The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-10
STEPHENS AND rHoMPsoN.
A Story OF the Great Commoner and
the Savannah Editor.
FFom the Atlanta Gal Journal

YES, sir-whyF'
Because want to give you little in
cident about him which may be of some
interest"
''Out with itIn
/ wish that / could reproduce here the
capital manner in which Tom-wh1 is a
superb raconteur-then told this interest
ing story:
you know Col Thompson, who for
years was the chief editor Of the SAVANNAH
! MOANING NEwsP'
"Never met him except in print Major
| Jones' Courtship,' editorially and all that
kind Of thing, you know"
| That reminds me- said Tom, 81 have
/ been in the little old house many a time
/ down in Morgan county, in which he wrote
the Courtship. But let that go.
"A few years before Col Thompson died,
had the pleasure Of riding on the cars with
/ him from Townsville to Savannah. He
was one of the most entertaining men who
ever lived, you know, and on that particu-
lar occasion was in a laxative mood, so we
sat up all night and smoked aud talked
''At least he did most of the talking.
while aid most OF the smoking aud listen
| ing. he told me enough interesting things
70 MI small volume, and among them was
this:
Some years ago. said he, 4 went
abroad, and a short TINS before taking ship
/ went to see my friend Alexander Fl.
Stephens. Upon taxing leave of him he re-
marked:
Thompson, here's letter that may or
may not do you some good
1 thanked him and glanced over the
letter. 1t was addressed, ITO whom it may
concern" and in it the old gentleman spoke
very kindly OF your humble servant. put
! the letter in my pocket and left.
| 1t was not my purpose to make an ex-
tended tour, but simply to devote a few
weeks TO London and Rome. Paris was
not on my programme.
! My letter Of credit was addressed to a
| London banker, and. after spending some
time very pleasantly in that great city,
drew enough money to keep me going in
Rome for about two week, a I'D departed for
| the Eternal city.
" "A short time after my arrival, fell in
with one of the 'old brigadiers," as they call
| the guides down there. He was polite old
| fellow AID very misunderstanding
several languages. including English, which
he spoke with great fiuency. de proved a
very entertaining companion, went with me
everywhere, showed me everything worth
| seeing, in fact, contributed in many WAYS
| to the pleasure Of my visit.
"'After "doing" r me pretty thoroughly
he said to me one day:
""Of course you are going to Paris We
| will go toge her. know Paris ju as well
u
| showing you through the city"
1explained to him that my letter of
| credit was in London; hat l hal b ought
along only enough funds to defray my ex-
penses In Rome, aud couldn't think of
going to Paris.
'' AT this he simply bowed his head and
said nothing.
"'The next day met him on the street
and after a cordial greeting he said:
"'"Come with me. Mr.. Thompson, l wish
| to introduce you to a friend"
80 After walking arm-in-arm few blocks
we turned into little street and entered a
peculiar looking little place, which l saw
at glance was bank. Passing down a
narrow passage, we entered a small door
way leading into an elegantly furnis Led
| room.
Its sole occupant--a splendid looking old
gentleman. with curly gray hair-arose
| from his easy chair, greeted us with ELUSIVE
| courtesy, and begged us to be seated. l
| cannot remember ths name of the old
Italian banker, but can never forget his q 4e
face. He spoke English beautifully.
1--WE chatted pleasantly for a few min
| utes, when the old brigader smarked:
"'"I am very anxious for Mr.. Thompson
to take a trip with me to Paris, but he says
| that his letter OF credit is in London, and
Re therefore, Is not prepared to 60 Mr..
| Thompson is a very clever and delightful
| gentleman of whom / am very fond-and l
think that he would enjoy Paris very, very
much.
"""But, Vunderstand me. He did not come
to ask for favor. He called with me at my
request / thought, perhaps, you could
arrange for him to go with me to"
"'"Ah, " said the old banker smilingly. 81
see, l see"
"'He then turned to me and asked:
Mr.. Thompson, have you on your per-
son any paper establishing your IDENTIFY
| beg pardon, but it Is customary-"
"'"Oh,I understand, - said |, but really l
don't think have any paper-let me see, "
putting my hand in my coat pocket aud
| pulling out pile Of letters among which
was The one written by Mr.. Stephens.
Nothing but this, !" said /, handing it to
him.
"'He glanced over it and in twinkIng
his placid look and manner vanished
| "'"W hati' exclaimed he, fairly springing
TO his feet d trembling with excitement.
stephens! Alexander H. Stephens, the
| great American statesman He gave you
is? Nothing but this, indeedl Why, my
dear sir, this is everything with me-"
He then went on to tell now ardently hC
admired Mr.. Stephens, how he had read his
| speeches on the slavery question delivered
in congress in the fifties; how proudly hC
had watched his career; with what int stest
he had read his "War Between the States y
and everything else which be had written
| and wound up by calling to his cashier:
"'"Here is a friend of the great Alexander
H. Stephens. Shovel him out all the golC
that he wants."
1.-The old gentleman was almost beside
himself with joyous agitation.
He shook my hand again and again In
the most cordial manner and fairly en-
braced me, saying all the time: so
stephens! Stephensl how l wish l could
see him and express my admiration to his
face"
4 was never more astonished and graft
fed at anything in my life,' said Thomp-
son.
az thanked the old fellow profusely anC
in answer to queries sat there and talked
Stephens to him for about three hours
HE would take no refusal, 50 that night
accompanied by my friend, the "brigadier,
| went to the old bankers elegant home
and was entertained most royally-so roy
ally, indeed, that it was hard for me to de
eide whether Twas really only plain Amer
lean citizen, or a genuine prince Of tn,
blood.
"'One of the first things l did upon re
turning to America was to visit Mr.
Stephens at his home In Crawfordvlle anC
} give him a detailed account of the remark
able episode.
The grand old man heard the story will
the deepest emotion, and when l had con
: Guided said with broken voice:
Thompson, ia my whole career hav,