciii-
zen of Philadelphia he has been
known as Republican. At the
of Lees army, Handy
or Collins was still in his company,
without a scar 10 show, but as
dirty as the rest of us. We all
had rather strong emotions as we
laid down our arms, but noticed
that Handy or Collins was totally
The tears rolled down
his cheeks aud he sobbed aloud.
/ went over 10 extend smpathy-
he seemed so broken up. | said
TO bin Handy, cheer up. Don't
take it SD hard. We've made an
honorable fight. Allen said he,
Il can stand all these years ofhard-
ship I've gone through for the cause
| can see all our niggers 20 and
never say a word, but when l think
that I've got TO live again under
that cussed protective tariff. it's too
much :: can't stand il, boo hoo
Theieupon Mr.. Allen, serious-
faced TO the end, sat down and the
Glover Club cheered Justify. A few
days later the sequel to this story
occurred. Among the diners at the
club on the occasion Of Mr.. Aliens
biographical sketch was Cramp, the
famous shipbuilder Of Philadel-
phIa. He was in Washington short
ly after and met Allen and asked
him were it true thatHandy's name
was Collins.