St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-27
TWAS MIGHTY FINE LIQUOR.
Why Maj. S. j. Rollins Ceased to
Lecture on Temperance.

Perhaps one of the oldest and at the
same time brightest characters in early
Missouri was Col. John Smith 1T" of
Saline county, says the Kansas City
Times. He was native of Saline
county, prosperous planter and slave
owner in the 40S. He was an eccentric
genius, ready to shoot and then to
shake hands after explanations. For
his fearlessneSS he was feared, but his
generous disposition made him many
warm friends. Col. Smith had all his
letters addressed John Smith T." In
explanation of this singular change or
addition to his name he would state that
there were so many John Smiths in the
country it was impossible to make dis
tinctiOn without some guiding mark.
"When fellow gets letter from me-"
he would add, "he will know at once |
wrote it," And he did. John Smith ST"
became noted character. Many good
stories are told of him. One of the best
is that which Hon. James S. Rollins used
to tell with particular relish whenever
some inQuiSltiVe vOungSter would ask
him why he never in his later life made
temperance speeches, whereas in his
younger days his fame as cOld-water
county lines.
Whenever this interrogatOry was pro-
pounded him, Mai. Rollins would let
the lashes of his left eye rest quietly
upon his cheek, and for ten minutes he
would entertain the company with the
story of the first time he met John
Smith "T'' and the important bearing
which this event had upon his course as
a temperance lecturer. Condensed, the
story runs about this way:
Maj. Rollins and the sheriff of Boone
county had gone down to Jefferson City
to attend to some business in the su-
preme court.
They went to the Rising Sun hotel,
kept by William Gordon. This was the
famous old hotel of the capital. 1t was
rambling frame structure just oppO-
site the old state house. In front was a
gorgeous delineatiOn of rising sun in
gold and curlycues which gave the
hosiery its name.
Maj. Rollins and the sheriff registered
and then sat down to enjoy before the
evening meal contemplatiVe view of
the sign of the Rising Sun.
A tall, fine-loOking individual, dressed
in the fashion of the prosperous man of
the world, Strolled into the waiting
room, glanced over the register and then
Sauntered carelessly across to where
Maj. Rollins and his friend were feast
ing their aesthetic eye upon the gorgeous
rising sun.
Maj. Rollins, 1 believer" said John
Smith IT. for he it was.
Eyes, SIR"
''Maj. Jeems S. Rollins?"
eyes"
''Make speech occasionally?"
"Oh, yes"
Temperance and all that?"
Eyes, sir. am proud of my position
on the question. Proud of it, sir.''
"My name is Smith, John Smith T."
"Glad to meet you, Mr.. Smith"
Wont you JOIN me in a social glass,
Maj. Rollins?"
"Who-I, sir-I drink with you'll Why
what do you mean?-'
Gordon keeps some mighty fine
liquor at the bar. major. Better join me
In glass"
At this point HostGordon of the Rising
Sun interrupted Maj. Rollins, who was
white with anger, and earnestly i'm
plored him to drink with the man.
THAT'S John Smith T." whispered
the landlord. "He will kill you sure.
Please drink with him."
But Maj. Rollins was furious. He
again refused the pOlitely-wOrded inYi-
tation to test the landlords liquor.
Maj. Jeems S. Rollins" said Smith
"T," drawing a pistol from mis- hip
pocket and presenting it at Maj. Rollins
breast, my friend Gordon keeps mighty
fine liquor. sir, mighty fine liquor. Bet
ter try a glass with me.''
Maj. Rollins used to say that while he
listened to these slowly drawled words
as they fell from the lips of John Smith
"T'' he actually felt love for whisky
rising to his bosom.
"Why. certainly, Mr.. Smith, Tll
drink with yOu," said the major.
won't you invite your friend to join
us?" asked Smith, Tipping his pistol in
the direction of the Boone county sher-
iff, who sat with gaping mouth and
staring eyes. watching the dramatic
scene before him.
The sheriff was only too glad to ac-
cept the invitation. The three pro-
ceeded to the bar, where Gordon's best
was sampled.
Maj. Rollins often said that his chance
meeting with John Smith "T'' was the
reason why he never delivered another
temperance lecture.